Murray Kinsella reports from Stade Ernest Wallon
TOULOUSE’S JOYOUS CELEBRATIONS at the end said it all.
The four-times winners, back in the Heineken Champions Cup after missing out on involvement last season, made a thrilling statement of their potential against Leinster, edging a riveting contest on a 28-27 scoreline.
In doing so, they showed that talk of Leinster being potentially unbeatable in the aftermath of last weekend’s hammering of Wasps had been foolish.
Though Toulouse have retreated out of the limelight in recent years, they have been slowly growing as a force, with talented homegrown players leading the revival.
This three-try victory over defending champions Leinster represents a huge step in the journey, particularly given how it was sealed with a stunning length-of-the-field try finished by Maxime Médard, a relative veteran at the age of 31.
For Leinster, this narrow defeat will be extremely frustrating, especially as their errors played a part in Toulouse bursting into a 14-0 lead inside the opening quarter.
Leo Cullen’s men did force their way back in front in the second half, leading 27-21, but Toulouse produced a strong finish to shock Leinster with that scintillating Médard try, converted by composed fullback Thomas Ramos.
“We knew what all the things at the start of the game would mean to them, what that would bring to the game for them,” said Cullen post-match in Toulouse. “We were probably a little too inaccurate at the start and they built that 14-point lead.
“I thought we showed pretty good composure and fought our way back into the game and obviously they scored just before half-time but, even at that, I think the lads knew that if they held onto the ball a little bit better and controlled possession that there were going to be opportunities and space out there.
“27-21, three tries, we were looking pretty strong at that stage with 55 minutes gone.
“It’s disappointing for us not to push on from there. We have a lineout, they make a good read, come up with an intercept and go the length of the field and it’s those big moments in the game.
“I thought they did incredibly well in terms of their ability to execute once they make the intercept and the read but, from our point of view, there are so many different things in both halves of the game where we cough up positions too cheaply to feed what their strength is – that unstructured, chaotic game and the pace they have out wide.
“It’s not ideal. We didn’t put enough of a squeeze on them and, ultimately, that’s what’s cost us but there’s plenty to take out of the game.”
The manner in which Toulouse attacked Leinster – in possession, at the set-piece, in defence – was a stark contrast to the limp effort Wasps had delivered in their 52-3 defeat at the RDS in the first round.
Leinster had never let themselves get carried away by that eight-try success, but the atmosphere and challenge they faced in Toulouse were on a different scale.
“It’s very different coming away here, what it means to them being back in Europe and back at home, all that goes with that,” said Cullen. “It was a huge occasion for them and you could see what it meant to them.
“It was a huge occasion for us as well but, for whatever reason, we were just a little bit off and sometimes that’s all it takes, where you’re just not quite respecting possession enough and you think you’re going to get into that free-flowing game that we maybe were in the second half [against Wasps].
“A lot of work obviously went into getting to that point and away from home, sometimes you need to manage the conditions slightly differently. There’s plenty for us to work on.”
Cullen warned that Bath, who Leinster face twice in December, will be “scrapping for their lives” in Pool 1, but the Irish province remain in a good position to advance.
Toulouse lead the group on eight points, with Leinster two behind, Bath on four and Wasps coming up the rear on three.
Losing openside flanker Josh van der Flier just 18 minutes into this evening’s meeting with Toulouse was far from helpful for Leinster, although he will hope to be back in action soon after suffering a head injury.
Van der Flier didn’t undergo a Head Injury Assessment as Leinster had seen him displaying symptoms of a head injury, meaning Sean O’Brien completed the game in his place.
“He just had a criteria one [meaning he had to be instantly removed and kept off], so he took a bit of a bang and had a bit of a stumble when he came up, so that’s just a straight removal for him,” said Cullen.
“Other than that, just a few bangs and knocks – we haven’t got a full medical update yet. It was pretty physical out there.”
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Even though as a Leinster fan I am disappointed with the result. Rugby is a big winner today. If Toulouse maintain that level they’ll be a major force in rugby again and imo that’s a great thing. Toulouse are a very likable side and I used to love watching them in their prime and there are clear similarities with how this current reincarnation play the game to that great side. I still think Leinster can finish top as Toulouse may struggle away from home and I think Leinster will win their remaining away games and home games. No team is unbeatable and that’s good to see to, you learn from your mistakes and Leinster produced a lot today but nothing to loose any sleep over. December should be epic. Great match between two titanic teams.
