Ntamack has Toulouse on verge of history after ‘tense’ win

Toulouse's Romain Ntamack. Credit: PA

May 03 2021 02:30 AM

Toulouse reached the final of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2010 with a comprehensive 21-9 home victory over fellow French side Bordeaux-Begles in the Champions Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

Matthis Lebel and Antoine Dupont scored tries and Romain Ntamack kicked the other points to set up a final against La Rochelle.

Bordeaux-Begles, playing their first semi-final in the competition, responded with penalties by Matthieu Jalibert but lacked the inspiration to threaten the Top 14 leaders.

Toulouse – who share the record of four titles with Leinster – have the opportunity to go one better in their seventh final on May 22 at Twickenham.

“We were a bit tense playing at home, we played very cautiously in the first half, it was hard to play because of tough conditions,” Ntamack said.

As rain and wind swept the field, Lebel beat two tackles to touch down on the right wing and give Toulouse a 5-3 advantage after a Jalibert penalty.

Jalibert added another three points, which Ntamack cancelled out with a penalty of his own to put the hosts ahead at half-time.

Toulouse maintained the pressure after the break, forcing Bordeaux to concede penalties and Ntamack slotted two to put his side 14-6 up with 15 minutes left.

Jalibert gave Bordeaux a lifeline as he kept his cool to slot over a 40-metre penalty, but France scrum-half Dupont sealed the win with his 17th try in 24

Elsewhere, Stuart Hooper admitted to a huge amount of disappointment and frustration after Bath were beaten 19-10 in their Challenge Cup semi-final by Montpellier at the Recreation Ground.

“It was a mixture of things in the lineout - some throws, calls and catch errors - and when you get that it turns into a tough day,” Bath rugby director Hooper said.