Toulouse gained their sixth Investec Champions Cup title in dramatic trend as they wanted additional time to beat a dogged Leinster 31-22 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In a ding-dong affair, there have been no tries in regulation time as either side performed out a 15-15 stalemate, earlier than Matthis Lebel broke the impasse firstly of additional time to gas a manic interval, which noticed two dismissals.
Leinster had James Lowe despatched to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on, earlier than Toulouse noticed Richie Arnold proven a pink card for violent conduct on the breakdown with a flailing left arm.
Josh van der Flier arrange a grandstand end as he bundled over, however Thomas Ramos, a alternative in favour of the Scot Blair Kinghorn, confirmed a cool head with three additional penalties to take the French facet to a different European crown.
TALKING POINT – MISTAKES WHEN IT MATTERED
Had they confronted every other facet within the competitors, Leinster would have been lifting their fifth Champions Cup, however in the case of the perfect gamers delivering, Toulouse had that in spades.
It was not only a case of Ugo Mola’s stars shimmering brightest, nonetheless, as particular person errors, significantly when it mattered, value Leo Cullen’s facet.
Ciaran Frawley missed two golden drop-goal makes an attempt late on within the second halves of regulation and further time, and Lowe’s sin bin gave Toulouse full momentum to go on and notch the primary strive of the sport.
Leinster sought to make the most of the additional man after Arnold was brandished a pink, however they didn’t capitalise totally after Van der Flier’s strive, with some hesitation in essential areas and passes going awry.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – ANTOINE DUPONT, TOULOUSE
The perfect participant on the earth, and on membership rugby’s largest stage, boy, did he present it.
Everyone knows him for his silky abilities and fast palms at 9, however the scrum-half did excess of that, displaying true defensive aptitude and fortitude.
His last-ditch deal with on the breaking Dan Sheehan within the second half was a selected spotlight, and that doesn’t even come near the penalties that he gained along with his wiliness.
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Thomas Ramos of Toulouse celebrates a penalty in the course of the Investec Champions Cup ultimate between Leinster and Toulouse on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
Picture credit score: Getty Photographs
PLAYER RATINGS
Leinster: Keenan 6, Larmour 6, Lowe 6, Henshaw 5, Osborne 5, Byrne 6, G-Park 6, Connors 6, Doris 6, Baird 6, Jenkins 5, McCarthy 7, Furlong 6, Sheehan 6, Porter 6. Replacements: Kelleher 6, Healy 6, Ala’atoa 6, Ryan 6, Conan 6, Frawley 5, van der Flier 7.
Toulouse: Kinghorn 7, Malliva 6, Lebel 6, Costes 6, Ahki 5, Ntamack 7, Dupont 8, Cros 6, Roumat 7, Willis 7, Meafou 6, Flament 6, Aldegheri 6, Mauvalla 7, Baille 6. Replacements: Marchand 6, Neti 6, Merkler 6, Arnold 5, Brennan 5, Chocobares 5, Graou 6, Ramos 7.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
83’: YELLOW CARD They’re an alleged deliberate knock-on from James Lowe as Toulouse break down the fitting… and he is given his momentary marching orders!
84’: TRY! LEINSTER 15-22 TOULOUSE (LEBEL) Properly, Lowe shall be feeling a bit worse now! What a pace of switch throughout the backs, exploiting the additional quantity. It is labored by way of the palms, and Lebel, who’s been quiet as we speak, races past the determined Josh van der Flier, to run within the ultimate’s first strive! Ramos provides the extras.
91’: RED CARD! Arnold is underneath the microscope for his entry…what has that left arm struck? He’s off! What an opportunity now for a Leinster comeback, with James Lowe set to rejoin us.
95’: TRY! LEINSTER 20-25 TOULOUSE (VAN DER FLIER) They’re inside yet one more! Leinster camp on the Toulouse tryline because the forwards preserve choosing and going, and the flanker makes a determined dive to floor it. The TMO has a glance, and it is positively down!
