Superb Leinster blitz Toulouse to reach Heineken Champions Cup final

The Irish province replicated their 2022 drubbing of the TOP 14 heavyweights in the last four as they racked up five tries in front of a deafening home crowd.

Jack Conan (2), Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier and Jason Jenkins all crossed for the hosts in addition to 16 points kicked by the impeccable Ross Byrne.

Toulouse were ruthlessly punished amid yellow cards in either half for Thomas Ramos and Rodrigue Neti, with Pita Ahki, Emmanuel Meafou and Jack Willis notching what proved to be the five-time champions’ consolation scores.

As expected, the game started with a blistering intensity in front of a raucous Dublin crowd and fly-half Byrne had Leinster in front on four minutes as he slotted his first points from a central position.

Toulouse enjoyed plenty of the ball early on and made their pressure count on eight minutes, shifting the ball wide before centre Ahki straightened to finish, full-back Ramos converting.

A high tackle allowed Byrne to bring Leinster within a point on 13 minutes, and the momentum would swing in the Irish province’s favour further with a quarter of an hour gone – Ramos denied a pass to wing Jimmy O’Brien with a deliberate knock-on and was shown a yellow card.

Leinster were ruthless during the period with an extra man as No.8 Conan immediately powered over for his first before adding another five minutes later as he stylishly combined with flanker Josh van der Flier.

O’Brien thought he had Leinster’s third when he dived over in the corner, but a lengthy TMO revealed that Toulouse counterpart Juan Cruz Mallía had done enough to prevent him from grounding.

Ramos returned moments later but Leinster would notch a third score regardless as hooker Sheehan profited from a loose Toulouse pass and finished from 22 metres out.

Byrne’s flawless kicking ensured Leinster were 27-7 up heading into the final 10 minutes of the first half, but Toulouse would hand themselves a lifeline thanks to lock Meafou’s powerful finish, Ramos’ conversion reducing the gap to 13 points.

The first points of the second half wouldn’t come until 56 minutes when Ramos slotted a penalty to further eat into Leinster’s lead.

But almost immediately after the restart, Toulouse would be down to 14 men again as replacement prop Neti was shown yellow for leading with his head against van der Flier.

And the Leinster man would be over for his side’s fourth try seconds later on his 50th Heineken Champions Cup appearance as he squeezed over at the back of a trundling lineout maul.

Leinster turned the screw once again with their numerical advantage as replacement lock Jenkins fired through a gap for his maiden Heineken Champions Cup try.

The remainder of the game fizzled out as Leinster managed proceedings expertly and Toulouse failed to find any rhythm amid persistent handling errors and inaccuracy.

Flanker Willis ensured Toulouse bowed out of the competition with a try when he drove over in the final play, but it was Leinster’s day as they marched into the showpiece game.

The Heineken Champions Cup final takes place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 20.