BORDEAUX, France, 25 April 2004 — Yann Delaigue kicked holders Toulouse into their second successive European Cup final in an all-French semifinal against Biarritz yesterday.

Toulouse, who will play their third final against the winners of the other semifinal between Munster and Wasps, beat their compatriots 19-11 in a hard-fought contest.

The French champions also won the inaugural European Cup in 1996.

Veteran flyhalf Delaigue was the best player on the pitch, converting three penalties and his team’s only try, scored by New Zealand’s flanker Isitolo Maka on the hour.

He wrapped up victory with a last-gasp drop kick. Biarritz fought bravely from start to finish and scored the game’s first try thanks to wing Philippe Bidabe in the 51st minute. But the lack of experience — it was Toulouse’s fifth semifinal — and a lackluster kicking performance by Biarritz’s international scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili finally made the difference.

Tuqiri’s Late Try Keeps Waratahs’ Season Alive

In Sydney, a try three minutes from time by Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri breathed new life into the New South Wales Waratahs’ Super 12 campaign with a rousing 37-29 win over front-runners ACT Brumbies yesterday.

In one of the best games of the season, the Waratahs refused to surrender when Wallaby fullback Joe Roff appeared to have won the game with a try three minutes earlier to give the Brumbies a 29-27 lead for the first time.

But the Waratahs regrouped and in a terrific piece of innovative running by young fullback Cameron Shepherd, Tuqiri was presented with a chance to streak down the right-hand touchline and score his second try of the night and the clincher.

Veteran Wallaby Matthew Burke drilled a sideline conversion to put the Waratahs up 34-29 and then landed a 44-meter penalty goal on the siren to seal victory and deny the Brumbies a second bonus point.

The Brumbies gained a bonus point out of the thrilling match for scoring four tries to hold on to a one-point lead over the second-placed Canterbury Crusaders, who downed the Northern Bulls earlier yesterday.

In Dunedin, New Zealand, the Otago Highlanders kept their flickering Super 12 semifinal hopes alive with a 26-14 defeat of the Wellington Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes, who led 11-6 at half time, now have no chance and even the Highlanders face a tough battle to make the playoffs.

The game remained pointless for the first 20 minutes of an error-strewn match.

A penalty to either side was followed by the Hurricanes’ only try of the match, scored by forward Kristian Ormsby.

After the break, Highlanders replacement flyhalf Nick Evans took a high ball on his own 22-meter line and jinked deep into opposition territory, setting up a maul which led to Jimmy Cowen touching down under the posts. Evans, regarded as an All Black prospect, was also crucial in the next score when a Wellington kick was charged down. Tony Brown, the Highlanders’ record points-scorer who was playing in his final match for the team, slotted the conversion from a tight angle. He leaves Carisbrook Park with 801 Super 12 career points to his credit.

Reds Edge Sharks in Dismal Low-Scoring Match

In Durban, Australia’s Queensland Reds beat South Africa’s Sharks 6-5 in a poor quality Super 12 match at the ABSA Stadium yesterday. The score was the lowest in the history of the tournament, breaking the dubious record of 1999 when the Highlanders beat the Brumbies 9-8. Play was marred by poor handling, massive turnovers and lack of imagination. The only positive aspect of the match was the defense from both sides.

In Sydney, New Zealand international Nigel Vagana went from villain to hero to score the winning try in extra time to secure Cronulla Sharks an 18-14 victory over the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League at Parramatta Stadium. Vagana had a nightmare match for the Kiwis at fullback during his national side’s 37-10 Test loss to Australia the previous night, but yesterday he made amends, playing in the centers and running onto a Michael Sullivan pass during the first minute of golden point time to touch down next to the posts.