Preview: Leinster face familiar foes in blockbuster semi-final

Only Munster Rugby and Castres Olympique (18) have faced each other more often in the tournament.

Five-time champions Toulouse have reached the European Cup semi-finals for the 14th time, drawing level with Munster for the most appearances at this stage, while four-time winners Leinster will be playing in their 13th semi-final.

The game in Dublin kicks off at 15:00 (UK & Irish time) and will be available to watch on BT Sport, beIN SPORTS and France 2.

Pool positions

Leinster Rugby: 4th in Heineken Champions Cup Pool A; 15 points

Stade Toulousain: 7th in Heineken Champions Cup Pool B; 7 points

Quarter-finals

Leicester Tigers 14-23 Leinster Rugby

Munster Rugby 24-24 Stade Toulousain (Toulouse won 4-2 on place kicks)

Heineken Champions Cup head-to-head record

Leinster Rugby wins: 6

Draws: 0

Stade Toulousain wins: 6

Leading 2021/22 points-scorers

Leinster Rugby: Johnny Sexton (50)

Stade Toulousain: Thomas Ramos (46)

Key quotes

James Lowe (Leinster Rugby wing): “In any sort of club rugby, I think this is as big as it gets. They’ve got five stars on the chest, something we have been striving for the last few years. They are the current holders and the current TOP 14 champions. To win this title you have got to beat the best.”

Rory Arnold (Stade Toulousain lock): “I think they’ll play field position a fair bit and put our back three under pressure. I think if we can defend well and exit clinically, that will be a massive part of getting a result. It’s a step up when it comes to European rugby. It’s quicker, it’s [more] physical.”

That feeling when you and your mate grab tickets for Marseille 🤩

Book your spot for Finals weekend now ➡️ https://t.co/gNJhFAbiTT#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/LqGdgcrm8n

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 10, 2022

Other key stats

• This will be the fourth time Leinster and Toulouse have met in the semi-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup, the most played fixture at this stage of the competition (Munster v Saracens, 3 times). Toulouse won the first semi-final clash between the clubs at Stadium de Toulouse in 2009/10, while Leinster have won their two such meetings since then.

• Since losing to Toulouse in the pool stage of the Heineken Champions Cup in 2018/19, Leinster have gone on to win 21 of their 24 fixtures in the competition (L3, excl. cancelled matches).
• Toulouse are unbeaten in their last five trips to Ireland in the Heineken Champions Cup, winning four games before eliminating Munster in a place-kicking competition in last weekend’s quarter-finals.
• Toulouse (2.79) and Leinster (2.85) are the only sides to boast an average ruck speed under three seconds in the Heineken Champions Cup this season. In defence, only Sale Sharks (4.15) have slowed down their opponents’ rucks more than Toulouse (3.99).
• Leinster have averaged the most metres (930) and line breaks (10.2) per game of any club in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, while Toulouse have beaten the most defenders (31.8) and made the most offloads (16.4) on average.
• Toulouse scrum-half Antoine Dupont has averaged six defenders beaten per game in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, the most of any player to feature more than once this campaign. Only Ulster Rugby’s Michael Lowry (29) has beaten more defenders than last year’s EPCR European Player of the Year (24).
• Toulouse full-back Thomas Ramos has made the most offloads of any player in the Heineken Champions Cup this season (16), while he has the best goal-kicking success rate of anyone to attempt more than 10 kicks at goal in 2021/22 (90%, 17/19).
• Leinster wing James Lowe has scored eight tries in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, more than any other player, while no player has made more line breaks than the Leinster wing (9, level with Lowry and ASM Clermont Auvergne’s Alivereti Raka).