Kiwis in Europe: Nonu and Carter set for quarter-final showdown

Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu will be going head-to-head. Photo / Getty Images

Former All Blacks teammates Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu are set to square off in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals after their respective teams advanced to the knockout phase.

Nonu's Toulon edged Bath 19-14 and will face Racing 92 in the quarters, so a Carter v Nonu match-up is on the cards.

Racing 92 rested most of their Kiwis, including Carter, and duly fell 22-5 to Glasgow, for whom Grayson Hart appeared off the bench.

Unfancied Exeter Chiefs won an unlikely quarter-final berth on the back of a brace of tries by No 8 Thomas Waldrom.

The former Hurricane and Wellington back-rower was again amongst the five pointers as Exeter lowered Brendon Leonard's Ospreys 33-17 in the final pool round in Europe. The Chiefs will face the Kiwi-laden London Wasps in the playoffs, down for the weekend of April 8-10. It will be an all Anglo-French quarter-final line-up.

Elsewhere in the Champions Cup, a late try to flanker Peter Saili helped Bordeaux-Begles overcome Clermont 37-28 at Stade Michelin. Luke Braid was on the other flank for the victors. Hosea Gear (14) and Fritz Lee (8) turned out for Clermont.

Stade Francais, with Zak Taulafo at prop, beat Leicester Tigers 36-21, for whom Telusa Veainu (11) and Mike FitzGerald (6) featured. Both sides will meet again in the quarters.
Wasps' Kiwis were in sterling form in their 51-10 hiding of Leinster. First five Jimmy Gopperth scored 19 points, including a try, while Charles Piutau and Frank Halai both scored tries.

A George Pisi try aided Northampton Saints in their 22-10 away win at Scarlets, who fielded Michael Collins at fullback and Regan King at centre.

Francis Saili's Munster defeated Jayden Hayward's Treviso 28-5.

A double to Luke McAlister was not enough as Toulouse lost 17-28 to top qualifiers Saracens. Corey Flynn and Neemia Tialata anchored the Toulouse front-row.

Tries to Jared Payne and former Steeler Sean Reidy saw Ulster rack up a 56-3 win over embattled Oyonnax.

In the Challenge Cup, Tom McCartney scored a try off the bench as Connacht hammered Enisei 47-5.

Willie Heinz and Otago lock Joe Latta started for Gloucester in their 14-11 victory over Zebre.

Halani Aulika and Matt Symons featured off the bench for London Irish in their 31-17 win over Agen.

Nigel Hunt and Rory Grice were in the winner's circle as Grenoble secured their playoffs berth with a 34-23 result over Edinburgh. Flanker John Hardie scored the game's opening try for Edinburgh.

Kane Thompson's Newcastle had a narrow 27-23 win over William Whetton's Brive.
Colin Slade kicked a conversion, but it was not sufficient as Pau lost 24-7 to Sitiveni Sivivatu's Castres.

Gareth Anscombe ran the cutter to good effect, with lock Jarrad Hoeata alongside him, as Cardiff Blues smashed Calvisano 74-6.

Anthony Tuitavake was at centre as Montpellier swept Harlequins 42-9. Ben Botica kicked three goals for the latter, while Mat Luamanu incurred a yellow card.

Johnny Leota (12) and Bryn Evans (4) played in Sale Sharks' 38-5 defeat of the Dragons.