Red-hot Leinster blow Toulouse away to grab Champions Cup final spot:
EARLIER THIS WEEK, Leinster boss Leo Cullen took issue with what he perceives as the hype that has been created around his team. Performances like this one are only going to fuel the fanfare.
They showed they can do it at 15 v 15 too, with their clever attack always finding ways to push Toulouse to breaking point. There are weapons everywhere in this Leinster team and they more than lived up to their status as the seven-point favorites in this game. Toulouse will rue the yellow cards for fullback Thomas Ramos and replacement loosehead prop Rodrigue Neti in either half, but such was Leinster’s accuracy and execution, you’d have fancied them to win without the numerical advantages.
But the visitors had the first try in the ninth minute, the score stemming from a brilliant 50:22 kick by Ramos. From the left-hand-side lineout, the French team powered around the corner at Leinster, Willis making the key carry through Ngatai and Byrne, before they swung back to their left as passes from Romain Ntamack and wing Matthis Lebel allowed centre Pita Ahki to finish with a man to spare outside him.
Leinster took full advantage, scoring on their next attack. Sheehan broke off the maul powerfully, O’Brien went close off another sharp Gibson-Park pass to the left, then it was Conan who barged through Richie Arnold to finish. Byrne converted for 13-7. Ramos converted to leave the scoreline at 27-14 and though Ngatai’s classy 50:22 kick allowed Leinster more access before the break, a Mauvaka turnover meant les Toulousains survived.
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