Great show. The Toulouse residents offered a phenomenal second half this Sunday, on their lawn, in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup. Nine tries in total for a final score of 64-26, including 47-10 in the second act. A real slap in the face, allowing them to qualify for the sixth consecutive time in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup. Four tries in less than 15 minutes, nine in total. It’s common for things to settle down, but at this point.
This demonstration plunged the English of Exeter into darkness. They just managed to sneak in and grab a few points. Wimbush’s try in the 62nd minute even brought them back to 19 points behind Toulouse, but Romain Ntamack’s teammates continued to chart their course.
First half marked by indiscipline
The demonstration was unexpected, an almost unexpected moment. The Toulouse players initially had difficulty getting into the match. After an early try from Ntamack in the 5th minute of play, Toulouse found themselves with 14 men on the field following a foul by Mauvaka in front of his goal. Opposite, as expected, the English offer a sharp game with a very fast three-quarter line.
“The first half was complicated, we had difficulty finding playing time, difficulty in playing behind,” said Antoine Dupont at the end of the match. Indiscipline reigns, chaos sometimes. The people of Toulouse are aggressive, in the bad sense of the word. The game is messy, lacks control. As if the sun took away all lucidity from them. As if he hit the red jerseys harder than the blue ones. The locals concede seven penalties in 40 minutes. Including three from Willis, who made up for it with a try just before half-time. Toulouse took the advantage at the break, and finished ahead by one point, 17-16, thanks to some great breakthroughs that were difficult to see as the English kept the ball.
Back on the field, they are no longer the same Toulouse people. The first minutes are messy, certainly. Bad reception, new indiscipline with tackle without the ball. An 8th penalty against Toulouse, and Exeter regains control. Three points too easily given. But the game ends up changing. It was in the 48th minute that Kinghorn opened the ball. He converts his own try from the right side. Four minutes later, Pita Ahki scored in turn and put the English well away. 31-19. Here it is, the game at Stade Toulouse.
Two tries conceded in quick succession. The English drink the cup. And it does not stop there. A third achievement from Blair Kinghorn sets Ernest-Wallon on fire. Antoine Dupont takes over, thanks to a collective action launched by Merkler, who moves the game to the outside, Akhi and Costes who allow Cruz Mallia to be shifted to his wing. From a shed inside, he finds Dupont who just has to join the line. We did not imagine, after this chaotic first half, so close.
Appointment with the Harlequins, Bordeaux stunners
The Toulouse Stadium has been transformed. The English are amorphous. They are losing their noses physically from chasing the unstoppable Toulouse residents. Two other tries follow (Ahki and Cruz Mallia on a pass from Ntamack), bringing Toulouse to 64 points, including 47 planted in the second period. The score becomes almost severe.
“We found more speed, we were able to play the game,” said Antoine Dupont after the match. We didn’t get confused, even though we saw that it wasn’t going smoothly, we stayed the course until the end. » “We scared ourselves at half-time with a one-point gap,” admits full-back Paul Costes, author of some high-class actions. In the second, we knew how to put the game in place and it opened up spaces. »
At the end of the match, Toulouse even had the luxury of saving certain players for next week’s Top 14 match. But the date to remember is May 5. Stade Toulouse offers its 6th consecutive semi-final in the competition. The club will challenge Harlequins, who won 42-41 against Bordeaux after another orgy of rugby. The show is not over.
