Toulouse win thrilling Champions Cup try-fest with Harlequins
Toulouse thwarted a thrilling Harlequins fightback to triumph 38-26 and book an Investec Champions Cup final clash against fellow European heavyweights Leinster.
The competition’s two most successful teams, who boast nine titles between them, will go head-to-head at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25.
But Toulouse had to survive a major scare on home soil at Le Stadium after Quins threatened to overhaul a 31-12 deficit.
Playing in the Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time, the Gallagher Premiership outfit went blow for blow with revered opponents, showcasing their exhilarating attacking adventure through tries from Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley, Will Evans and Tyrone Green, while Smith kicked three conversions.
Toulouse could not relax until wing Juan Cruz Mallia’s 69th-minute touchdown – it immediately followed a yellow card for Quins hooker Jack Walker – and came after earlier tries by Antoine Dupont (2), Matthis Lebel, Peato Mauvaka and Thibaud Flament, with Blair Kinghorn adding three conversions and Thomas Ramos one.
Quins gave it everything, trailing by only five points with more than an hour gone, yet Toulouse had just enough in the tank.
Toulouse blasted out of the blocks and were ahead after just four minutes following a lineout steal deep inside Quins’ 22.
It was a poor error by the visitors, and Toulouse punished them ruthlessly as Romain Ntamack’s long, floated pass allowed Lebel an unopposed run to the line.
Ntamack and his revered half-back partner Dupont freely delved into their box of tricks, and it took Quins 12 minutes to emerge from their own half, such had been Toulouse’s dominance, but they responded brilliantly.
Toulouse were shunted on to the back foot as Quins attacked, and after number eight Alex Dombrandt went close, Smith weaved his way through three defenders for a try that he also converted.
Quins were then undone by Toulouse’s power-game, though, as a precision lineout drive was finished by Mauvaka and Kinghorn converted for a 12-7 lead after the opening quarter.
There was no let-up in the entertainment and quality, with Quins drawing level when Evans touched down following a lineout surge that matched Toulouse’s effort, then Flament put his team back in front.
Toulouse’s third try was a direct produce of scrum-half Danny Care’s pass bouncing off flanker Chandler Cunningham-South, and Flament could scarcely believe his good fortune as Quins found themselves behind again.
But there was nothing fortunate about try number four as Toulouse attacked from deep through centre Paul Costes’ majestic break, and his well-judged kick into space was gathered by a chasing Dupont.
The game was rapidly moving away from Quins, and Dupont struck again four minutes later, this time the beneficiary of outstanding work by Mauvaka, and two more Kinghorn conversions gave Toulouse an imposing 19-point interval advantage.
Quins needed a lifeline early in the second period, and it arrived after 46 minutes when Smith’s long pass found Murley, and his acrobatic finish – Smith converted from the touchline – created a glimmer of hope.
And it got even better seven minutes later as another brilliant score was carved out by Murley before Care’s pass sent Green over, with Smith’s conversion leaving Quins within striking distance.
But Toulouse then reasserted themselves, helped by Walker’s yellow card, and he had barely left the pitch before Mallia struck, with Ramos’ conversion putting Quins under huge pressure.
And there was no way back for the visitors, as English interest in this season’s tournament was ended after a memorable 10-try spectacle.
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
2 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments