Leinster 29Toulouse 13
Ryan Bailey reports from the RDS
SIMPLY STUNNING. THIS was Leinster — the champions of Europe — at their outstanding big-game best.
Leo Cullen’s side, even without a raft of their frontline internationals, swatted fellow four-time winners Toulouse aside with an outstanding four-try performance for one of their great European victories.
Leinster celebrate Byrne’s try. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
It was a thrilling contest from start to finish as the two heavyweights went toe-to-toe in front of a febrile RDS crowd, but it was Leinster who showed all of their champion quality and mettle to seize control of Pool 1 with a round to go.
If this was the sternest test of the province’s Champions Cup defence, and the truest examination of their famed strength in depth following injuries to key personnel, then Leinster passed it with flying colours. And more.
To a man, the hosts were brilliant from the first until last minute as they conjured a relentless display in both defence and attack to subdue and dismantle the French visitors and earn a bonus-point victory which paves the way for an all-important home quarter-final.
Jack Conan’s first-half try set Leinster on their way and once they seized the scoreboard initiative, were never going to let it slip, as a thunderous second-half display saw Dave Kearney, Sean Cronin and Adam Byrne all cross to secure a 12th straight home European win.
Champion sides always find a way, and although Toulouse arrived in Dublin on a 12-game unbeaten run and with their heavy artillery in tow, Leinster’s want was much greater, as they battered the Top 14 outfit into submission.
The forwards — imperious — laid the platform as they rolled up their sleeves and gained the upper hand in an uber-physical and competitive set-piece battle, while Garry Ringrose was in a league of his own again as he dictated proceedings with world-class swagger. Ross Byrne, too, showed huge leadership qualities.
Rhys Ruddock led from the front in exemplary fashion, James Ryan was a menace all afternoon, Josh van der Flier got through huge work on both sides of the ball, and the backline — with an average age of 24 — hummed.
Defensively, Leinster never took a back step and kept the explosive Toulouse backline try-less until the last play of the game, when Cheslin Kolbe streaked clear for a mere consolation score. At that stage, the contest was well over, for this was Leinster’s day.
Cullen’s side now hold a three-point advantage over Toulouse heading into next Sunday’s round six clash with Wasps in Coventry, and victory there would assure the holders of a home quarter-final.
Ringrose was outstanding for Leinster. Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO
The contest started at a million miles an hour, both sides bringing an utterly relentless intensity to the piece which had the capacity crowd inside the RDS on the edge of their seats from the outset.
In the absence of Johnny Sexton, Ringrose was absolutely central to everything Leinster did, and the centre made the hosts tick throughout with his intelligent playmaking ability, capacity to glide over the turf, electric footwork and spatial awareness all coming to the fore.
Ringrose’s early dance into contact from Thomas Ramos’ kick-off ignited a rollicking opening quarter, as Leinster came out of the traps firing with Ruddock breaking through like a runaway train, van der Flier coming up with a trademark turnover and Cronin smashing the young Toulouse out-half off the back of a lineout with aggressive intent. Welcome to Dublin, Thomas.
And Cullen’s side hit the front on the scoreboard after a probing passage inside the Toulouse 22, as Ringrose whipped it wide for Cronin to charge up the left, and when Leinster changed the point of attack, Ross Byrne was caught high under the posts. 3-0.
Ringrose again provided the outlet from the restart after Kearney had safely secured possession on this near side, but the pass left put van der Flier under pressure, and the flanker knocked on as he was met by the red wall.
It allowed Toulouse lay down a significant marker at the set-piece, as the visitors used the platform to move it left, carrying hard into contact, as the rampaging Charlie Faumuina trampled over Conan to bring his side within striking distance.
Leinster scrambled in defence and although Tadhg Furlong and Scott Fardy made huge hits to repel the initial onslaught, Toulouse maintained the pressure and were awarded a scrum penalty by Luke Pearce, as the English referee penalised Healy on this loosehead side. 3-3.
You wouldn’t dare take your eyes off it for a second.
Toulouse, committed to playing the ball out of their own territory, were guilty of forcing it on occasion and another knock-on in midfield allowed Jordan Larmour produce a magical step as Leinster entered attacking mode once again.
The fullback scythed through with that glorious agility and turn of pace, but when faced one-on-one with Maxime Médard, could have turned right where he had support runners in tow, but instead opted to back himself and was swallowed up by the defensive cover.
Leinster, with the capacity home crowd urging them on at every opportunity, displayed excellent and patient ball retention through the phases, as they kept it tight around the fringes to punch holes, while varying the point of attack by throwing it wide through the hands.
Furlong runs into Cheslin Kolbe. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO
Once the space on the outside was manufactured, Fardy offloaded right to Rory O’Loughlin, who in turn looked to hit Adam Byrne on his shoulder, but Yoann Huget did brilliantly to get back and prevent a certain try in the far corner. As it was, Toulouse slowed the ball down and Julien Marchard got over Ryan, who found himself isolated on the ground, to win a huge turnover after 38 gruelling and gripping phases.
This was European rugby at its best. Sofiane Guitone ran straight through Byrne off a Toulouse lineout on halfway, but the hosts were reprieved when the inside ball for Huget hit the deck, and then, at the other end, Leinster found the breakthrough their full-tilt first-half display deserved.
Larmour and Kearney linked, before Luke McGrath galloped clear and Ringrose was caught high by Jerome Kaino, for Byrne to launch one down the touchline and set up another prime attacking position.
The lineout was scrappy but Leinster retained control and through another big set-piece, McGrath looked to snipe and wriggle his way over, but after video recourse with his TMO, Pearce concluded the scrum-half was held up.
There was no stopping the blue wave in the next passage, however. Leinster opted for another scrum after Rynhardt Elstadt infringed and this time they changed tact by moving it wide, with Ringrose again at the heart of it, as he swung a gorgeous pass out to Byrne on the right.
The winger slipped the tackle, and although he was hauled down just short by Huget, quick ball allowed Conan to bludgeon and muscle his way over from close range for a 35th-minute seven-pointer.