Finalists Keep On Winning

Heineken Cup finalists Toulouse and Perpignan both enjoyed home victories as the countdown to their clash at Dublin's Lansdowne Road continues. The good news for both teams is that their victories mean they have both qualified for next season's Heineken Cup competition.

Toulouse's 34-20 victory over reigning French champions Biarritz Olympique guaranteed them a safe passage into the semi-finals of this year's competition.

Perpignan came up with a 26-22 win over Agen to confirm their place in the Heineken Cup next season, although they won't be going through to the last four of the French championship. However, their Manny Edmonds inspired triumph - the Australian outside-half kicked 21 points with four penalties and three drop goals - means that they can rest a few players in their final fixture this weekend when they travel to Grenoble.

So, too, Toulouse, whose four try victory in front of a 25,000 crowd at Le Stadium de Toulouse means they have secured their place in the French championship semi-finals with a game to spare.

With Pau beating Bourgoin 17-15 with a last gasp drop goal from Martin Pearson, the Toulouse game at Bourgoin on Saturday is rendered meaningless. The French championship semi-final line-up is a repeat of last year with Agen meeting Toulouse in Montpellier and Biarritz taking on Stade Francais in Bordeaux.

Both sides picked up injuries over the weekend, with Perpignan ending their game against Agen with non-contested scrums. Prop Renaud Peillard received his marching orders after receiving two yellow cards and fellow prop Nicolas Mas and hooker Michel Konieck received calf and back injuries.

Lock John Daniell damaged an ankle and centre Christophe Manas also injured an ankle. They join an injury list that already contains Canadian No 8 Phil Murphy. Centre Pascal Giordani got the try to add to Edmonds' seven successful kicks to complete a victory over Agen.

The hero for Toulouse was versatile half-back Frederic Michalak who scored 19 of his side's points with a try, four conversions and two penalties. International centre Xavier Garbajosa ran in two tries to take over at the top of the French championship try lists this season with 11. Cedric Heymans grabbed the other home try.

Toulouse coach Guy Noves saw prop Patrice Collazo pick up an ankle injury and fullback Nicola Jeanjean strain a hamstring in the victory. Neither injury is likely to keep them out of contention for the Heineken Cup final in Dublin on May 24.