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French heavyweights stumble in latest round of Champions Cup pool play
Leinster halted Toulouse’s 12-match unbeaten run to replace them at the top of European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1, while Ulster and Edinburgh also claimed big Top 14 scalps on Saturday.
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Toulouse had not been beaten since September, but Leinster ended their 100 per cent Champions Cup record with a 29-13 bonus-point victory at the RDS Arena on a great day for Pro14 clubs.
Injury-hit defending champions Leinster lost Luke McGrath to a knee problem, but lead Toulouse by three points and will be assured of a home quarter-final if they win at Wasps next weekend.
Toulouse are still on course for the last eight with a home clash against Bath to come given their points tally, but they were brought back down to earth on a windy afternoon in Dublin.
Leinster, missing Johnny Sexton and a whole host of fellow internationals, led 10-6 at the break after Jack Conan ploughed his way over from close range and three second-half tries put them out of sight.
Dave Kearney took a pinpoint cross-field kick from Ross Byrne before finishing superbly, then Sean Cronin and Adam Byrne crossed before Cheslin Kolbe touched down right at the end for a well-beaten Toulouse side.
What a day! ? A crucial win backed by phenomenal support ??
We go again next week ?#LEIvTOU #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/EDuJT37Tzq
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 12, 2019
Jacob Stockdale claimed a double as Ulster kept their hopes of securing top spot in Pool 4 alive with a 26-22 defeat of previously unbeaten leaders Racing 92 in a classic battle at Kingspan Stadium.
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The prolific Stockdale maintained his record of having scored in every round, the competition’s leading scorer chasing onto his own kick for a magnificent solo try in the second half in Belfast.
5?? Pool games
6?? Excellent triesEnjoy two minutes of Jacob Stockdale making mince-meat of Europe's elite club competition…
One of the deadliest finishers in the game at 22 years old ? pic.twitter.com/ezj3E6lecg
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 12, 2019
Simon Zebo’s try reduced the deficit to 16-10 at the break and last year’s runners-up were only a point behind following tries from Brice Dulin and Olivier Klemenczak, but Will Addison’s second penalty completed the scoring as Ulster ground it out.
Edinburgh will head into their decisive Pool 5 clash with Montpellier with a three-point advantage at the summit after downing struggling three-time champions Toulon 28-17 at Stade Mayol.
Richard Cockerill’s side rallied from 12-8 down at the interval, Blair Kinghorn and James Johnstone adding to a Darcy Graham try to keep Toulon rooted to the bottom.
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SIT. DOWN. ?
Darcy Graham going full big brother on Mathieu Smaili for the try in the corner!
What a talent ? pic.twitter.com/MX9nbNecV2
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 12, 2019
Montpellier thrashed Newcastle Falcons 45-8, while Bath edged out Premiership rivals Wasps for their first Pool 1 win courtesy of a late Rhys Priestland penalty and the Scarlets hammered Leicester Tigers 33-10 in Pool 4.
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