The Toulouse Stadium continues its flawless performance on the European scene. Unbeaten during the group stage of the Champions Cup (six victories in as many games, a first in history), interrupted by the Covid-19 in the spring, the 2019 French champions crushed Ulster on Sunday, September 20, in the quarter-finals (36-8).
Toulouse have scored five tries (against one) for the Irish. They will find the English in the last four, the Chiefs of Exeter or the Saints of Northampton, who face each other at 6.30 pm Ugo Mola’s men will play their eleventh semi-final of a European Cup that ‘ they haven’t raised for ten years.
Double by Cheslin Kolbe
With an unsurprising team and all its strength, Toulouse did not drag after kick-off: three minutes of play and a ball confiscated from one wing to the other were enough to shift Cheslin Kolbe and ideally launch the Hauts-Garonnais (5-0, 3e).
Ultra-dominant on the ground, a key sector against the Irish, the Toulousains kept their hands on the ball for most of the first act. Less successful on the foot than the previous weekend against La Rochelle (9 successful attempts out of 10), the back Thomas Ramos failed to achieve this domination by missing eight points on the foot in the first thirty minutes (8 -3, 25e).
As often when it is necessary to make the difference, it is Cheslin Kolbe – author of a double and elected man of the match – on a framing-overflow of school, who rewarded his people just before the break (15-3, 39e).
Unrivaled domination
Also in great shape since the start of the season, the scrum-half Antoine Dupont, on a relaunch inspired by Yohann Huget and a perfect stint from Sofiane Guitoune, then added to the bill in the purest tradition of standing up to Toulouse (22-3, 50e).
Dominated, without idea or gas, the Irish were never able to challenge the unchallenged domination of a Toulouse team which drove the point home by Ahki (62e) then Ramos (68e) before the reduction in the Cooney anecdotal score (73e).
Final score: 36-8. The “red and black” chained a 25e match without defeat at home (24 wins) and stand as the favorites for the final victory. With four successes in the main continental competition, Toulouse share this record with the Irish province of Leinster, already eliminated this year.
