Toulouse a ‘happy camp’ but the job not done yet in the ‘special competition’
Toulouse players celebrate a try.
Toulouse skills coach Jerome Kaino insists that while his team is delighted to advance to the Champions Cup semi-finals there is still work to be done.
The French giants claimed a rampant 64-26 win over Exeter Chiefs in the quarter-finals on Sunday, scoring nine tries in the process.
Brilliant Blair leading the way
Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn led the charge with a superb brace and sound kicking performance handing him a 23-point haul, while Juan Cruz Mallia and Pita Ahki both scored doubles as well. Superstar Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Jack Willis rounded off the scoring, all bagging one try apiece.
🗣️ "Willis was dangerous with ball in hand and eventually gained 63 metres, which included a try, but he also did his bit on defence and finished with 10 hits." #TOUvEXE
🔴 Toulouse's player ratings after their win over Exeter. #InvestecChampionsCup https://t.co/1gFnSh1kAJ
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 14, 2024
The victory sees the most successful team in the competition face semi-final newcomers Harlequins in the last four.
Former All Black Kaino admitted Exeter put Toulouse under pressure but was happy to come away with the win. However, the eye must be kept on the ball if the French side are to extend their record of most Champions Cup titles to six.
“First half, I thought Exeter put us under a lot of pressure,” said Kaino. “We weren’t able to keep the ball as well as we wanted to, but credit to Exeter for that. They are a class outfit, but I am extremely proud at the way the boys came out in that second half.
“We’re now very excited about the semi-final. This a very special competition for us and to be able to earn another week in the competition is awesome. We’re a happy camp, but we know we’ve not achieved anything yet.”
Proud
Exeter Chiefs may have been knocked out of the tournament but director of rugby Rob Baxter was proud of the commitment of his side.
“I have to say I’m hugely proud of the players for the commitment they put into the game,” said Baxter. “I think I couldn’t have asked anything more of them for what they’ve laid on the line, both physically and emotionally.
“When we came in at half-time, I think we had done a lot of what we wanted to do. The game was hugely competitive, we were right in the mix, and we put an awful lot physically into the game. In the second half, we probably couldn’t maintain our quality in a couple of key areas.
“As I’ve just said to the lads, I could not have asked them to commit any fuller than they did. When you commit fully to things and put everything into the game, like they did today, that’s how you gain the most experience.
“I remember coming to Clermont all those years ago, coming away with a heavy defeat, yet feeling we didn’t really fire a shot. You can’t say that about today’s performance, I thought our guys did everything they could and in the end you have to congratulate Toulouse on their performance.”