Few had anticipated this. There were those lone voices who suggested Leinster still had a big performance in them, but the consensus was that Toulon would win and win well in Marseille.
The opening minutes suggested that much was bound to transpire, but Matt O’Connor’s side built their way into the game impressively.
Toulon's players celebrate their win. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Their competitive display was founded on an excellent set-piece and a ferocious defensive effort, with experienced forwards like Devin Toner, Sean O’Brien and Sean Cronin standing out in both domains, as well as the less battle-hardened Jordi Murphy.
The same handling and passing errors that have afflicted Leinster all season were present at crucial times again in this nail-biting European contest, but O’Connor’s charges were more than able to construct scoring chances.
Toulon threatened to move into dominant positions once or twice, but Leinster never let them out of sight. There was composure in how the province went about keeping the points flowing in through the boot of Ian Madigan.
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Extra time hadn’t even entered the mind until it became clear that try-scoring chances were going to be as equally rare as yesterday in Saint-Étienne. Even when Bryan Habana scored with that heartbreaking intercept, Leinster ground their way over for a try of their own to push the game to the very dying minutes.
Williams’ 10-minute sentence
Here is the most obvious place to look for the winning and losing of the game. Down to 14 men and tied at 15-15 in extra time, Toulon might have been forgiven for thinking they had handed Leinster a genuine winning opportunity.
Williams heads for the sin bin during extra time. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
It was clear that O’Connor’s side would have no better chance to win the game, but those 10 minutes ended up being ruinous. First Rob Kearney was tackled firmly in midfield and Chris Masoe won a superb turnover penalty to allow Leigh Halfpenny to smash over a 46-metre penalty.
Even more costly was the Habana try. Leinster won’t point fingers at individuals, but the frustration will lie in the fact that simple hands might have achieved what the skip pass couldn’t.
Habana is an intercept king, as he’s proven throughout his career, and a wonderful read and burst of acceleration turned a threatening defensive situation for Toulon into a match-winning score.
Ali Williams watched on from the sideline and surely breathed a deep, deep sigh of relief.
Le champions?
Toulon now move on to their third European final in a row but this display shows there are great strides of improvement for the back-to-back champions to make if they are to claim title number three.
The Armitage brothers featured as prominently as ever. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
The same could be said of Clermont after their success over Saracens yesterday, as the Auvergne club struggled to put together an 80-minute showing. Of course, we must take into account the determined opposition these Top 14 giants faced in Leinster and Sarries.
Semi-finals can be scrappy affairs and that certainly proved to be the case in this season’s Champions Cup. Toulon and Clermont have until 2 May to hit top gear.
Another superb contest awaits in Twickenham, though it may not be the tie tournament organisers were hoping for.
Pride in defeat but progress to make
Leinster are sure to share their pride at the defiant performance they delivered against the French behemoths in Marseille, and they deserve to express such sentiments after a display that was founded on mentally turning up.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
However, the longer view of this game and the season as a whole will be one of disappointment. Yes, Leinster came close in demanding circumstances against a side full of superstars, but coming up short isn’t the position the province aspire to.
In truth a win in Marseille would have covered over the cracks of a season that has only promised to impress intermittently. Game plan issues, a raft of injuries in the first half of the campaign, international departures and other problems have raised their head at different points.
There is an unlikely chance of redemption in the Guinness Pro12 before this season is out, but O’Connor will head into his third season as Leinster head coach with much still to prove, whatever about the Pro12 title and European semi-final he can point to.
A returning world-class out-half will help, but Leinster will be eager to ensure they don’t slip away from the elite class of Europe next season.
Yellow for Ali and more talking points after Leinster lose to Toulon
Murray Kinsella reports from Stade Vélodrome
LEINSTER’S EUROPEAN SEASON ended at the semi-final stage with a 25-20 defeat to Toulon after extra time.
Read our full match report here.
Closer than expected
Few had anticipated this. There were those lone voices who suggested Leinster still had a big performance in them, but the consensus was that Toulon would win and win well in Marseille.
The opening minutes suggested that much was bound to transpire, but Matt O’Connor’s side built their way into the game impressively.
Their competitive display was founded on an excellent set-piece and a ferocious defensive effort, with experienced forwards like Devin Toner, Sean O’Brien and Sean Cronin standing out in both domains, as well as the less battle-hardened Jordi Murphy.
The same handling and passing errors that have afflicted Leinster all season were present at crucial times again in this nail-biting European contest, but O’Connor’s charges were more than able to construct scoring chances.
Toulon threatened to move into dominant positions once or twice, but Leinster never let them out of sight. There was composure in how the province went about keeping the points flowing in through the boot of Ian Madigan.
Extra time hadn’t even entered the mind until it became clear that try-scoring chances were going to be as equally rare as yesterday in Saint-Étienne. Even when Bryan Habana scored with that heartbreaking intercept, Leinster ground their way over for a try of their own to push the game to the very dying minutes.
Williams’ 10-minute sentence
Here is the most obvious place to look for the winning and losing of the game. Down to 14 men and tied at 15-15 in extra time, Toulon might have been forgiven for thinking they had handed Leinster a genuine winning opportunity.
It was clear that O’Connor’s side would have no better chance to win the game, but those 10 minutes ended up being ruinous. First Rob Kearney was tackled firmly in midfield and Chris Masoe won a superb turnover penalty to allow Leigh Halfpenny to smash over a 46-metre penalty.
Even more costly was the Habana try. Leinster won’t point fingers at individuals, but the frustration will lie in the fact that simple hands might have achieved what the skip pass couldn’t.
Habana is an intercept king, as he’s proven throughout his career, and a wonderful read and burst of acceleration turned a threatening defensive situation for Toulon into a match-winning score.
Ali Williams watched on from the sideline and surely breathed a deep, deep sigh of relief.
Le champions?
Toulon now move on to their third European final in a row but this display shows there are great strides of improvement for the back-to-back champions to make if they are to claim title number three.
The same could be said of Clermont after their success over Saracens yesterday, as the Auvergne club struggled to put together an 80-minute showing. Of course, we must take into account the determined opposition these Top 14 giants faced in Leinster and Sarries.
Semi-finals can be scrappy affairs and that certainly proved to be the case in this season’s Champions Cup. Toulon and Clermont have until 2 May to hit top gear.
Another superb contest awaits in Twickenham, though it may not be the tie tournament organisers were hoping for.
Pride in defeat but progress to make
Leinster are sure to share their pride at the defiant performance they delivered against the French behemoths in Marseille, and they deserve to express such sentiments after a display that was founded on mentally turning up.
However, the longer view of this game and the season as a whole will be one of disappointment. Yes, Leinster came close in demanding circumstances against a side full of superstars, but coming up short isn’t the position the province aspire to.
In truth a win in Marseille would have covered over the cracks of a season that has only promised to impress intermittently. Game plan issues, a raft of injuries in the first half of the campaign, international departures and other problems have raised their head at different points.
There is an unlikely chance of redemption in the Guinness Pro12 before this season is out, but O’Connor will head into his third season as Leinster head coach with much still to prove, whatever about the Pro12 title and European semi-final he can point to.
A returning world-class out-half will help, but Leinster will be eager to ensure they don’t slip away from the elite class of Europe next season.
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All-Ireland Senior HC European Rugby Champions Cup Ian Madigan Leinster matt o'connor narrow margins Semi-final Talking Points Toulon