Match Centre: Heineken Champions Cup: Toulouse 54-20 Sharks

Toulouse 54-20 Sharks, Stade Ernest Wallon

Thomas Ramos contributed with 29 points as Toulouse stormed past Sharks with a 54-20 win in the quarter finals of the Heineken Champions Cup at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday.

Toulouse, who had win the competition five times previously will now take on four-time winners Leinster at Aviva Stadium in the semi-finals.

The French side suffered an early setback as Juan Cruz Mallia was sin-binned for high tackle on Makazole Mapimpi and Curwin Bosch landed a penalty goal to start the proceedings for the Sharks. Mapimpi though returned later after clearing a Head Injury Assessment.`

Ramos levelled the scores with a penalty on the 22nd minute before the visitors seized the lead back as Bosch sent a deep pass allowing Grant Williams to touchdown to make it 3-10.

Ramos with a penalty kick from the tee narrowed down Toulouse's deficit but was denied a try by Werner Kok. Nevertheless, Juan Cruz Mallia dived in the corner to make it a one point game. Ramos missed the conversion but added a penalty at the stroke of half time to take the French side to a four point lead at the end of the opening half.

With the momentum on their side, Toulouse Cruz Mallía and scrum-half Antoine Dupont combined to send Ramos over the line early in the second half to make it 21-10 before the South African side responded with Boeta Chamberlain sprinted to the corner for their second try.

As the third quarter was coming to an end, Mallia crossed again in the corner but Ramos missed out on the extras to make it 26-17. Bosch with a penalty of his own helped the deficit come down to six points but Toulouse seized control as Dupont made a perfect offload to hooker Mauvaka, who dived from from close range to make it 33-20.

Further tries from Arthur Retiere, Ramos and Romain Ntamack ensured Toulouse completed a dominating victory to set up a semi-final clash with Leinster.

Team line up:

Toulouse: Ramos; Mallia, Barassi, Ahki, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont (c); Baille, Mauvaka, Aldegheri, Arnold, Meafou, Willis, Flament, Cros.

Reserves: Cramont, Neti, Ainu'u, Roumat, Brennan, Placines, Retiere, Delibes.

Sharks: Chamberlain; Kok, Am, Janse van Rensburg, Mapimpi; Bosch, Williams; Nche, Mbonambi, Du Toit, Anrdews, Grobler, Kolisi (c), Tshituka, Notshe.

Reserves: Van Vuuren, Mchunu, Sadie, Labuschagne, Buthelezi, Wright, Tapuai, Abrahams.