Our review of the 2020/2021 Champions Cup season now focuses on the semi-finals where Toulouse and La Rochelle respectively beat Bordeaux-Bègles and Leinster Rugby to reach the final at Twickenham.
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Toulouse in search of a fifth star
Toulouse offered themselves the possibility of winning a fifth European title after beating Bordeaux-Bègles (21-9), during their clash in the semi-final of the Champions Cup, at the Ernest-Wallon stadium. The quadruple European champions scored tries in each period through Matthis Lebel and Antoine Dupont while the Girondins struggled to create opportunities in attack.
Christophe Urios’ men however took the lead from the first minutes with a penalty from Matthieu Jalibert, very precise despite the wet playing conditions. This advantage only lasted three minutes before Toulouse crossed the goal line for the first time. On an initiative from Romain Ntamack, Maxime Médard inherited the ball off the coast and found Lebel who avoided two tackles before plunging into a corner.
As Bordeaux returned to the race via Jalibert’s boot, Toulouse swept aside UBB’s ambitions in the second half to secure a place in the final. The Toulousains made the difference with the scrum half Antoine Dupont, named Best European Player of the Year 2021, author of a decisive sprint towards the test line of the Bordelais.
La Rochelle rule out Leinster to reach first Champions Cup final
La Rochelle has offered a ticket to play the first European Cup final in its history by disposing of Leinster Rugby after a dazzling performance to Marcel-Deflandre (32-23). Second-half tries from Gregory Alldritt and Will Skelton, as well as 22 points off opener Ihaia West, ensured the Maritimes a prestigious success against the Irish province.
La Rochelle made a sluggish start to the match with seven points behind after ten minutes of play and the test of pillar Tadhg Furlong. At the same time, third row Wiaan Liebenberg received a yellow card. The French formation, however, did not intend to abdicate. West signed the start of the La Rochelle revolt with a penalty then a drop to return to a point, before Ross Byrne responded with a penalty. Leinster’s opening half once again found the posts in the 28th minute, but La Rochelle fell into the lead at the break (13-12).
The two teams continued to exchange kicks in the first 20 minutes of the second half. But James Lowe’s yellow card in the 58th minute would prove decisive for the rest of the match. The Maritimes signed a breathtaking end to the match like Grégory Alldritt’s try, collapsing on the line with the help of Skelton. The Australian second row was illustrated in turn, in the 75th minute, by scoring the attempt to win on a superb La Rochelle maul.
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