Champions Cup: crazy final in London! Toulouse beats Leinster in extra time

Stade Toulosain wins the 2023/2024 Champions Cup by beating Leinster 22-31 in a historic final. For the French it is the sixth continental trophy, for the Irish it is the third consecutive final lost again against a French club.

For all eighty minutes the match was in perfect parity, played at a very high pace with both teams undisciplined just enough to give their opponent 15 points. Both Blair Kinghorn and Ross Byrne were precise from the pitch.

Anything happens in extra time. The yellow to James Lowe for a voluntary forward, the try by Matthis Lebel, the red card for Richie Arnold and the marking by Josh van der Flier are the turning points that bring the result to 22-31.

To underline the great work of Ugo Mola’s team on the match points, many turnovers won which allow the French to slow down the offensive actions of Leinster who have never before found difficulties in their multi-phase game.

One of the most beautiful finals in the history of the Champions Cup is being staged at the Tottenham Stadium, played by two very strong teams who both deserved to lift the most prestigious cup. The French Rossoneri are celebrating as they return to the top of Europe after three years.

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Champions Cup: the chronicle of Leinster-Toulouse

The final begins with fireworks at very high tempos. In the first minute Toulouse took the lead with Juan Cruz Mallia who completed a very nice team effort. Grubber in the space of the Argentine winger, Antoine Dupont recovers the oval and in the tackle of Jamison Gibson-Park he recycles the ball but touches the sideline. L’on field decision it’s no destination. Referee Matthew Carley consults with touch judge Andrea Piardi and the TMO and the decision is confirmed. Leinster can thank the save of the Irish international number 9.

In the 5th minute Stade Toulousain put their first points on the scoreboard. Leinster a little undisciplined on match points, free kick from Blair Kinghorn from around mid-field and 0-3. The Scottish full-back repeats himself two minutes later and the reigning French champions lead 6-0.

Leinster’s reaction is furious and around the 10th minute they take possession of the game and their 22 opponents. Leo Cullen’s team creates the conditions, especially from touch, to hit the big target but the French defense is well organized and withstands the impact of the Irish attack. Halfway through the first half, the Dubliners’ efforts paid off: Dorian Aldegheri commits a foul in the ruck, Ross Byrne hits the posts from the pitch. 3-6.

The match is beautiful, the impacts are harsh on both sides and no one is spared. The Irish press on the accelerator, playing by heart at speed, often creating numerical superiority offshore. In the 24th minute Romain Ntamack was the protagonist of a nice tackle and a counter-ruck which highlighted Robbie Henshaw’s ability.

In the 29th minute another last-gasp save, this time by Toulouse. Touche for the French, Antoine Dupont attempts the play with an internal pass but Dan Sheehan steals the ball. The Irish hooker runs from his 22m for 60m before being tackled by Blair Kinghorn. Kept by Leinster’s number 2 and ball recovered by Stade. In the 33rd minute, Antoine Dupont scored a wonderful 50-22 and allowed the French to attack.

In the 37th minute Blair Kinghorn hits the posts again, from 32m, and puts Stade Toulousain up 6. Three minutes later the Scottish fullback misses the first kick of his 54m match. With time up Ross Byrne closes the gap with a free kick, 6-9 at half-time.

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The second half opens with Leinster moving the ball more while Stade Toulousain defends with order, at times bordering on offside. In the 47th minute Ross Byrne took advantage of a free kick to equalize the score, 9-9.
The battle in breakdown he’s furious, both teams mess up their opponent’s possession when they can.

In the 50th minute Jack Willis commits a foul, allowing Leinster to get dangerously close to the try line; the French defense works well on the advancing maul and regains possession of the ball. The match is suspended on a very delicate balance, which can break at any moment. In the 58th minute Blair Kinghorn brings his team back ahead with a precise free kick, 9-12.

With 15 minutes remaining in the match, after a multi-phase move by Leinster, Ross Byrne has a free kick from a central position. 12-12 and the game still completely balanced. In the 69th minute the action that could decide the final. Football pass by Romain Ntamack, Matthis Lebel catches the ball and smashes it into the goal with a spectacular dive. The French didn’t take into account Jordan Larmour who tackled the Toulouse winger pushing him into touch; the TMO confirms Matthew Carley’s decision on the pitch and the score remains 12 draws.

In the 71st minute Stade Toulousain took the lead again with a free kick from Thomas Ramos, 12-15. Two minutes later Antoine Dupont scores yet another turnover for the French, forcing Leinster to lose the field after a long action made up of very hard penetrations. In the 78th minute Ciarán Frawley equalized the scores again with a precise finish, 15-15.

Leinster play with the obvious aim of earning a foul and scoring another three points. In the 79th minute Ciarán Frawley surprised everyone by attempting a drop from around 40m missing the posts. Time is up, the two teams are still tied and the final is decided in extra time.

Champions Cup: Leinster-Toulouse in extra time

The breaking moment of the final came in the 2nd minute of extra time. James Lowe commits forward, deemed voluntary by the referee, and deserving of a yellow card for the New Zealand-born winger. On the following free kick Thomas Ramos misses the posts.

Stade Toulousain can celebrate a minute later thanks to Matthis Lebel’s try. Stunning action by the French who move the ball from the left to the right side of the pitch taking advantage of the extra man. The 2 vs 1 for the Toulouse winger is perfect and the first goal of the match. 15-22.

In the 9th minute, French fullback Thomas Ramos further widens the gap to Leinster, with a precise free kick and it’s 15-25. The Irish are in difficulty but in the 10th minute of extra time there is the second turning point of the match. Richard Arnold enters the ruck too high on Cian Healy; referee Matthew Carley, after consultation with the TMO, decides on a red card.

With time up Josh van der Flier smashes the ball after Leinster’s repeated pick-and-go. The match judge does not award the goal but questions the TMO who reviews the images for at least two minutes. Finally Ian Tempest declares the grounding of the ball. The final score was 22-25 at the end of the first extra half.

The second extra period opens with a shot by Thomas Ramos, 22-28. The key to the match at the Stade is the turnover, in the 15th minute another one arrives for the French who, despite the man less, fight on the match points with the same ferocity. In the 16th minute Toulouse extends the lead, Thomas Ramos is glacial from the pitch and brings his score to +9.

The last minutes of the match are all Leinster’s who desperately try to recover the deficit. The extra man doesn’t bring great opportunities to score, the French defense is careful not to commit fouls. In the 19th minute Ciaran Frawley attempted a second drop, which was also missed.

The Irish are still trying even with the red clock but the forces are few as are the ideas. At Matthew Carley’s final whistle the decisive result was 22-31.

Francesco Giannelli Savastano

The Leinster-Toulouse scoreboard

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Will Connors, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Jason Jenkins, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Available: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 James Ryan, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Josh van der Flier

Goals: Josh van der Flier (14′ ET)
Transformations:
Free kicks: Byrne (19′, 44′, 47′, 65′), Frawley (78′, 15′)

Stade Toulousain: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Juan Cruz Mallia, 13 Paul Costes, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille
Available: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Joshua Brennan, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Santiago Chocobares, 23 Thomas Ramos

Goals: Lebel (3′ ET)
Conversions: Ramos (5′ ET)
Free kicks: Kinghorn (5′, 8′, 37′, 58′), Ramos (71′, 9′ ET, 13′ ET, 16′ ET)

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