Stade Toulousin is eliminated from the semi-finals by Leinster (41-22)

It was the most competitive poster since the European Rugby Cup’s beginnings in 1996: Toulouse took on Leinster for the 14th time (either in the group stage or in the final stages), on Saturday 29 April in Dublin.
Rouge and Noire had retaliated to take. In 2022, they fell to those same Irish, at the same level as the semi-finals. There is also the Aviva Stadium. Leinster finally won by 41 to 22 Against Stade Toulouse. At halftime, the Irish were already leading 27-14.

Rouge and Noir are clearly teasing their pets. Post 2019, post 2022 Toulouse’s ambitions once again collide with the relentless Irish machine. But if a feeling of helplessness arises from the first two failures, a lack of experience (30-12) or last year’s freshness (40-17), this defeat will leave many regrets. This time Toulouse stood, at least fifteen against fifteen, against the fifteenth of the blue-shirted Clover, the monster of realism.

Huge air hole in the first half

Brilliant in sequence, the Toulouse players will ruminate long over this huge pocket of air in the first half and in the first half of the year. 21-0 conceded within ten minutes After the yellow card of international fullback Thomas Ramos, guilty of voluntary attack. Leinster took full advantage of his absence, with two successive tries from third-row Jack Conan (17 and 21), and another, just after his return to the field, from hooker Dan Sheehan (27). The Irish were equally punished – two attempts by Josh Van der Vlaer (58th) and Jason Jenkins (64th) – Toulouse’s second numerical inferiority after an illegal eviction of the pole that replaced Rodrigue Nitti.

However, the top 14 leader started the meeting much better than it did in 2022 with a try at the end of the line from New Zealand midfielder Peta Ahke (ninth). But the Early exit of Pierre-Louis Bracy, who was clearly injured in his right leg, forced him from the 15th minute to reorganize tactically, passing Antoine Dupont at the opening and Romain Ntamak in the middle. The Test, in power, for Australian dribbler Emmanuel Mevue before half time (35) brought back a kind of suspense as this Leinster side is ruthless, even bereft of three key pieces (Johnny Sexton, James Lowe, Robbie Henshaw).

A third bid for Toulouse for the honor

Tolosan who scored the third try for the honor After the siren, by Jack Willis, again fell to the stronger of them after having passed without incident two of the South African Pitfalls of the Bulls and Sharks in the previous innings. This is the third time in five years that Stade Toulouse has faltered in the Champions Cup semi-finals.

Impressive in the league since the start of the season, Stade Toulousain will have to quickly refill Bring the shield of Brennus.

There is still an opportunity for French rugby to raise the Champions Cup for the third year in a row, as La Rochelle, the defending champion, opposed Sunday (4 pm) in Bordeaux against England’s Exeter. Especially since Leinster, who will still have the field advantage going into the final on Saturday 20 May, managed much better at Rochela than they did at Toulouse.

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