@Ian Verdon: yeah. I am disappointed, but not gutted. It was a great match of rugby. Would love to have been watching as a neutral. Great to have Toulouse back.
@Ian Verdon: I think it will benefit Leinster more in the long term, then a win would’ve. All the talk, predominantly from the media and less so from the fans, about them being unbeatable, was cracked.
Still the best team in Europe by a long distance IMO, but certainly not unbeatable.
@MK76: The “by a long distance” part is where the fan delusion sets in. Leinster have won this competition once in 6 years and only by a narrow margin, while they’ve already lost a game out of 2 attempts this season. How on earth could you conclude they’re a long distance ahead of the competition?
@Rochelle: For once, agree. Saracens, Munster, Racing and now Toulouse look strong. Others too. I’d bet on Sarries and Racing to go 6 out of 6. Leinster now can’t and need to stop Toulouse going 6/6. Leinster need to sharpen up and reduce the error count if they want to win this again. Tougher competition this year.
@Rochelle: because of the way they won it, that’s how their win had such a pedigree to it.
Beating every top team in their respective leagues enroute, sometimes at their own game (like Exeter at Sandy Park), not losing a single match, and grinding out narrow victories when needed. That’s why. Surprised you needed to ask, perhaps you were away last year or something….
@Rochelle: you’re certainly an authority in fan delusion, Rochelle. Constant first hand experience.
@Rochelle: or 4 times in 9 years
@Ian Verdon: A fantastic spectacle for the game. Underdogs always play better against superior teams :)
@Andy: but they lost !
@Allblackbeaters:
Blackkballs you have a lot to say about Leinster. Last 3 games we won 2 and lost 1 (over in France) Yes we won 2 in Dublin 1 with a full team and 1 with a second team . We got beaten by 1 point in France (and it was not the Ref fault ) We need to up the opposition and not play second teams again
Well back to Pro 14 and keep working to get better
.
Better team won today and as a Leinster fan I’m disappointed but delighted for Toulouse. Leinster will have better days today and a loss can be a positive for the rest of the season. It might stop the nonsense talk in the media of Leinster being unbeatable too. They are very good but no side is unbeatable.
@Batster: I’d rather lose a European game in October than April. There’s another game and Leinster have 2 months to work on whatever went wrong yesterday. Also, despite being pool rivals, I miss the days when Toulouse were strong in Europe. A much more likeable club to Toulon. Hope they build on this.
Unfortunate ye didn’t get the result, but some great rugby on show! easily the best game of rugby this weekend (or even yet in the tournament). Have to hand it to the French, didn’t know they had it in them! ;) Montpellier v Newcastle was a close call too! epic Sunday rugby.
The impending Irish announcement now is going to be very interesting. Will Schmidt factor form into his thinking or has he his mind already made up? Ross Byrne played ten minutes over the two games, leavy and earls none at all, Sean o brien I thought has been v poor since his return. John Ryan hasn’t done anything of note. Luke McGrath showed that he doesn’t handle pressure well. There’s plenty of things to think about. On the positives carbery and Beirne have been excellent, as has some of the top name players, Henderson, henshaw, furlong, Ryan.
Ireland are at the stage now where we have decent strength in depth and players who are off form should not be picked. John Ryan, Sean o brien, luke and Jack McGrath and maybe a few others need to make way to give others a shot.
@Jim Demps: I thought John Ryan played pretty well yday, his scrummaging is v strong. Sob is carrying well, hitting rucks like a freight train but he is missing more tackles than he should but I still think he will and should get called up. Jack played well last week when brought on and today too, he made 8 tackles missing none the most out of any of the Leinster props he also won a big scrum penalty when we were under pressure in our own 22. I think is form is pretty good.
@Ian Verdon: I think you’re missing the point though ian. I’m not having a go at those lads. I’m just saying that there are others that are playing better and deserve their shot. I think bealham has been playing better than John Ryan, james Cronin better than McGrath, Sean o brien (c) better than Sean o brien (L).
I’m not saying they are better or worse, just that these lads deserve their chance and that Schmidt has the opportunity to be ruthless now and give the guys a kick up the backside who need it. On his day Sean o brien is the best 7 in the world but he’s not at the moment. Let him find his form with his club, not his country.
