Antoine Dupont, Peato Mauvaka, Paul Costes and François Cros, the four symbolic players of Stade Toulouse’s qualification

Sometimes jostled, but long impressive, Stade Toulouse was able to count on the five-star performances of some of its internationals to qualify for a new European final.

Qualified for the Champions Cup final after a success with two faces against Harlequins (38-26)Sunday May 5 in Toulouse, Stade Toulouse has given itself the right to aim for a sixth continental crown against Leinster on May 25 (live on France 2 and france.tv).

To build his victory, he first relied on his stars in attack, before relying on his shadow players to ensure his qualification. These two Toulouse facets are illustrated on one side by the six tries scored, and on the other by the 167 tackles attempted (compared to 110 at Harlequins). A look back at four of the strong men of Haut-Garonne success.

Antoine Dupont, the realist

Two tries before the break, to give his team a 19-point lead, great activity at the start of the match to set the pace and good pressure plays, Antoine Dupont was equal to his standards on Sunday. Solid in defense (eight successful tackles), he was, despite himself, key at the end of the match, since it was he who was the victim of a tackle to the head of Jack Walker, punished with a yellow card. Symbol of his importance in the Toulouse system, Antoine Dupont played the entire match, finishing with 15 races and 69 meters gained with the ball in hand.

Paul Costes, the disheveled attacker

Paul Costes may only be 21 years old, but he fits very well into a three-quarter line marked by international rugby. Associated with Pita Ahki, in No. 13, the U20 world champion rode on the momentum that has been his for many weeks to burst into the limelight.

Still on his feet defensively with his eight tackles, his ride and his kick to follow on Toulouse’s fourth try, which had given a breath of fresh air to his team, are the symbols of his disconcerting offensive abilities, image of his 84 meters with the ball in hand and his two defenders beaten. No Toulouse player advanced as much as him during this semi-final.

Peato Mauvaka, the fighter

Omnipresent in the Toulouse offensives, Peato Mauvaka was in the oven and in the mill for the Stade Toulouse. Author of the discrepancy on his team’s first try, he scored the second behind a maul, before rewarding the public with a sublime inside hook, to bring in Antoine Dupont’s fifth try.

With 43 meters covered with the ball in hand, he was, by far and despite his exit in the 50th minute, the most prominent forward in this sector throughout the match. Its closest competitor, Chandler Cunningham-South, covered only 28 yards. On the sidelines, he ensured his throws (4/4), adding eight tackles to his score.

François Cros, the fierce defender

Largely in the lead at the break, the Stade Toulouse ship swayed after the restart. But to fight against the waves which fell on the Haut-Garonnais building, the Toulouse flanker once again returned to the helm. With his 20 tackles, François Cros is the one who tackled the most of all the players in the match. He held the house at the height of English domination, while only being penalized once.

On Thibaud Flament’s try, it is he who goes up hard to tackle in the English camp, before shaking the created ruck, allowing a hazardous ball release from Harlequins. Elected man of the match, naturally.