Webdesk: Toulouse won their 22nd French Top 14 title in a thrilling match against La Rochelle.
Romain Ntamack’s late score helped Toulouse win. The win denied La Rochelle a historic domestic and Champions Cup double.
Macron attended the final at a crowded Stade de France. Toulouse led 6-3 after the first quarter after swapping penalties. Toulouse’s Santiago Chocobares scored a 50-meter try after La Rochelle’s Jonathan Danty fumbled. Toulouse led 13-3, but La Rochelle equalised by halftime.
Uini Atonio’s second-half score, converted by Antoine Hastoy, gave La Rochelle the lead. Toulouse persevered and Thomas Ramos scored three key penalties to make the score 22-20. Hastoy’s two penalties put La Rochelle up 26-22 with nine minutes left.
Moreover, Toulouse received a late penalty. Ntamack misjudged and kicked the ball into touch near La Rochelle’s line, causing a scrum. La Rochelle was poised to win. Ntamack immediately redeemed himself, bursting loose from his own half and running 60 metres to score the winning try.
While, Ramos’ conversion ended the match, eliciting Toulouse’s jubilation. Ntamack’s incredible turnaround from a probable error to a match-winner exemplified the game’s excitement. Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle came agonisingly close to winning their first Top 14 title, but Toulouse’s perseverance and Ntamack’s brilliance prevented it.
Toulouse’s win cemented their title as French rugby’s most successful side in Top 14 history.
