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Toulouse claimed a record fifth European crown as they defeated 14-man French rivals La Rochelle 22-17 to win the Heineken Champions Cup final at Twickenham.<\/p>\nToulouse claimed a record fifth European crown as they defeated 14-man French rivals La Rochelle 22-17 to win the Heineken Champions Cup final at Twickenham.<\/p>\n
It will be a disappointment for former Ireland and Munster fly-half Ronan O’Gara, who is now head coach at La Rochelle.<\/p>\n
La Rochelle center Levani Botia became the first man to be sent off in a Champions Cup final and Toulouse eventually wore their opposition down despite being second best up front.<\/p>\n
Juan Cruz Mallia\u2019s second-half try was the crucial moment.<\/p>\n
In front of 10,000 fans at Twickenham, Toulouse\u2019s Francois Cros made an early break before his team-mate Romain Ntamack kicked an impressive penalty to open the scoring.<\/p>\n
La Rochelle\u2019s Ihaia West soon cancelled it out, but he would miss three crucial kicks over the course of the game.<\/p>\n
Toulouse lost lock Richie Arnold to injury inside the first 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
Ntamack kicked a second penalty, but West\u2019s next attempt came off a post and gave La Rochelle a five-meter scrum.<\/p>\n
It was a fine attacking position with the yellow scrum well on top, but Botia knocked on.<\/p>\n
The pressure of a final saw lots of errors made. Toulouse missed touch, Maxime Medard also spilled the ball and La Rochelle\u2019s Gregory Alldritt ran into his own man.<\/p>\n
Ntamack then kicked out on the full after the ball had been passed back into his 22.<\/p>\n
West finally gave La Rochelle a reward for their territory as he made it 6-6.<\/p>\n
Botia then crashed into Medard with a high tackle. He was initially sin binned for stopping Toulouse\u2019s quick penalty after his initial tackle, but the hit on Medard was checked by referee Luke Pearce.<\/p>\n
The television pictures showed Botia\u2019s tackle was a clear red card offence and he was sent off.<\/p>\n
Medard was removed for a head injury assessment soon after dropping the ball.<\/p>\n
The red card, though, did not stop La Rochelle\u2019s intent. They kept forcing Toulouse into giving away penalties and Toulouse lost Rynhardt Elstadt to a sin binning for playing the ball on the ground.<\/p>\n
West and Ntamack swapped penalties again, but West\u2019s fourth kick made it 12-9 at the break, with Medard back on the field.<\/p>\n
West then missed the chance to extend his team\u2019s lead when the game resumed.<\/p>\n
Toulouse had barely fired a shot in attack, but in the 45th minute that changed. Antoine Dupont kicked to Cheslin Kolbe, who dived over in the corner.<\/p>\n
Kolbe crossed to score, but Geoffrey Doumayrou\u2019s stunning cover tackle had forced the South African into touch before he got downward pressure. Ntamack kicked a penalty as consolation.<\/p>\n
La Rochelle\u2019s Pierre Bourgarit spilled the ball with the line gaping, while Toulouse also saw a television check for a try ruled out.<\/p>\n
Toulouse finally broke through for the crucial first try on the hour mark.<\/p>\n
Mallia was the man to go over after a fine long pass from Ntamack, who improved the score.<\/p>\n
Ntamack kicked another penalty and, although La Rochelle grabbed a late try through Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Toulouse became the first team to win five Champions Cups.<\/p>\n