Drean double sets Toulon up for Champions Cup semi against Leinster
France wing Gael Drean scored two first-half tries as three-time champions Toulon edged Glasgow 22-19 at the Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday to set up a Champions Cup semi-final meeting with Leinster.
The Irish province, who have lost four finals since the last of their four Champions Cup victories in 2018, sealed their passage with a convincing 43-13 win over English side Sale in Dublin.
Toulon also have pedigree in the tournament although this is the first time that the Top 14 side have reached the final four since they won the last of their three successive titles in 2015.
"It's just pure joy," said Toulon flanker Charles Ollivon.
"We haven't achieved anything yet but it's great for everyone, it rewards a lot of effort. We have been through some tough patches this season, today we're here, we have to keep going.
"We'd kind of lost our smiles but today we're back."
But it was heartbreak for URC leaders Glasgow who were vying to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Playing with the wind at their backs, the Warriors were quickly on the attack, collecting their first try after nine minutes when a line-out throw to the tail was fed back for centre Stafford McDowall to crash over.
Toulon, however, struck straight back when Drean, who made a try-scoring debut for France during the Six Nations, went in for the first of his tries.
Wing Ollie Smith touched down for the Warriors only for Toulon to strike with two tries in the space of seven minutes.
First, prop Jean-Baptiste Gros crashed over to level things up and then some brilliant quick hands found Drean in space out of the right.
The wing still had plenty to do but a neat step inside brushed off the challenge of Dan Lancaster and he was over for the try.
Trailing 17-12 at the break, Glasgow were back in the lead five minutes into the second period when Adam Hastings converted hooker Gregor Hiddleston's close-range drive over the line.
Italy centre Nacho Brex then produced the decisive moment of the match, dancing through two tackles on halfway before taking off for the corner and outpacing the covering defenders.
Toulon missed the conversion but clung on to their narrow lead to clinch their place in the semis.
- Leinster cruise -
The wind was equally strong in Dublin but that didn't prevent Leinster scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park from whipping a sharp pass to Dan Sheehan, captaining the side in the absence of the injured Caelan Doris, who used the wet grass to slide over.
Sale chipped away with a George Ford penalty that left it 7-3 at half-time but Leinster took a grip after the break.
Leinster's second try came three minutes into the second half when Ryan Baird, with the line at his mercy, passed back inside for Hugo Keenan.
Ford added another penalty for Sale but Baird's try in the 53rd minute knocked the stuffing out of a side down to 14 men with Si McIntyre in the bin.
Moments later, Rieko Ioane crossed for their fourth try and Harry Byrne's conversion took them out to a 26-6 lead.
Now cruising, Tommy O'Brien and Jamie Osbourne took Leinster's try tally to six while Alex Wills notched a late consolation try for the visitors.
Defending champions Bordeaux-Begles host Top 14 leaders Toulouse in a French classic on Sunday to see who will go forward to meet Bath, who edged fellow Prem side Northampton on Friday.
L.Laurent--JdCdC
