ASM Clermont Auvergne director of rugby Franck Azéma said his side’s excellent first-half performance against Northampton Saints was key to their progress into the European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-finals. Clermont were involved in a second successive 13-try bonanza with Northampton at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Sunday, after their Pool 1 clash at the same venue in January, emerging 61-38 victors in the last quarter-final of the weekend. And Azéma was delighted that Clermont edged closer to a third Challenge Cup – after their 1999 and 2007 successes. “It’s a step further to be in the semi-finals,” he said. “We are happy. It was a good match overall for us, with a very good first half, when we were well set with our game, notably our defence, with the pressure that we exerted. We then relaxed, but we were able to pull clear to win comfortably.” https://twitter.com/ASMOfficiel/status/1112434895480074242 Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd believes it will take a good side to defeat Clermont after the French club’s seventh win in a row in the competition this season and Saints’ third consecutive loss to the TOP 14 team this term. He told SaintsTV: “They are a very good side who are going to be a great side, which will be interesting. They are big, strong, physical and full of skill. They’re going to be hard to beat.” Clermont will host Harlequins in their Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday, April 20 (20:00 BST) at Stade Marcel-Michelin, live on BT Sport, FR4 and beIN SPORTS.