Tigers Crash Out Of Europe

Toulouse HEC05 SF
By Ian Birks
April 26 2005

Leicester Tigers dreams of Heineken Cup glory in Johnson's final year came shuddering to an end as Toulouse ran in three tries by Finau, Elissalde and Michalak to Tigers one from Varndell, finally taking the game by 19 to 27.

The first of the visitor's tries came with just 2 minutes on the clock as Toulouse swept forward from a line out 15m from the Tigers line. The ball was moved from the right to the left flank with a long pass fom Heymans to release No.7, Finau Maka.
The conversion by Elissalde put Toulouse 0-7 up and the Tigers were on the back foot, exactly what you do not want against a side who were vying for their third final appearance in three years. Penalties were kicked by Goode and Elissalde in the 9th and 14th minute of the game, but it was the Tigers who spent much of the second 20 on the offensive.Two trademark charges from Tuilagi: the first almost released Healey on the left wing and then the second saw the pass knocked on by Smith 5m from the try line. Ellis dived on the ball only 3m ofrom the try line following a Toulouse scrum as Tigers piled on the pressure. Good interplay betwen Goode, Murphy and Healey resulted in Healey being tackled, again only 3m short of the line. Yet again, the ball was spilled forward by Morris this time with the tryline beckoning. Tigers switched their attention to the forwards and a penlty was given after Smith was tackled after an impressive rolling maul was pulled down by the Toulousain. Goode delivered the points and the score clicked on to 6 - 10. A further penalty against the French side for diving over the top gave Goode the chance to get three from 43m out. 9 - 10. As halfime approached, Michalak missed a drop goal attempt and Elissalde missed a very kickable penalty. The trend was continued by Goode who missed a penalty in the 40th minute. And so the first half ended with only the single point separating the two teams: Tigers 9 Toulouse 10. The second half began with the news that Lewis Moody had been replaced by Ben Kay: the first of many replacements made during the second period of play. We only had to wait for two minutes to see Bru come on for the French hooker, William Servat after a collision with Tuilagi. After soaking up more pressure from the Tigers, Toulouse broke from their half as Ellialde ran in 40m to score under the posts. His conversion put the score on 9 - 17 with 30 minutes remaining: we have seen Tigers come back to take the game against lesser teams, but this Toulouse side were well motivated and well experienced at this level. Indeed, it was Toulouse that threatned to score only minutes later as Poitrenaud grounded the ball as he was tackled and taken over the touchline by Healey. Penalties were exchanged by Goode and Ellidalse to take the score to 12 - 20 after 59 and 63 minutes. Goode missed another opportunity for the three after 66 minutes. With play moving into the last quarter, Tigers found thamselves 8 points adrift. This became 13 points as Toulouse capitalised on a Tigers knock-on that was hacked through. Thomas moved the ball out to Maka on the left wing. Michalak got the visitor's third try, converted by Elissalde and with less than 10 minutes left, the score stood at 12 - 27. A consolation try fom Varndell, brilliantly converted by Goode made the final score 19- 27: Tigers poured on the pressure and Varndell, usually known for his speed on the wing, picked up and dived over from a ruck only a metre or so from the Toulouse line. With that, the dream end to the Tiger's season came to an abrupt end as Stade Toulouse marched on to their third final in as many years and must be the favourite to defeat fellow French finalists, Stade Francais in Edinburgh. As for the Tigers, they only the English title left to play for, but have an equally tough match next week against an on-form Wasps. A win will secure a place in the Zurich final; a loss will mean hosting probably Sale or Bath at Welford Road in the play-off semi-final. Teams: Leicester Tigers: Murphy, Lloyd, Smith, Gibson, Healey, Goode, Ellis, Rowntree, Chuter, White, Johnson M (c), Deacon L, Moody, Back, Tuilagi H. Replacements Buckland, Moris, Kay, Johnson W, Bemand, Vesty, Varndell. Toulouse Poitrnaud, Clerc, Jauzion, Fritz, Heymans, Michalak (c), Elissalde, Poux, Servat, Hasan, Millochlusky, Brennan, Bouilhou, Maka F, Lamboley. Replacements Bru, Human, Maka I, Labit, Dubois, Baby, Thomas. Referee: Alain Roland (Ire)
Final score
Tigers v Toulouse - sequence of events Attndance: 31,883 First Half
Leicester Tigers - Stade Toulouse
Time	Desc	Name	Pts	Name	Pts	Score
2	Try	-	-	Finau M	5	0 - 5
3	Conv	-	-	Elissalde	2	0 - 7
7	Repl. 18-Maka I on for 6-Bouilhou	-	-	-	-	-
9	Penalty	Goode	3	-	-	3 - 7
14	Penalty	-	-	Elissalde	3	3 - 10
19	-	Repl. 17-Morris on for 1-Rowntree	-	-	-	-
26	Penalty	Goode	3	-	-	6 - 10
33	Penalty	Goode	3	-	-	9 - 10
36	DG miss	-	-	Michalak	0	9 - 10
38	Pen miss	-	-	Elissalde	0	9 - 10
40	Pen miss	Goode	0	-	-	9 -10
Second Half
40	Repl. 19-Kay on for 6-Moody	-	-	-	-	-
42	-	-	-	Repl 16-Bru on for 2-Servat	-	-
49	Try	-	-	Elissalde	5	9 - 15
50	Conv	-	-	Elissalde	2	9 - 17
54	-	-	-	Repl. 17-Human on for 1-Poux	-	-
59	Penalty	Goode	3	-	-	12 - 17
63	Penalty	-	-	Elissalde	3	12 - 20
64	Pen miss	Goode	0	-	-	12 - 20
66	Repl 20-Bemand on for 9-Ellis and 18-Tuilagi on for 8-JohnsonW	-	-	Repl 22-Thomas on for 15- Poitrenaud	-	-
71	-	-	-	Repl 19-Labit on for 7-Maka F	-	-
72	Try	-	-	Michalak	5	12 - 25
74	Conv	-	-	Elissalde	2	12 - 27
74	Repl 22-Varndell on for 14-Lloyd	-	-	-	-	-
82	Try	Varndell	5	-	-	17 - 27
83	Conv	Goode	2	-	-	19 - 27