Leinster give French a lesson in style

Toulouse 35 Leinster 41

Toulouse, the champions, had never lost a match at home at this stage of the competition, but Leinster tore them apart at Stade Toulousain on Saturday. They scored four tries to two and fully deserved their win, even though they did, as per script, leave their supporters chewing their nails towards the end.

Leinster also produced the try of the championship when Brian O’Driscoll touched down in the 26th minute.

But, with a 20-point buffer, the Irish side displayed a soft under-belly in the closing stages.

It is something they will want to address before meeting Munster, although coach Michael Cheika will be up for the challenge: “To come to Toulouse and win is tremendous. We know we’re not the complete article yet, but we’re still in the competition, so we have got to be pleased.”

There were heroes all over the pitch. O’Driscoll got that crucial try, but Shane Horgan had a magnificent game while Denis Hickie showed all his silken skills. Girvan Dempsey played well and Felipe Contepomi was a star.

But with the Leinster backs taking most of the plaudits, the oft criticised pack stood up to one of the biggest tasks of their lives. The scrum stood up and the line-out functioned brilliantly.

Malcolm O’Kelly said in midweek that he wanted to prove a point to Fabien Pelous, and the French captain looked a mere novice in comparison. O’Kelly will be best remembered for a stunning steal inside his own 22, but also fared well in general play.

Cameron Jowitt was magnificent alongside Jamie Heaslip, while Keith Gleeson challenged for man of the match. He might have conceded weight and height to Yannick Nyanga, but he gave nothing away. The amount of ball won on the ground and the number of turnovers he forced was just unbelievable.

Referee Dave Pearson didn’t seem to know what was happening at scrum time in the opening minutes - all three penalties came from set pieces. Toulouse’s Jean-Baptiste Elissalde hit one in the sixth and 12th minutes, on either side of one from Contepomi.

After Leinster survived a dramatic Toulouse surge that ended in a disallowed try (forward pass) for Vincent Clerc, Contepomi struck a long-range penalty to level it up again, before kicking a third after 19 minutes.

A few minutes later they launched their first meaningful attack. Contepomi switched inside to Shane Horgan, linked up with the winger again, and then sent O’Driscoll in for a try under the posts that Contepomi converted.

Toulouse were fortunate to get away with a forward pass en-route to an attack that yielded a penalty to Elissalde, but Leinster were still in the driving seat, having put it up to the home side in that opening half.

They lost two successive line-outs, but Contepomi got them back on track with a penalty after 36 minutes, and Leinster pressed forward. O’Kelly charged down a clearance from Frederic Michelack and was denied a try by a magnificent tackle from Clerc. But at 19-9 for Leinster, it was game on.

Toulouse clawed their way back with two penalties from Elissalde. Cedric Heymans looked certain to score but for a block down by Girvan Dempsey. The Leinster full-back conceded the line-out and Michelak dropped a goal to put his side within a point.

Michelak then turned villain with a poor pass and a hammer tackle followed from Gleeson. That allowed Cameron Jowitt to intercept and Leinster’s flanker took advantage to go in for a try which Contepomi converted.

It got better, even though Elissalde kicked another penalty. After 64 minutes, Denis Hickie backed himself in a counter-attack and linked with D’Arcy to score in the corner for a 31-21 lead.

Then a weighted pass gave Horgan the room to scorch in and Contepomi converted. The out-half then added a penalty to secure a 20-point lead with five minutes on the clock.

But there were anxious moments as Toulouse hit back. Nyanga scored a try which Elissalde convered and the scrum-half also kicked the additional points to a late, late try from Yannick Jauzion.

TOULOUSE: C. Poitrenaud, V. Clerc, Y. Jauzion, F. Fritz, C. Heymans, F. Michalak, J-B Elissalde, J-B. Poux, Y. Bru (captain), O. Hasan, F. Pelous, T. Brennan, J. Bouilhou, F. Maka, Y. Nyanga.

Replacements: R. Millo-Chluski for Brennan (48), M. Kunavore for Fritz (75), G. Menkarska for Hasan (76), M. Medard for Poitrenaud, J.F. Dubois for Michelak (both 81)

LEINSTER: G. Dempsey, S. Horgan, B. O’Driscoll (captain), G. D’Arcy, D. Hickie, F. Contepomi, G. Easterby, R. Corrigan, B. Blaney, W. Green, B. Williams, M. O’Kelly, C. Jowitt, J. Heaslip, K. Gleeson.

Replacements: R. McCormack for Corrigan (54, injured), E. Miller for Jowitt (65, injured), R. Kearney for D’Arcy (78, injured), K. Lewis for O’Driscoll (84, injured).

Referee: D. Pearson (England).