Toulouse earn final trek to Dublin
Toulouse looked dead and buried when Dimitri Yachvili stepped up to a potential match winning conversion in the final minute of normal time after Biarritz wing Llikena Bolakoro had levelled the scores (17-17). However he missed the effort, the game went to extra-time and Toulouse somehow eked out an win that keeps them in the hunt to retain their title.
The European champions now turn their focus on Leinster and that date at the Aviva Stadium on April 30.
Coach Guy Noves said: “I think everyone is unanimous that (Leinster) have an unbelievable team, the best team of the last few years. The players have earned the right to go and play there.”
Yachvilli, who kicked 15 of his side’s points in an awesome Heineken Cup comebacks, became the proverbial hero turned villain when his clearing kick was blocked down to allow Yannick Nyanga dive over for the match winning try in the dying moments of extra-time.
Two superb tries from Cedric Heymans and Maxime Médard had the home side reeling and when Toulouse flyhalf David Skrela made it 0-17 on 35 minutes, the Basque side looked in deep trouble. But a combination of cheap penalties and a renewed impetus from the Biarritz pack turned the game.
Within minutes of the restart, Biarritz were back in the game, thanks to two Yachvili penalties.
Yachvilli added another two penalties to make it 12-17 and when Florian Fritz was carded with ten minutes remaining for deliberately going offside at a ruck close to his line, Toulouse looked in complete disarray.
Having led all game and with the finish line in sight, David Skrela’s relieving kick was blocked down and Biarritz wing Llikena Bolakoro pounced on the loose ball and scampered over the line in the corner to make it 17-17.
However the angle proved too tight for Yachvilli’s conversion attempt and the game went to extra time.
Skrela kicked the champions into the lead after two minutes. Yachvilli levelled proceedings once more with just three minutes remaining but seconds later his clearing kick was blocked allowing Nyanga an easy finish under the posts.
BIARRITZ: I Balshaw; I Ngwenya, M Bosch, C Gimenez, L Bolakoro; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvilli; E Coetzee (J Afoa, 70), R Terrain (D Guinazu, 90), S Marconnet, J Thion, E Lund (M Taele, 76), M Lund, I Harinordoquy (c), A.Lafakia (W Lauret, 74).
TOULOUSE: C Heymans; V Clerc, F Fritz, C Poitrenaud (Y Jauzion, 90), M Médard; D Skrela (JM Doussain, 20-27), N Bézy (JM Doussain, 95); D Human (JB Poux, 53), W Servat (V Lacombe, 76), C Johnston, R Millo-Chluski (Y Maestri, 53), P Albacete, J Bouilhou (c), S Nicolas (Y Nyanga, 38), L Picamoles (G Lamboley, 76).
Referee: Waynes Barnes (Eng)
Attendance: 32,000.
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