Monday, April 12, 2010
Toulouse crush Stade Francais to race into the semis
The three-time European Cup winners had flyhalf David Skrela to thank for a great kicking performance as he contributed 27 points of his own, with tries coming from Yannick Jauzion, Patricio Albacete and Cedric Heymans.
It was a titanic battle in the first half as Toulouse had trailed Stade right up until halftime after theyd scored in the 19th minute through captain Rodrigo Roncero. Jauzion got the hosts back in the lead just before the break though, taking the score to 13-10.
In the second half a string of Skrela penalties and tries to Albacete and Heymans stretched their lead and took the game away from Stade Francais, whove had a disappointing season under coach Jaques Delmas.
Toulouse coach Guy Noves however was happy, yet still not totally satisfied, feeling that his side wont be favourites going into the semi final against Leinster.
"It was difficult, because we started badly," said Noves, who has been in charge for 17 years. "This team can play better and they know that."
"Leinster are European champions, they are a magical side with stunning centres. For once, one can say that we are not favourites for a semi-final and we must prepare for it in that role," he said.
Byron Kelleher has said that his side will be in the right frame of mind come the semis.
"I watched Leinster play on Friday night and they are as good as anyone else," said Kelleher. "We will not focus too much on them just yet but we know we have a few things to work on. Seeing the level of rugby this weekend means our performance will not be sufficient to win the next game."
He added: "The knockout stages are all about taking your chances because they don't come around too often. You may only get one or two opportunities.
"Quarter-finals and semi-finals are when your playmakers come into their own, and players who can make the right decision become highly important."
Time: 03:04
Posted at 10:29 pm | 31 comments
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Viewing 31 comments
FrankyH April 12, 2010 9:19 pm
Great match! Heavyweight clash if ever I've seen one. The final score is hard to believe though considering the intensity early on.
That Heymans try was absolutely clinical finishing and brilliant awareness all round.
Apologies to the first post warriors. neener neener
That Heymans try was absolutely clinical finishing and brilliant awareness all round.
Apologies to the first post warriors. neener neener
Maximus April 12, 2010 9:52 pm
Tou-lou-sains!
Tou-lou-sains!
Brilliant Heymans's pass for Albacete and Mdard's kick for Heymans. Billiant 2nd half. AWESOME JAUZION.
Tou-lou-sains!
Brilliant Heymans's pass for Albacete and Mdard's kick for Heymans. Billiant 2nd half. AWESOME JAUZION.
Darren April 12, 2010 10:19 pm
They look like champions, it will take a monster of a performance to beat Toulouse.
Oli April 12, 2010 10:24 pm
Behold the future HC champions my friends. They have a home semi final against Leinstern which is the only team left capable of beating them, but not in France. And then a Final in the Stade de France where nobody apart from Paris would have been able to beat them.
M April 12, 2010 11:02 pm
the last two tries were exceptional. French teams have stepped up this year and it's great to see. The HC 1/4 finals have not dissapointed!
miguel April 13, 2010 2:55 am
heymans try- thats a dirty attempt of a trip by the defender.
Anonymous April 13, 2010 2:55 am
there are few things better than watching Toulouse play in that kind of mood. Brilliant team. The fact that they can put out nearly an entire XV of French internationals speaks volumes about them.
Toulouse-Leinster has the potential to be the game of the season. Biarritz-Munster could be a cracker of a game as well. Love the HEC.
Toulouse-Leinster has the potential to be the game of the season. Biarritz-Munster could be a cracker of a game as well. Love the HEC.
sebastian April 13, 2010 7:51 am
i bet u the final is going to be a boring kickfest but the semis will probably produce some more marvelous rugby
Kenny April 13, 2010 8:35 am
i bet u the final is going to be a boring kickfest but the semis will probably produce some more marvelous rugby
Intensity and passion seb always make up for it in those tight games; so stop being so negative; who knows it could be an absolute try fest as well
Intensity and passion seb always make up for it in those tight games; so stop being so negative; who knows it could be an absolute try fest as well
Anonymous April 13, 2010 8:48 am
"Behold the future HC champions my friends. They have a home semi final against Leinstern which is the only team left capable of beating them, but not in France. And then a Final in the Stade de France where nobody apart from Paris would have been able to beat them."
Didn't Toulouse say that about Munster in 2008. Lets be real here Stade Francais were terrible this year, they're 7th in the Top 14 and they barely qualified from an easy group in the HC, Ulster beat them for heavens sake.
Didn't Toulouse say that about Munster in 2008. Lets be real here Stade Francais were terrible this year, they're 7th in the Top 14 and they barely qualified from an easy group in the HC, Ulster beat them for heavens sake.
robert April 13, 2010 11:18 am
Hope the Toulouse-Leinster game is as good as 2006. What a game that was, the Toulouse fans gave leinster a standing ovation at the end. They were class that day.
I hope the result is the same!
Any chance we can see the highlights of that game before these two renew aquaintances rugbydump?
I hope the result is the same!
Any chance we can see the highlights of that game before these two renew aquaintances rugbydump?
Flooz April 13, 2010 11:39 am
Toulouse vs Leinster will be a cracking game.
2 game identities who don't fear to play in order to win.
Biarritz vs munster will be a great scrum shock (horan vs barcella) but be careful to the sprint contest with ngwenya and howlett
2 game identities who don't fear to play in order to win.
