Toulouse Edges Toulon In Dramatic Fashion To Set Up Semifinal Vs. Bordeaux
Toulouse Edges Toulon In Dramatic Fashion To Set Up Semifinal Vs. Bordeaux
Investec Champions Cup quarterfinal live updates from the Toulon vs. Toulouse match at the Stade Mayol in Toulon.
A dramatic last-minute penalty from Thomas Ramos propelled defending champion Toulouse to a 21-18 victory over RC Toulon in a pulsating Investec Champions Cup quarterfinal at a packed Stade Mayol on Saturday.
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In a match full of twists, tension and thundering physicality, Ramos silenced a hostile crowd with the final act of the game - slotting a pressure-filled penalty in the 80th minute to snatch victory from the jaws of extra time.
After an error-strewn afternoon with the boot, where he missed half of his attempts, Ramos found redemption when it mattered most.
The clash, billed as the match of the weekend, lived up to its billing.
Toulon, inspired by the boot of former Toulouse fullback Melvyn Jaminet and a ferocious pack led by Facundo Isa, led for much of the game. Jaminet kicked six penalties, including a monstrous effort from his own half, to keep the home side in control for large stretches.
Toulouse, however, showed its championship mettle in the second half.
Trailing 12-6 at the break, Toulouse came out swinging.
England international Jack Willis powered over in the 43rd minute for the game’s opening try after a quick tap penalty, before Pita Ahki dotted down following a sweeping move launched by Ramos.
Despite Ramos missing the conversion, and a crucial penalty soon after, Toulouse had swung the momentum.
Still, Toulon responded with Jaminet’s boot, leveling the scores at 18-18 heading into the final 20 minutes.
What followed was a nerve-shredding final quarter.
Both sides exchanged blows in a fierce territorial battle, but neither could find a decisive edge - until Toulouse forced a breakdown penalty in the dying seconds.
Ramos, under immense pressure and having struggled from the tee, stepped up and drilled the kick to break Toulon hearts and send the visitors into yet another semifinal.
The first half had been a story of Toulon dominance. Toulon's relentless breakdown pressure and line-out supremacy frustrated the five-time champions.
Toulouse was lucky to trail by just six at the break, after having a try from Paul Graou disallowed and struggling with discipline - Cyril Baille’s yellow card a particular turning point.
Emmanuel Meafou was immense throughout for Toulouse, carrying with menace and leading the late rally. Yet it was Ramos who had the final say, his late-game nerves of steel ensuring Toulouse remains on course for a record-extending sixth European crown.
FINAL: RC Toulon 18 – Toulouse 21
Toulon — Pens: Jaminet (6)
Toulouse — Tries: Willis (43), Ahki (50); Pens: Ramos (3); Cons: Ramos (1)
Live Updates And Scores
RC Toulon and Stade Toulousain are no strangers to European glory, but Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup quarterfinal at Stade Mayol marks a new chapter in their storied rivalry - their first clash in the competition.
The two French heavyweights share nine Champions Cup titles between them, but history will count for little when they meet on the Mediterranean coast.
Toulon returned home riding high after a 64-26 demolition of Saracens in the Round of 16, a match that saw 10 tries and standout performances from back Melvyn Jaminet and powerhouse No. 8 Facundo Isa.
Both retain their spots in the Toulon XV, while Baptiste Serin starts at scrum-half following a strong showing off the bench last week. Up front, Dany Priso and Beka Gigashvili replace Jean-Baptiste Gros and Kyle Sinkler at prop.
Toulouse, meanwhile, arrives battle-tested after a gritty 31-19 win over Sale Sharks. Coach Ugo Mola welcomes back France international Cyril Baille at loosehead, and Juan Cruz Mallia fills in for the injured Ange Capuozzo on the wing.
Romain Ntamack and Paul Graou form a crucial halfback pairing for the reigning champions, who will look to dictate the pace in hostile territory. Captain Julien Marchand anchors a forward pack loaded with power, including Emmanuel Meafou and Jack Willis.
