A repeat of last season's Heineken Cup final match-up is still on the cards after the weekend's European Champions Cup quarter-finals - and New Zealanders are in the thick of it.
Toulon defeated London Wasps 32-18 at Stade Mayol, keeping alive hopes of an unprecedented "three-peat" in Europe for thewealthy French club, not to mention the chance of sending soon-to-retire lock Ali Williams out on a high note.
Williams scored a 76th-minute try for Toulon to seal the victory, and had Carl Hayman and Chris Masoe alongside him, though it was the eight goals from Frederic Michalak that proved the difference against Wasps, for whom Manu Samoa wing Alapati Leiua came off the bench.
The most impressive display was Clermont's 37-5 crushing of Aviva Premiership leaders Northampton Saints. Fritz Lee played No8 for the victors while Mike Delany appeared off the bench. Saints fielded James Wilson, Ken Pisi and George Pisi in the backs, while Kahn Fotuali'i and Ahsee Tuala featured off the pine.
The Jimmy Gopperth-Isaac Boss 9-10 axis helped Leinster to an 18-15 victory over Bath, though Gopperth did not take the kicks at goal.
Saracens edged Racing-Metro 12-11 in the other quarter-final, and will play Clermont in the April 18 semifinal, while Toulon head to Marseille to "host" Leinster.
Several Kiwis featured in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Phil Burleigh's Edinburgh beat Halani Aulika's London Irish 23-18, while Thomas Waldrom scored a try from No8 as his Exeter Chiefs bagged a 48-13 win over the Newcastle Falcons of Sinoti Sinoti, Kane Thompson, Richard Mayhew, Ruki Tipuna and Sonatane Takalua.
In a Welsh derby, Nick Crosswell's Dragons edged Cardiff Blues 25-21, Gareth Anscombe scoring a try and kicking three goals for the Blues.
In the last quarter-final, John Afoa's Gloucester beat Connacht 14-7. Mils Muliaina, before being subbed at 34 minutes, Tom McCartney and George Naoupu, all turned out for Pat Lam's Irish club side.
