Match Report – Toulouse 64 – 26 Exeter

Romain Ntamack, Jack Willis, Blair Kinghorn (two), Pita Ahki, Antoine Dupont, Juan Cruz Mallia scored tries for Toulouse as they put Exeter Chiefs to the sword in France in Champions Cup quarter-final tie; Toulouse will subsequent face Harlequins within the semi-finals on weekend of Could 4/5

5-time champions Toulouse booked their place within the semi-finals of the Champions Cup as they disposed of visiting Exeter Chiefs with a nine-try 64-26 victory on the Stade Ernest Wallon.

The French giants had been made to combat in an end-to-end first half, however ultimately their huge European expertise proved an excessive amount of for Rob Baxter’s youthful facet, who had been denied the chance of an all-English semi-final with Harlequins.

Going with an unchanged beginning line-up from that which defeated Bathtub within the final 16, it was the Chiefs who began on the entrance foot, taking the lead inside 5 minutes when Henry Slade slotted them in entrance with a penalty simply metres from the house try-line.

That early lead, nevertheless, lasted only a matter of minutes as Toulouse claimed the sport’s opening rating when a burst down the left flank from Matthis Lebel carved the opening for Romain Ntamack to glide over for the strive, transformed by Blair Kinghorn.

A second Slade penalty saved the guests firmly within the hunt, earlier than fellow England worldwide Ethan Roots obtained the Chiefs again in entrance as soon as extra, thundering his means over from a artful faucet penalty transfer to say their opening rating, which Slade was ready so as to add the extras to.

Kinghorn and Slade exchanged profitable penalties apiece because the Chiefs continued to maintain their extra illustrious hosts at bay. However, as half-time approached, it was the French facet who clawed their means again in entrance.

Centre Pita Ahki was the architect, his highly effective run shaking off the attentions of Josh Hodge, earlier than he fed the ball to former Wasps ahead Jack Willis, who steamrollered his means over Harvey Skinner for the transformed rating.

Though there was little to decide on between the edges on the flip, it was Toulouse who got here out firing within the second interval. Taking part in with benefit simply minutes into the half, the hosts used their highly effective pack to punch their means into enemy territory, the fruits of which allowed Kinghorn to search out his means over for the rating he additionally transformed.

Worse was to comply with simply moments later as Ahki was in a position to race over for his or her fourth rating, the centre given the liberty of the sphere as he completed off an excellent change again to Lebel, who picked his spot between Chiefs duo Jack Yeandle and Marcus Road.

The fast one-two from Toulouse had left the Chiefs reeling, however they had been floored by a knockout double as first Kinghorn completed off a shocking again transfer in the appropriate nook, earlier than the damaging Antoine Dupont obtained in on the scoring act, sidestepping his means over the whitewash for an additional transformed rating.

Toulouse will subsequent host Harlequins within the Champions Cup final 4, on the weekend of Could 4/5

To their credit score, the Chiefs refused to go quietly, claiming a comfort rating when teen Zack Wimbush was in a position to energy his means by the center following a five-metre line-out.

That might, nevertheless, be a uncommon spotlight in a second half dominated by Toulouse, who wrapped up their victory with tries within the last quarter from Ahki and two from Juan Cruz Mallia.

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