With Toulon’s flair and Toulouse’s pedigree, Sunday’s showdown promises to be a blockbuster. For two sides steeped in tradition, it’s not just a battle for semifinal glory - it’s a meeting of eras, ambitions and enduring legacies.
2025 RC Toulonnais vs Stade Toulousain
PENALTY! THOMAS RAMOS DOES IT! MIN 80!
When it matters most!
Just as we wrote about his issues today, Ramos nails the penalty, which wins this one for Toulouse! The champions march on to another semifinal!
That was a huge clash and certainly the match of the weekend!
The pressure that would've been on Ramos's shoulders would have been the weight of a ton of concrete blocks! Bravo Toulouse! Its all over here, and it ends Toulouse 21, Toulon 18.
Off Target!
This has been a truly uncharacteristic performance from arguably the best goal-kicker in the world. Ramos has missed 50% of his shots at goal, and this latest penalty was one he would normally knock over with ease.
If Toulouse does not go on to win this one, Ramos will be kicking himself.
The Witching Hour!
It is all on here! The score is locked at 18-18, and each team is enjoying moments of superiority. Who will blink first?
PENALTY! Melvyn Jaminet | Min 61
This match continues to ebb and flow!
Now, it's the home team's turn to get back on top.
Jaminet sneaks in yet another long-range and challenging kick to bring the scores level! RCT 18 - ST 18.
PENALTY! Melyvn Jaminet | Min 58
Toulon has started to find its groove, even if the team can't quite get over the line in the face of a well-organized and physical Toulouse defense.
Melvyn Jaminet nails a challenging conversion to bring his side back within three points with 20 minutes to play. ST 18, RCT 15
TRY! Pita Ahki | Min 50
The visitors take their first lead since early in the first half, powering through their forwards, before the ball squirts out. Thomas Ramos flings the ball wide to Pita Ahki! Ramos converts, and now the champions are firmly on top! ST 18, RCT 12.
Momentum Shift
Toulouse is firmly in the ascendancy here and rolling through waves of attack. This feel ominous for the home side...
TRY! Jack Willis | Min 43
There is no doubt about that one!
England international Jack Willis appears from behind the breakdown from a tap penalty! The backrow powers over Toulon defenders to get the first try of the match. Ramos misses the conversion, so the home side now holds a one-point lead! RCT 12 - ST 11.
NO TRY!
Julian Marchand's try is removed, but it looks like the Toulon scrum-half Baptiste Serin is heading to the sin bin for a high tackle. That is a big blow for the home side! What a different half of rugby we are seeing here.
Potential TRY! Julian Marchand | Min 42
Boom! Just like that!
The champions score the first try of the clash!
The match officials are checking the grounding, but it looks promising. It could be a double blow for Toulon, as there is talk of foul play that will be checked. For now, we wait...
Second Half Kicks Off
Toulouse has come out swinging and goes straight down to the Toulon line! What a start to this half from the champions.
HALFTIME REPORT
Hold the scripts - Toulon is writing its own.
In a tense and bruising first half at Stade Mayol, RC Toulon leads defending champion Toulouse 12-6 in the Investec Champions Cup quarterfinals, thanks largely to the pinpoint boot of former Toulouse fullback Melvyn Jaminet and a suffocating defensive performance.
Jaminet has punished Toulouse with four clinical penalties, including a monster strike from inside his own half in the 31st minute that brought the roaring home crowd to its feet. Toulon, ferocious at the breakdown and dominant in the line-out through Facundo Isa, has frustrated the visitors at every turn.
Toulouse opened the scoring through Thomas Ramos in the 10th minute but has since been rattled by an uncharacteristically error-prone performance.
Cyril Baille’s yellow card for a crocodile roll at the breakdown gifted Jaminet his first penalty and marked a turning point in the momentum.
The visitors thought they had crossed through Paul Graou, but the TMO denied him. Moments later, Jack Willis conceded a costly penalty at the other end, allowing Toulon to stretch its lead to 9-3.
