Welsh rugby got just the boost it required after a disappointing World Cup when both Ospreys and Cardiff Blues made the last eight of the European Cup on Sunday.
Ospreys progressed as one of the two best runners-up with an exciting 28-21 victory over French side Bourgoin, who belied their usual lethargic attitude to the competition by pushing the Welsh side all the way.
Cardiff ensured they finished top of Pool 3 -- making the last eight for the first time since 2001 -- with a convincing 17-0 win over English side Bristol.
PHOTO: AFP
However, failure to press home their advantage and not getting a bonus point means they have the fearsome prospect of traveling to Toulouse in April.
"Bring it on son!" said former Welsh captain Gareth Thomas, who used to play for Toulouse.
Man of the match Martyn Williams -- once again showing why he opted to cut short his international retirement -- admitted it would be a big challenge but he was just delighted to have made the last eight.
"It will be a big ask," said the flanker, who went off shortly before the end with an ankle strapped after he fell awkwardly.
"We probably should have scored another try but we would have taken this result if we were offered it at the beginning of the day. It was a brilliant performance from all the team, including the lads who came on off the bench," he said.
That meant more European heartbreak for French champions Stade Francais, who beat Harlequins 31-10 but failed to grab one of the two runners-up spots in the last eight.
Gloucester also qualified for the quarter-finals on Sunday with victory over Ulster and topped Pool 2 ahead of Ospreys.
Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera scored a brace and fellow back-rower Alasdair Strokosch one to ensure Gloucester finished atop the pool on 24 points with a 29-21 win over the struggling Irish province.
Ian Balshaw and Luke Narraway also scored for the English club, but Ulster hit back with three tries of their own through Tommy Bowe (two) and Andrew Trimble.
In France, Bourgoin's Sebastien Laloo exchanged two early penalties with Ospreys' James Hook in the Welsh region's 28-21 victory that ensured they go to the knock-out phase as one of the two best-placed pool runners-up.
The first try came after Ospreys' influential No. 8 Filo Tiatia surged through midfield, the ball then whipped to the right wing from where Shane Williams ran in unopposed.
A midfield mismove that saw Hook throw out an inch-perfect pass to Lee Byrne was enough to see the fullback power through for the Ospreys' second try on the half-hour.
The home side hit back with a pushover try by Karena Wihongi, but the Ospreys weathered the storm.
Bourgoin's Morgan Parra hit a penalty but Gavin Henson intercepted in injury-time and replacement flanker Jonathan Thomas crossed for a late try.
The French side hit back with a try from winger Florian Denos, but it was all too late.
Despite Stade and Bourgoin's failure to make the knockout stages there will be French representation in the form of three-time winners Toulouse and, somewhat surprisingly given their championship form, Perpignan.
Toulouse outclassed an under strength Edinburgh side 34-10 to go through at the expense of two-time champions Leicester and Irish province Leinster, who lost any hope of making the last eight by losing to the Tigers.
Leinster's failure once again to mount a serious challenge for the trophy was more glaring after Munster showed that their appetite for battle is in no way diminished by winning their do-or-die match 19-3 with holders Wasps.
Irish flyhalf Ronan O'Gara showed that he may be returning to the peerless form he left behind when it came to the World Cup, kicking 14 points and setting up the only try of the encounter.
"Ronan was absolutely magnificent. I can't speak highly enough of him. He's getting better and better," coach Declan Kidney said.
"This is a special day. To beat a team of Wasps' calibre by this score was very impressive," added Kidney after a tense encounter which condemned Wasps to an early exit from the tournament.
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