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France trio hold their nerve in dramatic European penalty shootout

Antoine Dupont takes his second kick of the place kicking shoot out 7/5/2022
Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout as defending European champions Toulose beat Munster.

Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout as defending European champions Toulose beat Munster.

Munster scored tries through Alex Kendellen, Keith Earls and Mike Haley as they opened up a 10-point lead going into the final 14 minutes of the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final.

But a brace from Matthis Lebel in addition to a try from Ntamack and Ramos’ boot saw the tie finish 24-all at the end of normal time at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Ben Healy and Ramos both missed drop goal attempts in extra time and as both sides were already level on tries scored, the game had to be decided by place kicks.

Each team nominated three kickers and while Healy and Conor Murray were off target for the Irish province, Toulose prevailed 4-2 thanks to Dupont (two), Ntamack and Ramos.

Elsewhere in Europe, Saracens romped into the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup with an impressive 44-15 victory over fellow Premiership side Gloucester Rugby.

England captain Owen Farrell landed three penalties and Aled Davies crossed for the Men in Black as they took a 16-5 lead into the break, with Jack Singleton responding for Gloucester.

But further tries from England internationals Maro Itoje and Jamie George as well as another effort from Wales centre Nick Tompkins saw the visitors pull clear at Kingsholm.

An intercept from Scotland’s Duncan Taylor put the icing on the cake for Saracens before Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit grabbed a stunning late consolation for the home side.

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And Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall hailed his England stars, saying: “Big Maro (Itoje) was back to near his best and Owen Farrell led the team magnificently.”

Wasps will join Saracens in the final four after Alfie Barbeary’s try with three minutes left on the clock saw the Premiership side edge past Edinburgh with a 34-30 victory.

Tries from Ben Vellacott and Adam McBurney put Edinburgh 17-10 ahead at the interval but scores from Jimmy Gopperth and Biyi Alo got the visitors back in the contest.

Tom West then put Wasps ahead before Edinburgh levelled through Magnus Bradbury, only for Barbeary to cross for the match-winning try to set up a clash with Lyon.

Top 14 outfit Lyon booked their place in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals with a 35-27 triumph in France, having recovered from a 20-13 deficit at the break.