Biarritz vs munster will be a great scrum shock (horan vs barcella) but be careful to the sprint contest with ngwenya and howlett
paddy April 13, 2010 12:31 pm
Great hands by the Toulouse fowards, Toulouse v Munster final I think!!
Anonymous April 13, 2010 1:42 pm
Je suis parisien et je suis tellement dgot ^^ Vu la 1er mi-temps de Paris (norme dfense), le score parait un peu svre. Mais le Stade Franais a craqu physiquement.
Donc maintenant allez Toulouse et Biarritz !!!
Donc maintenant allez Toulouse et Biarritz !!!
Leinster Paddy April 13, 2010 1:48 pm
lol @ Munster Paddy.
I have been away from Ireland for 2 years, I've missed the slam and the Heinken cup last year for Leinster. I am arriving home the week before the semi, CAN NOT WAIT. Win or lose, it will be awesome watching Leinster in a HC semi in my home country, god knows i've been a bored stiff spectator of the poor southern surrogates for too long...
I have been away from Ireland for 2 years, I've missed the slam and the Heinken cup last year for Leinster. I am arriving home the week before the semi, CAN NOT WAIT. Win or lose, it will be awesome watching Leinster in a HC semi in my home country, god knows i've been a bored stiff spectator of the poor southern surrogates for too long...
Bonzo April 13, 2010 9:59 pm
Albacete try is fantastic, because of continous support playing and because of Heymans blind pass!
Anyway,
I think last Heymans try comes from a Toulosain player catching the ball while running back from an offside position, after Stade player had been tackled and tried to feed his fellows.
What do you think about it?
Anyway,
I think last Heymans try comes from a Toulosain player catching the ball while running back from an offside position, after Stade player had been tackled and tried to feed his fellows.
What do you think about it?
Kearney for tests April 14, 2010 2:27 am
Bonzo there had been no ruck formed so it wasn't actually offside. The offside line comes from the hindmost foot of the ruck, but if there is none, then the ball is considered in open play and so there's no offside for defenders.
Does anyone think Sylvain Marconnet looks like someone famous? I have this feeling that he looks just like a famous French actor or something, but I can't quite put my finger on whom I'm thinking about.
Does anyone think Sylvain Marconnet looks like someone famous? I have this feeling that he looks just like a famous French actor or something, but I can't quite put my finger on whom I'm thinking about.
Kearney for tests April 14, 2010 2:27 am
And by the way, Toulouse were deadly in the second half. Being honest, I don't think Leinster stand a chance, especially now that Sexton will probably be out.
cale April 14, 2010 3:44 am
Sexton's out? What are they gonna do, bring ROG in for Leinster, too?
Before anyone takes offense to that, I was just kidding.
Seriously, that's a shame...as an Irish supporter first, I find it silly when people delve too deep into ROG v. Sexton.
--- just read about it. Broken jaw? Or cracked? The way it sounds, he'll be fine - they're probably just keeping people on their feet guessing on whether or not he'll play.
Before anyone takes offense to that, I was just kidding.
Seriously, that's a shame...as an Irish supporter first, I find it silly when people delve too deep into ROG v. Sexton.
--- just read about it. Broken jaw? Or cracked? The way it sounds, he'll be fine - they're probably just keeping people on their feet guessing on whether or not he'll play.
Anonymous April 14, 2010 5:11 am
STADE HAVE BEEN CRAP THIS YEAR, THEY BARELY QUALIFIED FROM AN EASY GROUP AND ARE SITTING IN 7TH IN THE TOP 14 THEY MADE TOULOUSE LOOK GOOD.
Maximus April 14, 2010 8:50 am
Top14's harsh anon and despite all we can say or think, SF has quality players. (Beauxis, Bastareaud, Gasnier, Arias to name a few)
Today St Franais is 9th but Stade Toulousain is 5th, and Clermont is 4th. There can be a lot of changes in the last 2 days since there are 3 points separating 4 teams between 2nd and 5th. 1 win = 4 points.
But I agree SF could have played better. Especially in HC.
Hope Toulouse can play at its best and bring home a title, HC or Brennus.
Today St Franais is 9th but Stade Toulousain is 5th, and Clermont is 4th. There can be a lot of changes in the last 2 days since there are 3 points separating 4 teams between 2nd and 5th. 1 win = 4 points.
But I agree SF could have played better. Especially in HC.
Hope Toulouse can play at its best and bring home a title, HC or Brennus.
Bonzo April 14, 2010 7:42 pm
thank you Kerney!
But I suppose that offside line is actually created when a tackle is made, even before the ruck is formed, so that other players (different from the tackler and the tackled one) coming to breakdown area must come from their side of the field and through the gate.
Am I right or wrong?
So I would say offside and penalty kick for Stade. Anyway I must say that the try is fantastic!
But I suppose that offside line is actually created when a tackle is made, even before the ruck is formed, so that other players (different from the tackler and the tackled one) coming to breakdown area must come from their side of the field and through the gate.
Am I right or wrong?
So I would say offside and penalty kick for Stade. Anyway I must say that the try is fantastic!
H April 14, 2010 8:47 pm
Kearney, Marconnet looks a bit like a young Gerard Depardieu, I reckon that's who you're thinking of. I'd say he would have been a bit of a beast in the scrum back in his day too...
new-Z 4 life October 18, 2010 4:20 am
can't wait to see caucau for touluose;hope they'll play the osprey's
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