For the third time in almost 30 years, a European Final is in overtime. For the third time in four years, there is a red card in a Final. For the third year in a row, Leinster lost in the Final. And for the sixth time, Toulouse wins.
Before this match, there was a feeling that we could experience two of the great clubs of the modern era. This feeling was no less noticeable at the end of another breathtaking event that adorned this remarkable era of exciting Rugby.
Antoine Dupont, widely presented as the best player in the world, some of whom claim to be the best in history, won the player of the match and the player of the Season, official Gongs, to make his matter more convincing for this unofficial title. His competition with Jamison Gibson-Park has been touted as one of the best scrum halves in the world. Dupont shaded him, but more because of his less advertised attributes on defense.
A red card for Richie Arnold after a free kick against Cian Healy made the second half of extra time a little more difficult than it already was for Toulouse, but a yellow card shown to James Lowe a few minutes earlier for an intentional kick-off in the second Minute of extra time, the match was finally opened. Matthis Lebel grazed an unattended wing for a great attempt, adapted to the occasion.
Leinster would respond with a trickier attempt from Josh van der Flier shortly after Arnold’s red card, but at that moment her discipline let her down. Penalties from Thomas Ramos, who started on the bench, eventually kept Toulouse out of Leinster’s hands.
Tried it? Who needs it? In this era of Try-fest, how refreshing it is to remember that Rugby can excite without them. For 80 minutes, no player could find their way to the sacred Tryline. Good. Such an event is supposed to be hard to get, and boy, these teams know how to make it hard.
From the second Minute, we were offered a Vignette that hinted at the upcoming pyrotechnics – and it showed these two N ° 9. Toulouse opened with an enchanting demonstration of strength and dexterity, Emmanuel Meafou in particular displaying these contrasting qualities. He combined with Juan Cruz Mallía on the right side, and soon Dupont was on the ball in the corner. His scandalous release seemed to have overtaken Mallía for a stunning attempt, but Gibson-Park had managed to thwart his rival’s claim to the first praise. His tackle managed-just-to hit Dupont’s toe.
The Tone was set. This fabulous stadium was crowded, a shiny twenty-first century temple that bubbled like a colosseum. What inspired what, the excitement of the crowd or the bodily of the players? Both were intense by international standards.
It was Leinster who came closest to the first attempt of the match after this early exchange. Dan Sheehan, as much the embodiment of a sport with such remarkable specimens as any other, snatched the ball (no less from Dupont), got into Romain Ntamack and, as if that wasn’t enough for a front-line striker, galloped 50 meters towards the try line. Blair Kinghorn managed to tear it down, ranked rear against Fassnutte, a much fairer competition in the great open spaces these days than ever.
If the champions N ° 9 in their Position are competing against the best in the world, Kinghorn is quietly rising in the ranking of the best full-backs in the world. After having released Ramos, the French full-back, from the n° 15 Toulouse jersey, Kinghorn has also resumed his striking duties on goal. His penalties in the first half kept Toulouse in the lead despite its mainly defensive abandonment. Dupont was as remarkable on the other side of the ball as he was when, as is normal, he enchants the best in the world with the ball in his hands.