2 Time defending champions Toulon will bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of European titles against Clermont after beating Leinster 25 / 20 following extra-time in Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final.
Toulon’s Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny kicked 6 penalties and converted a Bryan Habana interception try for a personal haul of 20 points in an ultimately thrilling match that went to extra-time after finishing 12 / 12 after regulation time.
Leinster had Ian Madigan to thank for 5 penalties, while Sean O’Brien scored a late try that made for a nerve-racking climax.
Turnovers, ruck penalties and handling errors saw out a tight if uninspiring, pressure-laden 1st-half during which Toulon failed to convert their territorial domination into points.
Halfpenny bagged 2 penalties to 3 from Madigan in the opening 40 minutes at Marseille’s packed Stade Velodrome.
Halfpenny missed a 3rd penalty effort early in the 2nd period, but was then on hand to snuffle out a Jimmy Gopperth chargedown in Toulon’s 22m area as Leinster pressed.
The Wales and British Lion fullback eventually pulled the scores level after 56 minutes with a penalty as blue skies replaced the rain of the 1st half.
It was then Madigan’s turn to miss a penalty, Toulon immediately into action as Guilhem Guirado charged down Madigan’s clearance kick, with only desperate defence stopping the red surge towards the whitewash.
Gopperth was penalised for not rolling away a minute later, Halfpenny kicking his 4th 3-pointer to take the lead.
But Toulon’s Juan Fernandez Lobbe committed a stupid infringement in front of referee Wayne Barnes’s eagle eye, toe poking the ball out of a ruck. Madigan made no mistake from long range to draw the scores level again.
With 2 minutes to play, Gopperth sent a snap drop-goal just wide, and Rob Kearney sent 1 just short from the resulting 22 kickout in a nerve-racking finish.
Delon Armitage then had a chance to end the game with a 55m penalty, but his effort fell well short, meaning extra-time.
2 Minutes in, the Toulon scrum destroyed their Irish counterpart and Halfpenny booted his 5th penalty to put the pressure on Leinster.
But once again, Madigan came straight back with 1 of his own after dangerous play by replacement lock Jocelino Suta.
Suta’s boilerhouse partner Ali Williams was then shown a Yellow Card for making contact with Devin Toner in the air.
But Toulon did not sit back despite being down to 14 men, Halfpenny nailing his 6th penalty as the irrepressible Chris Masoe tried to force a turnover.
And then Springbok winger Habana intercepted Madigan’s long looped pass and sprinted away for a try converted by Halfpenny.
But Leinster heads did not go down, Sean O’Brien being driven over for a try Gopperth failed to convert to make for a shaky end to the game.
On Saturday, Australian Brock James was the architect of Clermont’s 13 / 9 victory over Saracens in the 1st semi-final, sweet revenge for the 46 / 6 thumping the English club handed the Top 14 side at the same stage of the competition last season.
European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final results:
- Toulon (FRA) 25 / 20 Leinster (IRL)
- Clermont (FRA) 13 / 9 Saracens (ENG)
Sport24