BLUES’ FRENCH LESSON

Champions given a timely reminder of their vulnerabilities

IN THE 18 months between Leinster’s last two European defeats, there was enough flux to remind even their most optimistic fans that nothing stays the same.

Before yesterday, their previous loss in the European Cup had been to Clermont in a semi-final in Lyon, in April 2017.

Back then, the French side were still powerful, not the force of old, but proud and capable and hard as marble. This weekend, they were playing in the Challenge Cup against Northampton.

Three weeks before that match in 2017, Toulouse had been humiliated in Thomond Park, thrashed by 25 points in a quarter-final that was a mismatch.

Sport is thoroughly accommodating of change, however. Nothing stays fixed or unquestioned. This morning, Leinster are probably still the best team in Europe, and certainly appear the side most likely to win this season’s edition of the European Cup.

But the dazzling sheen of untouchable champions has been dulled. This was a battle and they lost it. Stuart Lancaster explained in an interview on the morning of the game that the aim of the coaches is for Leinster players to be able to cope in any situation on the pitch.

For periods of this match, disconcertingly long ones for Lancaster, they could not stand the heat generated by Toulouse.

French ferocity in the tackle was one part of their game, most marked in the opening minutes. But as important was the speed with which they played and their determination to run as much possession as possible – as well as the carelessness that plagued Leinster from the start.

This was very far removed from the plodding, meat-headed side Toulouse have become for most of the last decade. They are also a side suspended between their inglorious recent past and the seasoned, winning condition of a team of champions.

However, the technical accomplishment they displayed here was not the most noticeable feature of their game; that was the savage hunger that fuelled them even as legs grew heavy and their game became ragged.

Leinster ruled Europe not only because of imaginative tactical plays and some marvellous talents. They are hard, too, mean and experienced and around long enough to understand that sometimes, teams simply have to endure.

They did that in the first quarter, but they had to do it again after Sean O’Brien’s converted try looked to have righted them and drawn them to within one point of Toulouse.

Tough as the second quarter had been for Toulouse – and it appeared at times that they had blown themselves out – in unpicking Leinster again to send Sofiane Guitoune over for a try shortly before half time, they earned an eight-point lead and pitched Leinster back into a battle.

Of all the aspects of that score that would have frustrated Lancaster and Leo Cullen, the most irritating would have been its needlessness. They spent 15 minutes grinding their way back into the contest, but Leinster then frittered away much of that hard work and the messiness of their play also had the unhappy effect of fortifying Toulousain morale that had been battered for long stretches of play.

On the resumption, Leinster simply started grinding again. The inched maul that eventually concluded with James Ryan marauding across the line was testament to accuracy and power, but also to great patience.

And it was at least one part of the Leinster game that was in good fettle in France. As ambitious and daring as Toulouse were, Leinster were willing to absorb and then regather themselves.

They did this after Ryan’s try, even if Cheslin Kolbe should have done better in chasing a kick through from Thomas Ramos.

Leinster’s line was not breached this time, though, and they were smart enough to recognise the resulting opportunity.

Toulouse were tiring but a Kolbe try would have stoked more noise out of the Stade Ernest Wallon. Instead, the visitors scored next through Sean Cronin as Sexton, O’Brien, Ryan and Rhys Ruddock inspired the defending champions.

And then Leinster were the team strung between two states: no longer the pursuers as they had been in the first half, nor were they the ruthless champions grateful for a second chance and determined to bury Toulouse for having the naivety to extend it to them.

Sloppiness splattered their game again, and the lack of control from the first quarter recurred, especially at the breakdown.

The home team deserve tremendous credit for this, but the side Lancaster envisages, one that can adapt to even the most unfavourable match conditions, should have understood their good fortune following Cronin’s try.

The decisive Toulouse score could have been executed by the ghosts of their glorious past. Toulouse were great then, Leinster the hungry challengers.

Nothing stays the same.