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VIDEO: Red card tackle sees James O'Connor face planted into pitch
By Ian Cameron
Pierre Aguillon’s second-half red card for an ugly tackle on James O'Connor proved crucial as Toulon came from behind to beat La Rochelle 18-15 and reach the Top 14 final.
La Rochelle led a contest in which the points all came from the boot 15-6, only for the game to turn dramatically in Toulon’s favour in the 52nd minute.
Aguillon was shown a red card after he was adjudged to have committed a dangerous tackle on Toulon’s O’Connor, who started at inside centre.
He can have no complaints.
O’Connor landed on his face having been lifted off the ground and turned in mid-air and Aguillon’s subsequent dismissal enabled Toulon – beaten in last season’s final – to mount a comeback and draw level at 15-15.
After Aguilom's dismissal Zack Holmes missed two difficult kicks that would have re-established a lead for La Rochelle and his profligacy was punished as, after a penalty to Toulon gave them a line-out 10 metres out, Belleau knocked over a simple drop-goal to complete the turnaround.
Brock James had the edge in the kicking battle with Leigh Halfpenny at the interval, his boot giving La Rochelle a slender 9-6 lead after 40 minutes.
A simple penalty in front of the post and an effort from James from 45 metres out made it a nine-point gap six minutes into the second half.
But the momentum shifted drastically after the TMO decided Aguillon’s tackle was dangerous enough to warrant a red card, Halfpenny immediately converting a three-pointer from 40 metres in the wake of the sending off.
His fourth penalty of the contest cut it to 15-12 and the Welshman, who will not be able to play in the final due to his commitments with the British and Irish Lions, levelled matters 11 minutes from time.
Having replaced James, Holmes twice failed with kicks from 50 metres out, but La Rochelle still appeared to have done enough to force extra time.
Yet there was to be a final late twist as Toulon surged towards the posts from their late line-out, Belleau keeping his composure to convert a routine drop-goal from in front and book their place in the Stade de France showpiece against either Clermont Auvergne or Racing 92.
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Latest Comments
Wow.... Just wow!
Eben managed to make more meters and average more meters per carry than both Barrett and Vaai in both games and played fewer minutes.
Eben also made double digit tackles in Capetown and actually had 3 more tackles than both players. plus he had a higher completion rate than vaai and equal to Barrett in Joberg. Yes he was manhandled by a 113kg hooker but I believe Barrett was sat down by a 75kg winger. Which is more acceptable?
What BS about Kolbes line break completion. So Dmacs, and Will Jordan and right have far more line breaks... that must mean the ABs and wallabies have out scored every team... oh wait. In half as many games in the TRC Kolbe had 1 less clean break than Will Jordan and topped the list for defenders beaten with 21, next best was 17 and it wasn't DMac, wright or Jordan.
Go to comments😄 Ok ......... keep telling that to all the people who are not entitled to the same benefits or scholarships or payouts and who have to pay for everything because they aren't Maori.............
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