A strong second half secures a quarter-final spot for Toulouse

A strong second half secures a quarter-final spot for Toulouse

Toulouse have booked their place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals having fought back from a 7 point deficit at half time at Thomond Park against Munster.

Antoine Dupont and Keith Earls both scored twice for their respective clubs but a stellar second half from the Top 14 club saw them to victory and they will now play Clermont in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Munster were dealt an early set back with Chris Farrell going to the sin bin for tripping a Toulouse player with Romain Ntamack putting the visitors up 3-0 after four minutes. Toulouse weren't able to make the most of their man advantage as Ntamack missed a long-range effort at goal in the 10th minute. Joey Carbery levelled things after 14 minutes. Ntamack restored the three-point advantage for Toulouse shortly after Carbery's penalty. 

Following a Dupont box kick, Munster worked it through the phases before de Allende got the ball down the blindside with the centre fending the first defender and offloads beforehand to release Earls on the wing who still had to put in the work to get over. Carbery was unable to add the extras. 

Keith Earls went over for another try in 27th minute with Damian de Allende once again at the heart of the attack. The Springbok centre received the ball on the right-hand side of the pitch near halfway. He stepped inside beating Zack Holmes before speeding into the gap and charged into the Munster 22 offloading to CJ Stander. Stander went just short and Munster held onto the ball. The forwards all got involved in close before Conor Murray flashed the ball out wide to Earls who finished it off nicely in the same corner he scored in moments earlier.


Again, Munster were guilty of ill-discipline shortly after scoring as Ntamack added a third penalty after Munster were penalised for not releasing. Tadhg Beirne was forced off the pitch in the 34th minute with an injury that he tried to run off but was unable to. Munster led 13-9 at this point. Just before the break Carbery knocked over a penalty to give Munster a 16-9 lead at half time.


Toulouse came out flying in the second half as Romain Ntamack weighted a cross-kick perfectly for Matthis Lebel with the young winger scoring out wide and Ntamack adding the extras to level the game just three minutes into the second half. 

Munster worked their way back into the Toulouse 22 shortly afterwards and with a penalty just five metres out from the line, Gavin Coombes took the tap and surged his way over the line thanks to some suspect defence from Toulouse.


In the 55th minute, Julien Marchand scored the responding try for Toulouse a few phases after the lineout. Ntamack added the extras to tie up the game once again at 23 points.

JJ Hanrahan came off the bench and edged Munster in front in the 66th minute from a penalty before Toulouse struck.

Toulouse took the ball through multiple phases before they worked it wide to Cheslin Kolbe. The pocket rocket stepped before linking up with Lebel who left Hanrahan clutching with a ridiculous step before passing to Antoine Dupot on the inside to score.


Toulouse took a 26-30 lead into the last 10 minutes of the game and Ntamack had the chance to add to the lead but the effort from distance went just wide. Moments later Ntamack had another shot at goal, this one a far easier chance and Ntamack stretched the lead to seven points.

Toulouse were in again three minutes from time as Delibes made a break and offload with the ball going backwards off a Munster hand and forwards off a Toulouse head with Dupont pouncing to score his 2nd try. 

Ntamack added the extras before Castest was sent to the sin bin and Munster managed to score a late try, but it was too late with Casey adding the extras and Munster's Champions Cup journey for 2020/21 coming to an end.

Clermont and Toulouse now face off in the quarter-finals of the competition.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 

A post shared by Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby)



In this Article

Latest News