@Jim Demps: I don’t think current form should decide the November squads, medium term focus with a 6 nations before a World Cup should be what we use November for. As for Ross Byrne if joe thinks he’s no 3 he should be included if joe had other ideas then no. But in the head to head with Carbury he didn’t look any worse than Joey.
@Jim Demps: Yeah I think the three Th should be Furlong, Porter and Bealham, the three Lh should be Healy, McGrath and Cronin. I think SOB needs game time at the top level to get back up to speed and he should get called up. I think SOB(C) has been playing very well but unless Joe brings 7 backrows I don’t see him getting called unfortunately. Lukey will get picked with Murray being injured but he’s defo 4th choice imo. Byrne will be the 3rd 10 picked even with his limited game time which is unfortunate for the likes of Carty who’s been playing great so far this season.
@Chris Mc: oh I’d imagine he definitely thinks he’s third choice. I don’t think carty will usurp him. My point is about playing time in the big matches I guess and that carbery has cemented his reserve spot now. The game against munster was a big one but by no means was it anywhere near the standards of either champions cup round.
@Ian Verdon: don’t take this up the wrong way because I’m not having a dig but I think carbery made the right choice in moving. Cullen has a real reluctance in using his back up players and if carbery had stayed, 10 minutes of champions cup time would definitely not have developed him as a player. He left McGrath on for far too long today.
While keeping the parochial stuff out of it, carberys move to munster has been a godsend in terms of his development for himself and for Ireland. Again before anyone jumps down my throat I’m just saying that I think the move was for the best for him and Ireland.
@Jim Demps: I agree with you I never brought that up tho haha. I was pointing out that J Ryan played well and that jack is in good form and should get called up. That SOB needs games at the top level and time with Joe and Farrell will do his defensive game the world of good.
@Jim Demps: I don’t think many people disagree with ya regarding Joey. He was never getting in ahead of Johnny in any big game, plus Im sure Leo thinks Ross is a better F/H.
@Ian Verdon: no I know but I had to include the disclaimer before a million people attack me
Did Ross Byrne not win man of the match against Munster?
I would have thought the outhalf is the easiest position to call at the moment
1) Sexton
2) Carbury
3) Byrne
There’s other positions like 2nd row and centre where you could argue 8 different players for 2 starting positions.
Anyone know how much of a squad he’s naming? I’ve 37 in my head but can’t remember where I read it.
I think he should go with 31 and mimic the World Cup conditions
@Jim Demps: I think it’s either 36, 37 or 38. I think 37 is a good amount. It gives some guys a chance to prove that they should be considered for the 6n squad. Having that 6 more players also allows more rotation and to have a significant look at different combinations in certain positions against a range of opposition.
@Ian Verdon: so 2 per position and an extra props, hooker, lock, flanker, outhalf and 9
@Jim Demps: I reckon 3 LH, Hk and Th, 5 Sr, 6 Br, 3 Sh, 3 Oh, 4/5 Cr, 3/4 w and 3 fb
That’s just my guessing no idea what it will actually be. I do think we need to build a little more depth at center tho so I would like to see 5 picked. There’s also a lot of centers playing well for their province right now so I feel they should be rewarded.
@Ian Verdon: Could only bring 2 Fullbacks and add an extra backrow option which I would be in favor off.
@Ian Verdon: any bolters?
@Jim Demps: Addison has been v impressive and the fact he covers 11,12,13,14 and 15 is a great player to have in a squad especially in a limited 31 man squad in the World Cup scenario. Delahunt could get in with injuries(not sure what’s the story with Scannell) I think Tom Farrell should get called up he’s been immense for a couple of seasons. Beahlam should get picked as discussed, James Cronin, Sob(c) if 7 br are picked. If marmion is still injured blade could be the 3rd sh in,he’s also been on top form and maybe if earls is out sweetman for him.
@Ian Verdon: it’ll be either Addison or farrell. Not both I think. I’d be surprised if cronin or bealham weren’t there. Blade was going to be my bet as well. I don’t think Schmidt has ever quite fancied McGrath for some reason
@Jim Demps: If both Murray and Marmion are injured it will be Cooney, Lukey and Blade not many other genuine contenders left other than those 3. If Marmion is fit it will be Marmion, Cooney and Lukey.
@Jim Demps: racing 20 minutes into a European final had to play their 3rd choice 10, anything can happen in rugby. We need a 3rd choice in every position this season.