Emmanuel Meafou has been Toulouse’s standout, carrying powerfully and sparking a late rally. Just before the break, Gaban Villiere was penalized for going off his feet, and Ramos slotted a much-needed penalty to claw Toulouse within six points at the half.
Toulon has executed its gameplan to perfection thus far, disrupting Toulouse’s rhythm and feeding off a thunderous Stade Mayol atmosphere. The champions have work to do.
HALFTIME: RC Toulon 12 – Toulouse 6
Championship Minutes!
Just like that!
Toulouse has been dead and buried for the past 30 minutes, but Meafou breaks again, and Gaban Villiere is penalized for going off his feet at the breakdown!
Thomas Ramos nails the easy penalty, bringing the champions back within a score at halftime. RCT 12 - ST 6.
Completely Un-Toulouse-Like
Toulouse was building some great momentum with ball carriers in the form of Emmanuel Meafou, Jack Willis and Romain Ntamack, but it all comes to nothing, as Graou is penalized for crossing behind Meafou. Frustrating for the champions, but great for Toulon.
Toulon Frustrating Toulouse
The home side has found the sweet spot and is pilfering the ball at both the breakdown and line-out time.
Facundo Isa has been a menace at the front of the line-out and has gone toe-to-toe with the highly touted Toulouse backrow.
PENALTY! MELVYN JAMINET | MIN 31
Toulouse is under machine gun fire from the boot of Melvyn Jaminet, who drills another penalty! This time from inside his half! Toulon is stretching away and getting close to making a big time break. RCT 12 - ST 3.
PENALTY! MELVYN JAMINET | MIN 28
That was a dagger blow to Toulouse. Fresh off winning a scrum penalty through the returning Cyril Baille, the visitors cough up the ball. Toulon immediately capitalizes, going from deep, and wins a penalty, as Jack Willis goes off his feet. RCT 9 - ST 3.
PENALTY! Melvyn Jaminet | Min 23
The home side has the lead for the first time today, and is starting to put the squeeze on Toulouse with its power game. Winning key penalties at the breakdown, getting on top at scrum time - it's all rolling Toulon's way. RCT 6 - ST 3.
NO TRY! Min 15
That was so close! Toulouse got over the line through scrum-half Paul Graou, who makes a superb 15-meter break, but the TMO ruled it out, and we remain locked at three points each.
Yellow Card! Cyril Baille | 12
Former Toulouse player Melvyn Jaminet nails the penalty, following a crocodile role attempt by Cyril Baille, which has seen the big loosehead sent to the sin-bin. RCT 3 - ST 3.
PENALTY! Thomas Ramos | Min 10
The visitors hit the front, as their pressure tells, and Toulon conceded another breakdown penalty. Ramos makes no mistakes this time! ST 3, RCT 0.
Uncharacteristic!
The usually unflappable Thomas Ramos misses what normally would be a routine kick at goal. The home crowd was booing him relentlessly, and it appeared to unsettle him.
Kickoff!
Toulouse get us underway, and the home side goes through some phases, before Toulouse wins a quick turnover inside 30 seconds!
PILOU PILOU!
RC Toulonnais's amazing pre-match war cry has the whole stadium hyped up! This should be an absolute cracker!
How To Watch RC Toulon vs Stade Toulousain In Investec Champions Cup Quarterfinal
The match is streaming live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States and all of North America.
When Do The Investec Champions Cup Playoffs Begin In 2025?
The Investec Champions Cup Playoffs kick off with the Round of 16 on April 4, as the Northampton Saints take on Clermont Rugby. The remaining seven games of the round will be played April 5-6.
The quarterfinals will follow from April 11-13, with a short break until the semifinals on May 2-4.
The Champions Cup Final will take place at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Quarterfinal Fixtures
Friday, April 11
- Leinster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors - Aviva Stadium
Saturday, April 12
- Union Bordeaux-Begles vs Munster Rugby - Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Northampton Saints vs Castres Olympique - Franklin's Gardens
Sunday, April 13
- RC Toulonnais vs. Stade Toulousain - Stade Chaban-Delmas
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarterfinals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semifinals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
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