Harlequins thrashed by seven-try Toulouse in Investec Champions Cup
Harlequins failed in their bid to record successive wins against French opposition as their Investec Champions Cup campaign stalled with a 47-19 mauling by Toulouse.
A scrappy, disjointed match at The Stoop fell short of expectations but the Top 14 champions, led by Antoine Dupont, at least produced moments of genius in their seven tries that included two for centre Pierre-Louis Barassi.
Quins proved willing victims at times, their exploits in toppling Racing 92 31-29 in Paris a week earlier a distant memory as their line was breached time and again through a combination of their own defensive shortcomings and Toulouse’s class.
The match was stopped for 10 minutes to allow second row Dino Lamb to receive medical attention after he had been knocked out by a clash of heads with Pita Ahki and he was eventually carried from the pitch on a stretcher.
His replacement Irne Herbst scored a try in each half, accompanying Andre Esterhuizen’s earlier touch down, but Quins needed to be at their best to topple the five-time European champions and they were several rungs below that level.
Their frustration in a match that lasted over two hours was summed up by the misfiring Marcus Smith and the England playmaker signposted his struggle to come early by kicking dead an early penalty intended for a short-range line-out.
The error count from both sides was already racking up and it was off scraps that Toulouse engineered the opening try, Ahki using his footwork and a dummy to send centre partner Barassi over under the posts.
Harlequins replied when Esterhuizen bulldozed through a non-existent defence but Toulouse’s next attack was razor sharp, presenting Dimitri Delibes with a simple run-in.
Lamb was carried from the pitch on a stretcher following a tackle by Ahki that resulted in a yellow card for the Tonga midfielder.
The sheer volume of mistakes continued to affect both sides and a lapse in the home defence almost invited Delibes for a second try but the wing was then alive to a well-worked chance down the right that was finished by hooker Peato Mauvaka.
Quins’ erratic play took another turn as, having allowed Mauvaka to break through with little resistance, they bulldozed into the 22 with Alex Dombrandt sending Herbst over.
An exchange of tries between Matthis Lebel and Herbst, both scored off line-outs, keep the contest open during the third quarter but in the 51st minute Toulouse slammed the door shut with a sublime score.
Full-back Blair Kinghorn launched the counter attack off Esterhuizen’s kick from just outside the 22 and, once Dupont arrived to inject some magic, the path was clear for an accelerating Barassi to sprint over.
Even with their history of conjuring extraordinary fightbacks it looked bleak for Quins and the out-of-sorts Smith continued to swim against the tide when he was on the receiving end of a borderline tackle by Emmanuel Meafou.
Next over was replacement prop Rodrigue Neti and, seeing Quins had thrown in the towel, Thomas Ramos added a seventh that showcased Toulouse’s brilliance in attack.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments