DIRECT. LEINSTER – TOULOUSE. Despite an early try, Stade Toulousain is taken by Leinster’s offensive tornado and runs after the score. Follow the Champions Cup semi-final with us.
16:33 – Jelonch forward
Dupont pretends to open the game and from a chistera launches Baille into the traffic in percussion. Toulouse takes advantage of this fixation in the axis to leave long side. Ramos extends to the wing and Jelonch but the third line explodes on contact with Lowe and sees the ball go forward as he tries to pass it to Fouyssac.
16:32 – Marchand scratches the ball
In front of his 22 meters, Marchand comes to corner Ryan on the ground. Although on his support, the hooker does not move and obtains a penalty which allows Ntamack to bring Stade Toulousain back into the opposing camp.
16:30 – Ramos stops the bleeding
Without shaking from nearly 40 yards, Ramos extends his kick and wraps it perfectly with his right foot to pass it between the Leinster posts (20-10).
16:29 – Porter cracks in melee
Following a poor reception on the dismissal of Ntamack, Toulouse gets a scrum in the Irish camp. On the push, Porter gives in to Aldegheri and concedes a penalty.
16:26 – Sexton Transformation
Again shifted to the left at about 30 meters, Johnny Sexton sends his ball between the Toulouse posts and confirms the current series for Leinster who has just planted a 17-0 to his opponent from Haut-Garonne (20-7).
16:24 – Van der Flier essay
Everything is going much too fast for Stade Toulousain in these first 20 minutes. Upwind, Sexton faked the pass on the outside and sped into the gaping rift between Arnold and Meafou. In the 22 meters, he fixes his defender and passes on his left to van der Flier. The third line is tackled by Mallia but in the movement reaches the goal line and flattens (18-7).
19 | ANOTHER ONE! IT’S JOSH!#LEIvTOU #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/8gS17S6rHB
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 14, 2022
16:22 – Furlong comes out injured
Hard blow for the Irish province. Author of a very good start to the match, Furlong was forced to leave the pitch. Leinster’s right prop limps off and is replaced by Ala’alatoa.
16:20 – Sexton pulls off the transformation
Shifted to the left of the field, near the touchline 30 meters away, Sexton hits the ball from outside the right and sends it between the posts (13-7).
16:20 – The bad memory of 2019
In the last match between the two teams, on April 21, 2019, Leinster had been ruthless with Toulouse. At home, Sexton and his family had dominated the debates and extinguished all hope among their opponents, passing them three tries without cashing in (30-12).
16:18 – Lowe’s test!
Leinster is unleashed in this first quarter of an hour and Lowe comes to plant a try in Toulouse. After a good touchdown from the lineout, the forwards created a fixation before Henshaw took over upwind. Gibson-Park comes back into the closed left on Sexton. The opener delivered immediately for Lowe at his side who concluded by diving into the in-goal (11-7).
16:17 – Toulouse penalized
Toulouse concedes a third penalty on a school counter-ruck from Leinster, much quicker to provide support on the ground. Sexton will play in touch in the 22 meters Toulouse.
16:16 – Toulouse in the trap
Stade Toulousain is taken by the Irish intensity and does not manage to chain the playing times. This forces Ntamack to return possession to the foot.
16:14 – Sexton brings his own
Sexton closes the gap with another penalty. in the axis, very slightly shifted to the left, the Irish striker is impeccable from 20 meters and comes to sanction the tackle without the ball of a Toulouse defender (6-7).
16:12 – The reaction of Leinster
This Champions Cup semi-final begins on a very high level of play. Annoyed to have been surprised against, Leinster seeks to react. After a kick over, Conan tears the Toulouse curtain and slips into the 22 meters but his pass on the right for Keenan who came in support, bounces on the face of the back. Toulouse gives itself a little air at the foot.