Heineken Cup Report: Harlequins 10-21 Stade Toulousain

It had to happen eventually! The visit of the powerful and virtually all-international Stade Toulousain was always likely to be the sticking point.  So it proved, as Harlequins experienced their first defeat of the season 10 – 21, ending their fourteen-match winning streak and severely denting hopes of progress in this season’s Heineken Cup.

Being Harlequins, they tried and tried but fell short against an immensely strong and physical team who controlled territory and possession almost throughout the game and left Quins playing mostly on the back foot.  They were not helped by a referee who appeared to find fault with almost everything Harlequins contrived to do and the penalty count rose against them. Toulouse opened the scoring from an early penalty kicked by McAlister and shortly afterwards Nick Evans equalised with an equally successful kick.

A fine break by Sam Smith and Ben Urdapilleta took Quins into their opponents’ twenty-two where they gained a penalty.  Instead of taking the points, Care tapped quickly and went for the line.  The French stopped the thrust five metres from their line and another penalty in their favour, for holding on in the tackle, ended the threat.  A chance gone begging.

The power and domination of the French forwards began to provide pressure and field position and their backs began to have space to attack. A move started by McAlister and carried on by Picamoles and Dusautoir put the winger, Matavanou, in for the try. The conversion was missed but a subsequent penalty extended the French lead to 3 – 11.  With defensive battling the order of the day, Quins resisted staunchly until the interval arrived.

Harlequins started the second half with determination despite Toulouse clearly expecting to put the matter beyond doubt.  An excellent break from Hopper, growing rapidly into a very attacking centre took play into the French half. A knock-on by the visitors was followed by a penalty to Quins.  Once again Care opted for the quickly taken tap and this time with more success as Marler passed to Mike Brown, wide on the left, for the full-back to cross for a try. A superb conversion kick from the touchline by Evans brought Quins to within a single point.

But Toulouse were not allowing the possibility of a Quins revival and possible victory and the pressure came back on again and possession and territory were converted into points with another penalty kick from McAlister and then another try from Matavanou in the corner despite a despairing tackle from Brown that almost prevented the score. McAlister duly converted.

The four times Heineken champions emphasised their class with a physical and clinical display. The full house, most of whom had come more in hope than expectation, saw that hope extinguished. 

Conor O’Shea did not try to disguise the matter. “The right side won," he said “They were incredibly physical. We didn't win the gain-line battle and made a few mistakes. We clawed our way back into it but that second try was a sucker punch. They really attacked the breakdown with an unbelievable ferocity. We seemed to be the ones getting penalised at the breakdown. Not many bounces of the ball went our way but I don't want to talk about decisions. The right side won.”

O'Shea admitted his men need to adapt quickly, with the return fixture against Toulouse in nine days time. "We are a good enough side to compete with teams like this on our day but we need to be more accurate in what we do, find ways of being physical," said O'Shea. “They gave us the respect we deserved after 14 games unbeaten, which I am proud of. We have to get used to playing at this level.

"The crowd was magnificent to fill The Stoop like that and they witnessed a great European side. Toulouse will be a tough challenge for everyone. The lads are battered and bruised and disappointed but they are not down. They will be battered for a day or two but then will be ready for the next job."

Harlequins Brown; Stegmann, Hopper, Urdapilleta, Smith (Monye, h-t); Evans, Care; Marler (Lambert, 65), Brooker (Gray, 50), J Johnston, Vallejos, Robson, Fa'asavalu (Wallace, 69), Robshaw (capt), Easter.

Toulouse Médard; Clerc, Fritz (David, 54), Jauzion, Matanavou; McAlister, Burgess (Doussain, 64); Poux (Montes, 46), Botha (Servat, 53), C Johnston, Lamboley, Maestri (Millo-Chluski, 56), Nyanga, Dusautoir (capt), Picamoles (Sowerby, 71).

Referee G Clancy (Ireland). Attendance 14,282