Leinster 29, Toulon 25
Leinster — Tries: Conan, Van der Flier, Ringrose, Doris Cons: Byrne 3 Pens: Byrne
Toulon — Tries: Tuicuvu, Serin, Drean Cons: Jaminet 2 Pens: Jaminet 2
Leinster are into their fourth European final in five years but the prevailing emotion at the end of their clash with Toulon was one of relief.
The hosts were in control for much of the match at the Aviva, but the French visitors, 18 points off the pace with 11 minutes remaining, made a belated push for glory.
Their two late tries proved insufficient, however, as the under-pressure Leinster held out for a chance to become European champions for the first time since 2018. They will return to Bilbao, the scene of that last title win, to face Bordeaux Bègles on Saturday, May 23.
The Irish side seemed to have put behind them the disappointment of last year’s shock defeat at this stage to Northampton and the three consecutive final losses from 2022 to 2024 as they powered into the lead in the second half. And they appeared dominant even when down to 13 men.
Then, sub Baptiste Serin scored in the 70th minute and winger Gael Drean followed up with the best of the game’s seven tries in the 75th to make it an uncomfortable nervous last few minutes for Leinster and their fans.
"You know a team like Toulon will up things at some stage. Massive effort from everyone to reach another final,” captain Caelan Doris said afterwards. ”It feels good out there this season. It has not been perfect, but hopefully it will stand to us."
After missed penalties for each side, Jamison Gibson-Park put Jack Conan through for the opening score in the 13th minute.
Toulon kept in touch with a penalty kick and then a second, but Leinster followed up with a second try in the 32nd minute, as Conan put fellow forward Josh van der Flier through. Andrew Porter, though, was the member of the pack doing much of the softening up of the French defense with his running and he would ultimately earn the man-of-the-match accolade, while winger Tommy O’Brien was also performing heroically in defensive mode.
With Porter sin-binned for a high tackle, Seta Tuicuvu scored Toulon’s opening try and when the visitors began to apply some pressure, out half Harry Byrne was yellow carded for offside.
Leinster went in at half time 14-11 up, but two men down. The game’s third quarter, nevertheless, proved to be crucial as the home side’s 13 raced into the lead. First, their pressure forced high tackling Teddy Baubigny into the sin-bin and Leinster, now just one man down, sent Garry Ringrose over for their third try. A penalty kick from the restored Byrne made it 22-11, but he missed another one and finally the skipper Doris went over in the 66th minute for what proved in the end to be the winning try.
But even with the home side on top in the scrum, the visitors somehow conjured up a very interesting finale.
A delighted Leinster boss Leo Cullen said in his post-game press conference that the media "love throwing the boot in, don't you? You guys love throwing the boot in when things don't go well.
“"Whatever sells, you read plenty of it. The courage the players showed, it is a testament."
He said, "When you are up against juggernauts of the game, it is not easy doing it.
"You see the other Irish provinces, we are the only ones left in the competition. The group will continue to do what they do, it is not always pretty.
"We are up against some serious teams here. It is insanely hard to win this competition,” said Cullen, whose team lost their three consecutive finals through 2024 narrowly.
Bordeaux Bègles beat Bath at home in Sunday’s semifinal 38-26. Meanwhile, Ulster are riding high after their European Challenge Cup semifinal win, 29-12, over Exeter Chiefs in Belfast on Saturday.