The Luke McGrath hate needs to stop lads. That intercept was a superb read and could have happened to anyone. He didn’t have a great day at the office but he’s only 26 and is learning all the time. Only a regular for 2 seasons now.
@Leo Erah: they were looking for interceptions all day and he handed them a very easy one. Also I was more disappointed that he missed a few inside shoulder tackles and six point up we in command of the game and after henshaw breaks the gain line box kicks straight into the hands of an super counter attacking player. He’s not at the races at the minute and JGP is the form 9 at Leinster at the minute.
@Leo Erah: his decision making is not the best. He kicks to much ball away, sometimes lowe has to make ridiculous catches just to gain 4 yards. He is still a good player, his decision making needs to be better
@Chris Mc: you have a short memory Chris. He won you a European cup and Pro 14 title less than 6 months ago.
Everybody makes mistakes.
Remember Conor Murray having a brain fart and costing Munster a European game a few years ago?
Easy to be full of bluster about a players abilities after a poor performance, where were all the internet warriors before the game calling for Gibson-Park to be starting? The kid was poor today but doesn’t deserve some of the shite posted on here.
@Leo Erah: dead right. He deserves criticism for his performance today, but people using it as a nail in his coffin are wide off the mark.
@Leo Erah: agreed. He’s a quality scrum half. I think because of the article that clown Francis wrote. He built him up into something he isn’t yet with his blue lenses on invariably when a player has a poor game like he had you get a backlash
@Oran Burns: if you can’t see how off the boil he is at the minute your very blinkered. He made poor decisions with the ball all day and allowed at least 2 linebreaks by drifting past his man.
@Leo Erah: I’ve said most of this season JGP is our form 9. He’s injured so not much point calling for him to play today.
Didn’t see the game, but was listening to it on the radio. Sounded like a cracker.
M Corcoran’s constant commentary on Toulouse’s fitness, sounds like it was a tad off the mark.
Phew, that was intense. At least we’ll get some reality back into the media reports now.
Someone snarled at me last week for suggesting Leinster could ever underestimate an opposition; but every team is beatable. I can’t wait for the return leg of this fixture. Toulouse fans will be over in droves, Dublin will be rockin’ that night.
Hopefully if Ireland are behind against the AB, with 2 min to go,Sexton will give the ball to AKI, instead of that kick.
@Michael Colleary: shhhhh your not allowed say this!
No excuses the better team won. Good experience for some of the younger players. Good to see a few strong teams this season who can have a real go wining the cup. Makes it all the sweeter if we can manage to pull of a double.
Fantastic match and Toulouse deserved their win. Knock out rugby intensity. Leinster were a bit complacent and got dominated in the first quarter. It’s very hard to come back from that on the road in France.
It’s probably the best thing that could have happened Leinster as they were on auto pilot before today.
Still all to play for but the proverbial kick up the arse was received by a few players today.
Leinster have got really genuine depth/quality concerns in a number of positions: ie hooker, scrum half, Center and right wing.
The rest of the squad has serious quality and depth.
@Oran Burns:
Great game I though we could have won it just before the that intercept :: but it was not to be .Lost by 1 point and a LBP and against the way that team was playing . I feel ok as we are feeling we let ourselves down . If we had held on we could say we can play much better and we can In other words win or lose we could play a lot better…
Just some points regarding how players played ::SOB is comming back, power with the ball is getting there but he needs tighting up his game :: Jack McG is starting to up his game great states and Pen Scrum today ::Lulk had a bad one but got a lot of games to pick himself up::Lineouts were messy, need to sort out they have the players to do it ::We normaly do a job on our oppionts just before and just after halftime. Not great today . Could have used R Kerarney at full back (you could see the lack of experance showing ) Joe T was not great it looks like he is just a filler::
Looking forward to the return game ::
Great Rugby, I’m ok with this, already recovered 2 points if standard 2 x wins is 8pts , so on 6pts just need to recover 2pts along the way with 2x bp try won games (Leinster not shy of these)
Leinster,Ulster and Munster have all been let down by their respective lineouts.Scannell is the best throwing hooker but he is injury prone. Leinster will be particularly annoyed as this problem probably cost them the game.
@Tom Reilly: this has been a Leinster and Ireland problem for a while now.
Not the end of the world.