Leinster survive Toulon's late surge to reach fourth Champions Cup final in five seasons

Key facts

• Leinster beat Toulon 29-25 in the Champions Cup semi-final at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
• Leinster led 29-11 with 10 minutes remaining before Toulon scored two converted tries to close to 29-25.
• Toulon had a chance to win in the final minute but Gael Drean spilled a pass inside after a threatening break.
• Leinster tries came from Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose, and captain Caelan Doris.
• Toulon tries were scored by Seta Tuicuvu, Baptiste Serin, and Gael Drean, with Melvyn Jaminet kicking two conversions and two penalties.
• Leinster have now reached four of the past five Champions Cup finals; their last title was in 2018.
• Toulon, three-time European champions, have not won the competition since 2015.
• Leinster will play either Bordeaux or Bath in the final in Bilbao on Saturday, 23 May.

A dramatic semi-final at Lansdowne Road

Leinster held off an astonishing fightback by Toulon to secure a 29-25 victory in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. The Irish province, four-time European champions, appeared to be cruising to victory when they led 29-11 with just 10 minutes remaining. Toulon, however, reduced that deficit to four points with four minutes left after a try by Gael Drean was converted by Melvyn Jaminet. In the final minute, Drean produced another threatening break down the right but spilled his pass inside forward, ending the French club's hopes of a stunning comeback.

Leinster's first-half dominance

Leinster flankers Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier scored first-half tries to give their side a 14-11 lead at the break. Toulon had responded through a try by Seta Tuicuvu and two penalties from Jaminet, keeping the score close. In the second half, Leinster extended their lead with tries from centre Garry Ringrose and captain Caelan Doris. Flyhalf Harry Byrne added a penalty and three conversions, putting the home side in a commanding position.

Toulon's late rally falls short

Toulon, three-time European champions, mounted a furious late comeback. Baptiste Serin crossed the line, and Drean's try with four minutes remaining brought the visitors within four points. At one stage, Leinster had two players in the sin bin, but Toulon could not take full advantage. "We had match point," said a frustrated Pierre Mignoni, Toulon’s director of rugby, reflecting on the missed opportunity. Leinster clung on in the closing stages, with the Aviva Stadium crowd providing intense support.

Leinster's final berth and quest for a fifth star

Leinster have now reached four of the past five Champions Cup finals, but their last triumph came in 2018. The province will face either Bordeaux or Bath in Bilbao on Saturday, 23 May. Bernard Jackman, former Ireland hooker, noted on Premier Sports: "The crowd helped Leinster over the line. I have not seen a Leinster crowd as engaged." Leinster captain Caelan Doris said: "You know a team like Toulon will up things at some stage. They started to throw it around and some stuff came off. A tough fixture. Massive effort from everyone to reach another final."

Toulon's history and the road ahead

Toulon, formed in 1908 from the merger of three local clubs, have a storied history. They were first crowned French champions in 1931, with an estimated 30,000 fans lining the streets to greet the team. After losing four consecutive finals between 1948 and 1985, they won the title in 1987 and 1992. In the European arena, Toulon have won the Champions Cup three times, but their last title came in 2015. Saturday's defeat leaves them to focus on the Top 14, where they remain contenders. The club's director of rugby, Pierre Mignoni, will be left to ponder what might have been after such a narrow loss.

What comes next for both sides

Leinster will now prepare for the final on 23 May, aiming to add a fifth European star to their crest. Their opponent will be determined by the other semi-final between Bordeaux and Bath. For Toulon, the focus shifts back to domestic competition, where they will look to secure a place in next season's Champions Cup. The match also highlighted the depth of talent in French rugby, with several France internationals featuring for Toulon. As the season progresses, both clubs will have opportunities to build on their performances in this thrilling encounter.

The bottom line

• Leinster reached their ninth Champions Cup final and fourth in five seasons with a 29-25 win over Toulon.
• Toulon mounted a remarkable late comeback, scoring two tries in the final 10 minutes, but fell just short.
• Leinster captain Caelan Doris scored a try and praised his team's resilience against a tough opponent.
• Toulon director of rugby Pierre Mignoni lamented a missed 'match point' after a late handling error.
• The final will be held in Bilbao on 23 May, with Leinster facing either Bordeaux or Bath.
• Leinster's last Champions Cup title was in 2018; Toulon have not won since 2015.