| Leinster (23) 40 |
| Tries: Lowe 2, Van der Flier, Keenan Cons: Sexton 3, Byrne Pen: Sexton 3, Byrne |
| Toulouse (10) 17 |
| Tries: Dupont, Tolofua Cons: Ramos 2 Pen: Ramos |
Leinster reached their first Champions Cup final since 2019 with a snug 40-17 win over holders Toulouse in a sun-kissed Dublin.
The dominant hosts led 23-10 on the break thanks to tries from James Lowe and Josh van der Flier after Antoine Dupont’s early opener for Toulouse.
Lowe added his second attempt in a extra even second half earlier than Selevasio Tolofua went over for the French facet.
Hugo Keenan’s late attempt sealed a complete win for the Irish facet.
Leinster captain Johnny Sexton produced an inspirational show by organising three tries and kicking 15 factors.
It was a gathering between the competitors’s two most profitable sides and now Leinster have the possibility to equal Toulouse’s tally of 5 titles.
Leo Cullen’s males will goal their first Champions Cup success since 2018 once they tackle the winner of Sunday’s sport between Racing 92 and La Rochelle, within the Marseille decider on 28 May.
Pressure pays off for hosts
Leinster piled on the strain from the beginning in entrance of a 40,000 crowd on the Aviva Stadium and have been rewarded with Sexton’s first penalty after 5 minutes.
But they have been caught out two minutes later when Jamison Gibson-Park’s grubber kick was blocked with the ball falling to Dupont, who ran over 80 metres to the road for a transformed attempt.
Sexton added a second penalty and his inside move despatched Lowe diving over for Leinster’s opening attempt with the Ireland skipper including the extras.
The second attempt arrived on 20 minutes as Sexton made the break and handed on to Van der Flier, with the flanker’s momentum taking him over.
Sexton transformed and Thomas Ramos slotted over a penalty after Toulouse overpowered the hosts in a scrum – helped by Tadhg Furlong’s absence after the Leinster prop was compelled off with an harm.
Another penalty was popped over by Sexton whereas Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou was sin-binned simply earlier than the break after repeated infringements.
Leinster took their foot off the gasoline in a scrappy second half after Lowe accomplished his double on 50 minutes.
Sexton once more offered the move – a protracted, looping effort out to the left – to discover an unmarked Lowe who was ready to stroll over.
Toulouse managed to achieve territory for the primary time they usually have been handed a lifeline with quarter-hour remaining when Tolofua touched down from a rolling maul and Ramos added the conversion.
Ross Byrne struck a penalty and transformed a late Keenan attempt, with the full-back sprinting by means of a drained defence as a complete victory was secured.
The Top 14 champions beat Irish pair Ulster and Munster to make the semi-final however Leinster proved too robust and Cullen’s males march on to the final.
‘We’re extremely proud’ – what they mentioned
“We are extremely proud. Any time you get to a final you’re extraordinarily comfortable however, in some methods, it’s only half carried out,” Sexton advised BT Sport.
“The final time we have been in a final, we have been outplayed in opposition to Saracens and we did not flip up on the day. We have to be taught from that lesson and hopefully we are able to go one higher this yr.
“I’m fortunate to be part of Leinster and Ireland. That’s why I’m nonetheless taking part in, as a result of I really like coming into each environments. We prepare onerous and it is one of many issues we satisfaction ourselves on.
“We knew Toulouse performed 100 minutes final week they usually got here right here most likely not at their greatest and we have been shut to ours. We have to go once more in opposition to Racing 92 or La Rochelle, who’re two high quality sides.
“We have been a champion group earlier than and we are going to draw on all of our experiences.”
Leinster: Keenan; J O’Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Molony, Ryan, Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.
Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Ala’alatoa, McCarthy, Ruddock, McGrath, R Byrne, Frawley.
Toulouse: Ramos; Mallia, Fouyssac, Ahki, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Aldegheri, Arnold, Meafou, Elstadt, Cros, Jelonch.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Ainu’u, Tekori, Tolofua, Flament, Page-Relo, Holmes.
