The High 14 semi-finals noticed each Toulouse and Bordeaux advance to the ultimate after victories towards La Rochelle and Stade Francais respectively.
Self-discipline points ended La Rochelle’s bid for a primary High 14 title on the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux. They misplaced their semi-final 39-23 towards Toulouse; Ronan O’Gara’s facet having now misplaced 5 knockout matches to Toulouse together with their High 14 finals in 2021 and 2023.
La Rochelle led earlier than second-half purple playing cards for Uini Atonio – for a harmful problem on Thibaud Flament – and Reda Wardi – for a headbutt on Julian Marchand – successfully ended their problem.
Jake White displays on what went improper
Jake White displays on what went improper
Along with the 2 purple playing cards referee Tual Trainini despatched Jack Nowell, Jack Willis and Julien Marchand to the sin-bin for numerous infringements.
Toulouse
La Rochelle
La Rochelle did get off to a vivid begin when former Wallaby hooker Tolu Latu scored with simply ten minutes on the clock.
Nevertheless, Ugo Mola’s Toulouse would then rating twice whereas La Rochelle’s Jack Nowell was within the bin for offside.
The primary got here when Toulouse used a posh faucet penalty resulting in Blair Kinghorn scoring the opening strive.
The second got here simply moments earlier than the previous Exeter Chiefs fullback was due again on the pitch as La Rochelle conceded a penalty in their very own 22. Toulouse performed their means throughout the pitch permitting Juan Cruz Mallia to attain.
La Rochelle hit again when captain Gregory Alldritt scored on the stroke of halftime. England again row Willis had been yellow-carded on 36 minutes for repeated Toulouse offsides permitting Antoine Hastoy a simple shot at aim however Alldritt opted for a kick to the touch that result in his personal strive. O’Gara’s males went into the break main 20-15.
It began going south, nonetheless, when 5 minutes after Atonio’s Forty second-minute purple card Toulouse took management of the sport. Peato Mauvaka was denied a strive as a result of a ahead go however Santiago Chocobares charged down Brice Dulin’s clearance to attain below the posts.
Regardless of being 9 factors and two gamers down La Rochelle compelled a penalty which was transformed by Hastoy.
Toulouse’s Matthis Lebel killed off all doubt when he added a fifth strive for the purple and blacks three minutes from time.
The defending champions now head to Marseille for the ultimate towards Bordeaux. Their solely concern is an harm to loosehead Cyril Baille who was stretchered off 10 minutes into the second half. Baille will miss the ultimate as a result of a fractured fibula and ruptured ankle ligaments.
Bordeaux – guided by Yannick Bru – reached their first-ever High 14 remaining after beating Stade Francais 22-20 in Bordeaux.
Stade Francais
Bordeaux
5 tries have been scored in Saturday’s match all off the again of mauls. The primary two got here from Bordeaux hooker Maxime Lamothe within the seventeenth and twenty first minutes as his group stretched to a 17-3 lead.
Stade – who had defeated Bordeaux twice within the common season – reduce the deficit on the half-hour mark with back-rower Romain Briatte crossing.
Bordeaux back-row ahead Pierre Bochaton was subsequent to attain earlier than Stade alternative hooker Lucas Peyresblanques barrelled over within the 62nd minute to make the rating 22-15.
Within the dying moments Peyresblanques scored his second strive within the nook as Stade trailed by simply two factors.
Nevertheless, Segonds discovered the kicking angle too tight and his try to tug his group stage failed leaving Bordeaux to have fun victory.
