Wasps crush Toulouse’s home quarterfinal hopes
Toulouse will not be hosting the Heineken Cup quarter final after getting a surprising 21-16 defeat from Wasps. It was expected that Toulouse would be playing the quarterfinal at their home, but they clearly missed out on an opportunity at Adams Park on
Sunday.
The defending champions had chances of getting off with a draw till the last minute after losing Florian Fritz in second half. But the tables were turned and Wasps got a place in last eight, when David Lemi got on the end of a loose ball and rushed through
for a try.
Wasps will now be facing their London rivals in a Heineken Cup’s next fixture, while Toulouse has to take on a tough Top 14 side on an away match against Biarritz. The match would be a repeat telecast of 2010’s all French final.
All this happened against Toulouse after they had a fully controlled and successful first half and a second half quarter. Toulouse was gifted with a try due to shoddy Wasps tackling in the 11th minute by Yannick Jauzion and David Skrela missed a penalty
from not too far away. Clement Poitrenaud provided an offload to his side by releasing the ball shortly after claiming an up and under. The centre was sent scuttling away, though Poitrenaud should have been ceased there by the pair of Ben Jacobs and Mark Gisbergen.
David Skrela executed a successful conversion, but the no.10 couldn’t slot over far off penalty as the score prolonged to go begging. Dave Walder stood forward to respond for Wasps from the initial blitz with a penalty before the match was turned on his
head with a yellow warning.
Toulouse was blown away when Louis Picamoles was sin binned by referee Alain Rolland. Picamoles had to observe the game from sideline as his side leaked ten points in his dearth. It did not take enough time for the home team to make the most of their statistical
advantage.
The ex Saracens winger returned on the angle to receive scrumhalf Joe Simpson’s holdup pass back on the inside and chase over. The home side was given an unlikely lead by Walder who converted, with 35 minutes gone. A sleek penalty from the fly half sent
Toulouse into the break 5 points in front.
All the assumptions and thoughts regarding Toulouse inducting a second half ambush, predominantly with Louis Picamole’s comeback to the field, evaporated 7 minutes after the restart when Florian Fritz was given his marching commands. Fritz was shown a red
card for a fierce tackle on Tom Varndell. Referee took notice of this act against Wasps winger as a serious offense and Toulouse was left with on 14 men to play with in last 30 minutes.
Walder scored the resulting penalty through the uprights to make it 16-7 only for Toulouse to gift three points straight back when the forwards imprudently tried to assault from deep. Skrela was the one from Wasps who kicked further 2 more penalties to bring
the scorecard on equilibrium. Serge Besten was then sent off the field when Roland at last ran out of fortitude with the flanker rolling off his feet at rucks.
Toulouse attempted two times and failed, then came up with drop goals to bring themselves up but couldn’t make it; settling down to an easy way of accepting the draw. Lemi had other plans and he kicked over the top of defense and dodged Nicolas Vergallo
to grab the ball back and TRY.
Toulouse ended up maintained their top position in Pool 6 with 22 points after losing this single match out of six. London Wasps also sustained to the second spot in Pool 6 with 19 points in their pocket, with four victories out of six matches in Heineken
Cup. Toulouse was already in quarter finals but now after much thanks to them Wasps has qualified for the last eight too.
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