Stade Toulousain will play Leinster Rugby in the Investec Champions Cup final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after they defeated Harlequins 38-26 in Toulouse.
Harlequins had promised all week they would go toe to toe with Stade Toulousain, and whilst the English club gave it their all they could not withstand the sheer power and pace of Antoine Dupont and co.
The scrum-half picked up a brace of tries to lead his club into the final, where they will have the chance to secure a record-extending sixth Investec Champions Cup title against Leinster Rugby who are seeking to match the TOP14 club’s current haul of five tournament wins.
Whilst Harlequins tried to keep pace with Stade Toulousain over the course of the first 40 minutes, it became clear that the London club were dealing with a uniquely potent rugby force.
Harlequins crossed twice in the opening half, Marcus Smith darting his way through the Stade Toulousain defence and Will Evans dotting down after a driving maul, but both were in response to scores from the TOP14 club who ended up crossing five times in the first 40 to rack up a formidable half-time lead.
Wing Matthis Lebel scored after just three minutes as the French club laid down a marker for the attacking display that was to come, while Peato Mauvaka bundled over for try number two.
Thibaud Flament seized on an opportune loose ball to dot down for the third, before Mauvaka was involved again for Dupont’s first try; the hooker meandered his way to the edge of the tryline only to be denied a magnificent score, but Dupont was on hand to pick up the ball and finish the job.
The 2021 Investec Player of the Year, who is also nominated for the prize this year, scored a near identical try moments later as Stade Toulousain grabbed their fifth.
With Blair Kinghorn kicking three conversions to give Stade Toulousain a 31-12 half-time lead, Harlequins required a strong opening to the second half to give themselves any hope of an unlikely comeback – but that is exactly what they produced.
First, wing Cadan Murley producing a spectacular diving finish to give his side the perfect platform to build from, before full-back Tyrone Green ran onto the ball from deep to break through the Stade Toulousain line and dot down for Harlequins’ fourth try – Smith converting both to make it a five-point game.
But the comeback would not be completed; the English club suffered a huge set-back when Jack Walker was shown yellow, and moments later replacement Juan Cruz Mallia went over in the corner for the French side to kill the game.
Thomas Ramos, on for Kinghorn, kicked the extras to secure Stade Toulousain’s path to the final and tee up a mouthwatering final on May 25 against Leinster Rugby at the astonishing Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Scorers:
Stade Toulousain: Tries: Matthis Lebel, Peato Mauvaka, Thibaud Flament, Antoine Dupont (2), Juan Cruz Mallia. Conversions: Blair Kinghorn (3), Thomas Ramos.
Harlequins: Tries: Marcus Smith, Will Evans, Cadan Murley, Tyrone Green. Conversions: Marcus Smith (3).
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 Jack Willis, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Emmanuel Meafou, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille. Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Mathis Castro Ferreira, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Santiago Chocobares, 23 Thomas Ramos.
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Luke Northmore, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Will Evans, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 Stephan Lewies (c), 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Will Collier, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter. Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 George Hammond, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Will Porter, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Oscar Beard.