Leinster shock holders

Leinster scored four tries to win at reigning champions Toulouse 41-35 and qualify for the semi-finals of the European Cup on Saturday. Leinster's flyhalf Felipe Contepomi was the man of the match with 21 points scored.

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

Leinster reached the last eight as second-best runners-up and were rank outsiders against a mighty Toulouse side bidding for a fourth successive final but they were deserved winners.

Led by Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll, Leinster produced an organised and determined performance, controlling Toulouse's feared backs to triumph in a surprisingly one-sided clash.

They led 19-9 at the break and continued to look superior in every department in the second half.

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Tries by O'Driscoll, Cameron Jowitt, Denis Hickie and Shane organ underlined Leinster's domination and Argentine flyhalf Felipe Contepomi did the rest with 21 points from five penalties and three conversions.

Toulouse had to be content with late tries from flanker Yannick Nyanga and centre Yannick Jauzion, a Frederic Michalak drop goal and 22 points from the boot of flyhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.

ONLY TRY

Powerful centre O'Driscoll scored the only try of the first half after a fluent move in the 24th minute and Contepomi did the rest, converting it and scoring four penalties to put the visitors comfortably on top at halftime.

Looking clumsy under pressure and making many errors, Toulouse suffered during the first 40 minutes and managed only three penalties by Elissalde.

Toulouse looked determined when play resumed and soon earned two penalties, which Elissalde kicked successfully.

Cheered on by a partisan 35,000 crowd, Toulouse then closed the gap to one point courtesy of a drop goal from 30 metres by Michalak.

Leinster, however, fought back, lock Jowitt exploiting a Michalak blunder to score their second try in the 53rd minute, which Contepomi converted to give the visitors a 26-18 lead.

Winger Hickie then shattered Toulouse's hopes with a superb counter for another try before Horgan put the issue beyond doubt with Leinster's fourth try of the match.

Toulouse went down fighting, Nyanga and Jauzion giving them consolation tries before they bowed out.

Leinster will face Munster in what should be a memorable semi-final at Lansdowne Road.

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