Toulouse thwarted a thrilling comeback from Harlequins to triumph 38-26 and secure the Investec Champions Cup final against fellow European heavyweights Leinster.
The competition’s two most successful teams, who have won nine titles between them, will face each other at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25, but Toulouse endured a major scare on home soil after Quins threatened to overturn a 31-12 deficit at half-time.
Harlequins, playing in the Champions Cup semi-final for the first time, showed their exciting attacking adventure with tries from Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley, Will Evans and Tyrone Green, while Smith scored three conversions.
Toulouse couldn’t relax until winger Juan Cruz Mallia’s touchdown in the 69th minute – a yellow card for Quins hooker Jack Walker immediately followed – and came after earlier attempts from Antoine Dupont (2), Matthis Lebel, Peato Mauvaka and Thibaud Flament with Blair Kinghorn There are also three conversions and Thomas Ramos one.
Toulouse stormed out of the blocks and were ahead after just four minutes after a lineout steal deep into Quins’ 22, with Romain Ntamack’s long, floating pass allowing Lebel an unhindered run to the line.
Ntamack and Dupont used their bag of tricks freely and Quins took twelve minutes to get out of their own half, so dominant had Toulouse been, but they responded brilliantly.
Toulouse were forced into the backline as Quins attacked and Smith pushed his way through three defenders to score a try, which he also converted.
Quins recover but Toulouse reach final
However, Quins were then undone by Toulouse’s power play as Mauvaka completed a precise lineout push. But Quins equalized when Evans touched down from a lineout climb before Flament put his team back in front.
Toulouse’s third try was scored after Danny Care’s pass bounced off flanker Chandler Cunningham-South, but the fourth attempt was not a happy one as Toulouse attacked from deep through Paul Costes’ majestic breakthrough in the middle and his well-judged kick was caught in the void by Dupont.
Dupont struck again four minutes later, this time capitalizing on Mauvaka’s outstanding performance to give the hosts an impressive 19-point lead at the break.
Quins needed a lifeline at the start of the second period and it came after 46 minutes when Smith’s long pass found Murley and his acrobatic finish provided a glimmer of hope.
Things got even better seven minutes later when Murley scored another brilliant goal before Care’s pass sent Green over and Smith’s conversion put Quins within striking distance.
But Toulouse then reasserted themselves, helped by Walker’s yellow card, and he had barely left the pitch when Mallia struck, with Ramos’ conversion putting Quins under enormous pressure.
There was no looking back for the visitors as England’s interest in this year’s tournament ended after a memorable ten-try spectacle.
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