Sexton leads the way as Leinster gun for fifth star

By JOHN FALLON

Leinster …………40pts

Tries: Lowe 15, 50; Van der Flier 20, Keenan 79

Conversions: Sexton 16, 21, 52; Byrne 80

Penalties: Sexton 5, 13, 34; Byrne 74

Tolouse ….. ………17pts

Tries: Dupont 7, Tolofua 66

Conversions: Ramos 8, 66

Penalties: Ramos 24

LEINSTER and Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton said he never thought he would get the chance to win a fifth Champions Cup medal and now he wants to finish the job after sending the holders Toulouse crashing out in a gripping semifinal at the Aviva Stadium.

A superb pack supplying quick ball laid the foundation for the win as Leinster returned to the final for the first time in three years.

Sexton and his half-back partner Jamison Gibson-Park made the most of that fast ball to outshine their counterparts Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont to set up a final meeting with either Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle or Racing 92.

“I never thought that I’d get another chance so it’s great, and we are so driven to put a fifth star on the jersey and every single person in the dressing room, staff, guys who were playing, guys who weren’t playing are really driven. It’s a special environment to be part of,” said Sexton.

He led the way as Leinster got on top in the opening half and they dealt with anything Toulouse threw at them after that, with the French champions wilting as they returned to the venue where a penalty shootout was needed last weekend to edge them past Munster after 100 minutes of pulsating rugby. Sexton said it was a good Leinster performance but with room for improvement.

“I think it was good. We did some really good things. What I was most pleased about was that we didn’t let the mistakes faze us. Going 7-3 down when we were dominating the first few minutes, we didn’t let that get on top of us and we just bounced back.

When they scored the try to make it a two-score game again, we bounced back again.

“We need to be better again in the final because at the end of the day, Toulouse played 100 minutes against Munster, had to travel home, had to travel here again. So we’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt. This isn’t where we wanted to get to. We want to win the final so we’ve achieved nothing yet.”

Both teams, as expected, brought lightning pace to the game from the outset with Dupont giving the champions a perfect start when he intercepted to score from distance

But Sexton settled Leinster with his second penalty and they never looked back when James Lowe crossed for his first try after 15 minutes after a penalty to the corner, with the skipper sending him over with a pop pass.

Sexton’s conversion made it 13-7 before Leinster lost tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong to injury, but they struck another telling blow when Ross Molony and Sexton combined to send Josh van der Flier through to score with a superbly delayed pass from the Irish out-half.

That stretched Leinster into a 20-7 lead before Toulouse suffered another blow when their huge lock Emmanuel Meafou was binned on 36 minutes for taking out Gibson-Park, with Leinster turning around with a 23-10 lead.

Leinster continued to set the pace in the second half and the pressure eventually paid off when Gibson-Park charged down a kick from Dupont and they countered, fed it through the hands, and Lowe scored, with Sexton’s conversion pushing the lead to 30-10 with half an hour left on the clock.

Replacement back rower Sebastain Tolofua gave the champions a glimmer of hope when he scored off a maul in the right corner and Tomas Ramos converted to make it 30-17.

They needed to get the next score but their exploits against Munster took a big toll and it was Ross Byrne, on for Sexton, who increased Leinster’s lead with a penalty in front of the posts.

And they finished in style when Hugo Keenan got over for their fourth try as they booked their place in the Marseille final in on May 28, leaving the reigning champions to concentrate on now holding on to their domestic crown.

Toulouse coach Uga Mola said that they would now turn their full attention to trying to retain their Top 14 crown but said the demands of the French championship take a toll.

“For the French compared to the Irish, we play double the games per season. Honestly, I think this competition is the best competition.

“The ball in play time is 40 minutes compared to 32 in the Top 14. We don’t prepare for this type of game in the Top 14. I hope to finish well with my team in the Top 14,” said Mola.