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Getty ImagesInvestec Champions Cup semi-final
Leinster (14) 29
Tries: Conan, Van der Flier, Ringrose, Doris Cons: Byrne 3 Pens: Byrne
Toulon (11) 25
Tries: Tuicuvu, Serin, Drean Cons: Jaminet 2 Pens: Jaminet 2
Leinster exorcised their demons of 12 months ago and reached their fourth Champions Cup final in five seaons with a nervy win over Toulon.
This has become an agonising tournament for Leinster in recent years, none more so than with last year’s shock semi-final loss to Northampton, but almost a year to the day since that game they are into the final again. Just.
If the four-time winners were nervous in Dublin it did not show until the pulsating last 15 minutes of the contest, with the hosts dominant for the majority.
Trailing by 18 points with 11 minutes remaining, though, Toulon substitute Baptiste Serin flipped the game’s momentum with his try from close range.
In the 75th minute worst was to come for the home crowd. Flying winger Gael Drean touched down Toulon’s third try to cut the deficit to 29-25, with all the Leinster nightmares of last year’s defeat and three successive final losses flooding back.
But the Irish province held firm to close out the final four minutes under enormous pressure, their earlier tries from Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose and Caelan Doris enough to see them over the line.
As Leo Cullen’s side target a first Champions Cup title since 2018, they will face the winner of Sunday’s tie between Bordeaux-Begles and Bath in the final in Bilbao in three weeks’ time.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Leinster: Keenan; O’Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Ioane; Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (c)
Replacements: Kelleher, Cahir, Slimani, Soroka, Penny, McGrath, S Prendergast, Osborne
Toulon: Jaminet; Drean, Brex, Sinzelle, Tuicuvu; Albornoz, White; Gros, Baubigny, Sinckler, Mezou, Ribbans (c), Kpoku, Ollivon, Shioshvili
Replacements: Lucchesi, Brennan, Gigashvili, Halagahu, Mercer, Serin, Abadie, Ferte
Match officials
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (Eng), Sam Grove-White (Sco)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
