Leinster survive Toulon scare to reach Champions Cup final
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. Leinster captain Doris, speaking on Premier Sports, said: "You know a team like Toulon will up things at some stage. Massive effort from everyone to reach another final.
"It feels good out there this season. It was not been perfect, but hopefully it will stand to us. " 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.
Spencer returns but Bath missing Ojomoh for Bordeaux semi-final If Leinster are left with pure relief and pride in their excellent performance for 65 minutes, Toulon will be ruing that they simply did not turn up until the closing stages. Pierre Mignoni's side had heroically downed Glasgow at Scotstoun in the quarter-finals but could not get going at Aviva Stadium, with Leinster early out of the blocks and fly-half Harry Byrne sending a first kick at the posts wide. Toulon - with Englishmen Kyle Sinckler, David Ribbans, Junior Kpoku and Zach Mercer in their squad - responded, making their way up-field despite the hosts' blitz defence and a crunching Tommy O'Brien tackle on Tomas Albornoz, before Melvyn Jaminet also sent a kick at goal wayward.