Stade will need more than simply spirit

Stade left it late to see off their in-form English opponents with a Paul Williams try with less than 90 seconds remaining and Dupuy admits they will need more than just the spirit that saw them through against the Chiefs if they are to topple Toulon.

"We have had plenty of ups and downs with Stade Français this season but there's great heart and a brilliant spirit within the team. The French players and foreign players are all in this together," said Dupuy.

"The win against Exeter was mainly down to our spirit, our solidarity and our friendship. We'll need to keep that togetherness and commitment, although that alone won't be enough for the size of the challenge that awaits us in Toulon.

"Playing away from home will be tough for us. It's disappointing that, even though we finished first in the Pool stages with 29 points from a possible 30, we have to play the semi-final away.

"We must stay united and all push in the same direction. We can't relax now because a victory like the one against Exeter, coming as it did in the last minute, was awesome for the team and will only make us stronger.

"That quarter-final was intense and it was a real pleasure to play in a game like that. The intensity was incredible and so was the pressure. It's an awesome experience playing in a knock-out game like that.

"Now we have qualified for the semi-final it means we have an additional game in our calendar and we don't yet know if it will be too much for us. I will only be able to tell you that at the end of the season. What I do know is that we've only got big games left from now until the end of the year and we'll be giving 100% in every single game."