Toulouse player ratings: Jack Willis comes through ‘ropey period’ but ‘moaner’ shows ‘immense composure’ to send champions through
Toulouse back-rower Jack Willis was on the winning side in Toulon on Sunday
Sunday’s heavyweight Investec Champions Cup clash between six-time winners Toulouse and three-time champions Toulon was eventually decided at the death by the boot of Thomas Ramos as his 80th-minute penalty kick clinched their 21-18 win.
The hard-fought quarter-final, a contest in which Toulouse scored the game’s only two tries, seemed set to go to extra-time in the Toulon rain.
However, an infringement by Gabin Villiere that was spotted by referee Matthew Carley allowed Ramos his kick for glory and the defending 2024 champions will now contest a semi-final in May against Bordeaux, another of their Top 14 rivals. Here is how we scored Ugo Mola’s team at Stade Mayol.
Toulouse player ratings v Toulon
15 Thomas Ramos: Came across as a moaner consumed by his frustrations with the boot. However, despite missing a 77th-minute kick for the lead, he showed immense composure to land the winning kick three minutes later. 6
14 Juan-Cruz Mallia: Featured little throughout the match, his fleeting involvement highlighted by getting dumped into touch on 49 minutes. Stuck at it and was rewarded in the final moment as his chase put the penalty pressure on the infringing Villiere. 5
13 Pierre-Louis Barassi: Enjoyed a few eye-catching moments here and there, such as his sweet catch of the restart that followed Toulon going 12-3 up. 5
12 Pita Ahki: Began with a first-minute penalty poach and while a fumble on the carry put pressure on near the end of Cyril Baille’s first-half sin-binning, he was quick to react and take the Ramos pass on 51 minutes to score his team’s second try. 7
11 Blair Kinghorn: Was relieved that a pass he couldn’t stop was called forward to deny Toulon an early try. Competed well in the air and exhibited lovely footwork when fleetingly on the ball. Ended up a bloodied mess following a breakdown collision less than 15 minutes from the finish. 5
10 Romain Ntamack: Linked play well between forwards and backs but boringly didn’t seek out any magic moment until the 74th minute when he very nearly fastened onto his kick through with the scores level. 6
9 Paul Graou: Should have been the quarter-final’s first try-scorer but he lost control of the ball when sliding towards the line. Was the recipient of the head collision that resulted in Baptiste Serin’s early second-half yellow, during which time Toulouse scored their two tries. Finished his time on the pitch sloppily with a couple of penalty concessions. 6
Back-row
8 Alexandre Roumat: Enjoyed some meaty carries along with causing damage to the Toulon lineout. He was busy all through but some decisions, so as his penalty conceding isolation after tapping a first-half free, was loose. 7
7 Jack Willis: Having been subbed when Toulouse needed an extra prop during the first-half sin-binning, he endured a ropey period on his return where he was penalised twice at the breakdown and then softly knocked on. Had the last laugh, though, with his superb finish following a well-executed 43rd-minute tap penalty. Only played for five more minutes after that. 6
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6 Francois Cros: A star of France’s title-winning Six Nations campaign, he was a glue player here who kept Toulouse alive when it seemed that Melvyn Jaminet’s boot would eliminate them. His impacts included a sweet 57th-minute lineout steal. 7
Tight five
5 Emmanuel Meafou: Was Toulouse’s best forward until he tired near the end and was subbed off with 10 minutes remaining. His offload in the disallowed Graou try was classy and there were other standout moments, including a maul turnover. His most crucial moment, though, was probably the carry that led to three penalty points on the blow of half-time, cutting the gap to 6-12 after a difficult half for his team. 8
4 Thibaud Flament: Can’t be happy with the inaccuracy of the first-half Toulouse lineout, a frustration that was then capped by his sloppy crossing infringement just before the break. Much more effective in the second half. 7
3 Dorian Aldegheri: The penalty he conceded gave Toulon 17th-minute scrum joy, but he helped to turn that momentum before exiting on 48 minutes with his team back in the fight. 6
2 Julien Marchand: Suffered with his accuracy at the lineout. There were other frustrations as well, such as his knock-on when diving for the line not long into the second half. 5
1 Cyril Baille: Yellow carded in the 12th minute for breakdown foul play, costing his team their early 3-0 lead. It was 3-6 when he returned but he soon helped his front row get back into the game at the scrum. 6
Replacements: Toulouse’s bench was important in winning this quarter-final. Anthony Jelonch and Joel Merkler were particular momentum-adding 48th-minute swaps for Willis and Aldegheri. While Merkler gave up the scrum penalty that allowed Jaminet to level at 18-all with just under 18 minutes left to play, he soon forced a Toulon knock-on and his front row also won the scrum penalty that gave Ramos his missed shot on 77 minutes. 7
READ MORE: Investec Champions Cup 2024-25: Semi-final ties, times and dates revealed
