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James Lowe diving over for Leinster Rugby's fifth try against Wasps
Leinster Rugby will be aiming to win their 11th consecutive Heineken Champions Cup match when they travel to face Toulouse on Sunday at Stade Ernest Wallon, live on BT Sport and beIN SPORTS from 15:15 BST.
The defending champions defeated Wasps 52-3 in the Heineken Champions Cup curtain raiser, while Toulouse beat Bath Rugby 22-20 at The Rec in Round 1.
- This will be the 10th meeting between Toulouse and Leinster and the first in over seven years since their semi-final meeting in 2011 won 32-23 by Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
- Overall, Toulouse have won five of their nine matches with Leinster (L4), including three of their four home clashes (L1).
- Leinster are unbeaten in five consecutive away pool games, and they’ve never gone six away games without suffering a defeat.
- Round 1 saw Leinster record their third biggest tournament win (52-3) and also inflict Wasps’ heaviest tournament defeat.
Was this Saturday's defining moment? 😱
After pushing a kick in front of the posts wide two minutes earlier, @FreddieBurns was then inches from the match-winning try for @bathrugby…@MaxMedard was certainly the hero for @StadeToulousain 👏 #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/1TTJl0AdKJ
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) October 14, 2018
- Since the start of 2017/18 and their Challenge Cup campaign Toulouse have scored 139 points and conceded 140 in European competition (W3, L3, D1).
- Only Munster (167) have played more tournament games than either Toulouse (158) orLeinster (160).
- Three of the leading five ball carriers in Round 1 were Leinster players. Garry Ringrose topped the charts with 21 while Jack Conan and Robbie Henshaw made 19 each.
- Toulouse made 20 offloads in Round 1. Only three other teams reached double figures in this category and none made more than 15. Individually, no one made more than Maxime Médard, Sofiane Guitoune and Joe Tekori (4 each).
📹 @leinsterrugby opened their title defence by welcoming two-time European champions @WaspsRugby to the RDS Arena 🤝
Leinster were looking to set a club record with a tenth consecutive European victory #ChampionsCup 💪 pic.twitter.com/lKknNbTNo8
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) October 13, 2018
- Leinster collectively made the most carries (191), metres (671) and breaks (18) of any side in Round 1.
- James Lowe was the top metre maker in Round 1 (184) while no one beat more defenders than the Leinster wing (8, also Toulouse’s Cheslin Kolbe).
Maxime Médard runs in to score his second try of the afternoon
Four-time European Cup winners Toulouse and Leinster Rugby clashed on Sunday and it was the French side that came out on top with a 28-27 victory over the defending champions at Stade Ernest Wallon.
The home side enjoyed a terrific start and went six points clear when full-back Thomas Ramos knocked over two early penalty kicks.
Toulouse then went further ahead when Julien Marchand broke clear of the Leinster line before play eventually found Maxime Medard who was able to dot down in the corner.
What a step! 😱
Sofiane Guitoune with the filthy footwork to deliver a sucker-punch right as Leinster looked to be back in it!
We've got a cracking contest on our hands here…
BT Sport 2 HD 😱 pic.twitter.com/QOTZ43eays— Watch the Heineken Champions Cup on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 21, 2018
The two sides then began to trade penalties until the defending champions found a way to get over the whitewash when Jack Conan exploited a hole in the Toulouse line and sprinted clear before a simple hand-off to Sean O’Brien who dived over.
Toulouse hit back just before half time after some unbelievable footwork from Sofiane Guitoune who broke past a pair of Leinster defenders with a delicious step and sauntered over the try line. Ramos would drill the conversion between the posts to give the French side an eight-point lead at the interval.
Two tries in quick succession from James Ryan and Sean Cronin gave Leinster the lead early in the second half but Toulouse would again bounce back through the in-form Medard.
Toulouse. Are. Back! 👊
A monumental effort, a monumental win!
Sensational scenes at the full-time whistle as the champions have been defeated! 👏 pic.twitter.com/QxyjElM1sf
— Watch the Heineken Champions Cup on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 21, 2018
Toulouse intercepted in midfield and with four incisive passes they found Medard who bolted clear for a huge try. Ramos then nailed the crucial conversion to put the French side in front.
Leinster tried to battle back in the closing stages but to no avail as Toulouse hung on for a famous success over the defending champions.
Leinster travel to face Bath in Round 3 while Toulouse will visit Wasps.
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