Stade Toulousain continued their search for a sixth title in EPCR’s elite competition with a 64-26 win over Exeter Chiefs in their Investec Champions Cup quarter-final.
The combined points tally of 90 is the highest overall points total ever amassed in a quarter-final match, the French club scoring nine tries at the Stade Ernest Wallon, four of which came in a ten-minute second-half salvo which settled the game.
Five-time winners of the competition, Stade Toulousain will now face Harlequins at Le Stadium in Toulouse for a spot in the Investec Champions Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25.
Both clubs exchanged the lead throughout a full-blooded first half, with the scoring getting underway early. Centre Henry Slade knocked over the first three points of the afternoon after just five minutes, but moments later fly-half Romain Ntamack dotted down for the hosts with the first try of the game, full-black Blair Kinghorn adding the extras.
But Exeter Chiefs were back on top ten minutes later, flanker Ethan Roots powering over after hooker Peato Mauvaka was sent to the sin-bin.
Slade kicked the conversion and added two further penalties, but three points from Kinghorn kept the French club in touching distance, and they took the lead before half-time with an excellent converted try from flanker Jack Willis, who brushed the Exeter Chiefs defence aside on his way to score.
The second period began just as the first had, Slade kicking his fourth penalty of the match.
But Stade Toulousain struck back with four tries in a ten-minute salvo to take back the lead and run away with the game, leaving the Gallagher Premiership club well and truly in their dust.
First, Kinghorn darted through a gap in the Exeter Chiefs defence to make up the final five metres to the line before wing Matthis Lebel broke through and laid off Pita Ahki who went over underneath the posts.
Kinghorn would soon have a second, diving over in the corner after some brilliant offloads, before scrum-half Antoine Dupont scored in similar fashion. In total, Kinghorn kicked five conversions on the day, while replacement Thomas Ramos also added three sets of extras.
Zack Wimbush grabbed a consolation score for Exeter Chiefs before Juan Cruz Mallia grabbed two and Akhi dotted down for his second to rack up even more points for the dominant hosts on a day to remember at the Stade Ernest Wallon.
Scorers:
Stade Toulousain: Tries: Romain Ntamack, Jack Willis, Blair Kinghorn, Pita Ahki (2), Blair Kinghorn, Antoine Dupont, Juan Cruz Mallia, Juan Cruz Mallia. Conversions: Blair Kinghorn (5), Thomas Ramos (3). Penalty: Blair Kinghorn.
Exeter Chiefs: Tries: Ethan Roots, Zack Wimbush. Conversions: Henry Slade (2). Penalties: Henry Slade (4).
Teams:
Stade Toulousain: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Juan Cruz Mallia, 13 Paul Costes, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 François Cros, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille. Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Joshua Brennan, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Thomas Ramos, 23 Santiago Chocobares.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Jack Yeandle, 1 Scott Sio. Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Greg Fisilau, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Zack Wimbush.