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Watch: Foot trip can't stop Cheslin Kolbe as Toulouse's star steps his way through Bordeaux's defence
Not even a foot trip could bring down Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe, as he stepped his way through Bordeaux’s defence in the Champions Cup semi-final clash leaving a trail of defenders in his wake.
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In what descended into a typical Top 14 derby, the two powerhouse French clubs engaged in a dullish semi-final at Stade Ernest Wallon. Four time European champions came away with the spoils, winning 21-9 to qualify for the final after coming up short the last few seasons.
With a 14-9 lead, Toulouse were looking for the knockout blow late in the game when Kolbe exploded through the defence putting on a stepping show reminiscent of his World Cup final exploits.
Picking up the ball at the base of the ruck, Kolbe looked apprehensive about what to do next, circling backwards like a Sevens player before targetting the opposite side of the ruck.
The Toulouse wing put a damaging left foot step on Bordeaux’s reserve lock Cyril Cazeaux, who threw out a foot trip in a desperate attempt to bring Kolbe down. The 27-year-old put another left foot step on halfback Maxime Lucu moments later for a devastating combo.
It took four Bordeaux players in pursuit of Kolbe to force the Springbok to stop running and put a chip kick ahead which went dead in goal giving the opposition a reprieve.
Quand @Cheslin_Kolbe11 mystifie la défense bordelaise en 2 appuis ?
(? : Champions Cup / France 2)#STUBB pic.twitter.com/fgwdQxDw0p— Top Rugby (@TopRugby2) May 1, 2021
Kolbe couldn’t link up with Antoine Dupont who was trying to find a way to keep the break alive, but it was the Toulouse scrumhalf who eventually put the final nail in the coffin with eight minutes remaining.
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With some enterprising offloading between inside centre Pita Ahki and fullback Maxime Medard, Australian centre Zach Holmes found a crease directly up the middle before drawing the fullback to put Dupont away.
France’s halfback sprinted 25-metres to extend the lead to 21-9 with the successful conversion, securing a Heineken Cup final berth the team has been chasing the last few seasons.
? ? Magnifique essai des trois-quarts toulousains avec l'incontournable Antoine Dupont à la conclusion pour reléguer l'UBB à douze longueurs (21-9) #ChampionsCup #STUBB
? Suivez la rencontre en direct : https://t.co/DVyOTSah0G pic.twitter.com/ob8ODG15Lh
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) May 1, 2021
When Toulouse click it's unstoppable. Usually cos Dupont is on the end of it, but they are so good at finding a defensive mismatch or offloading to the player in space #STvUBB #TOUvUBB
— Rhys Knott (@wrhys_writes) May 1, 2021
Since signing stars such as Cheslin Kolbe and All Black Jerome Kaino, Toulouse have threatened Europe’s powers with a squad full of promising young French nationals including star halfback Antoine Dupont.
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A defeat of defending champions Leinster at home in the pool stages of the 2019 European season sent a warning that the former French power was back.
That side ultimately fell short, succumbing to Leinster 30-12 in the semi-final at the RDS Arena but won the domestic league that season, proving their merit as genuine contenders.
Winning 21 games and losing just three throughout 2019, Toulouse finished top of the Top 14 table earning a bye heading into the playoffs before beating La Rochelle in the semi-final and Clermont in the final to capture their 20th league title.
With the Top 14 season cancelled in 2020, they were unable to defend their title. With only European silverware on offer, Toulouse again fell at the semi-final stage of the Champions Cup, losing to English club Exeter who went on to capture their first European crown over Racing 92.
Their victory over Bordeaux Begles secured a spot in what will be a seventh final appearance where they will face the winner of Leinster and La Rochelle.
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
6 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
6 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments