Leinster ran in four tries in a stunning 41-35 away win over French holders Toulouse in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals today.
An impressive performance from a well-organised and determined Leinster side meant Toulouse's feared backs failed to shine in a surprisingly one-sided clash.
Tries by Brian O'Driscoll, Cameron Jowitt, Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan underlined Leinster's domination and Argentine flyhalf Felipe Contepomi did the rest with 21 points from five penalties and three conversions.
Triple champions Toulouse, who were bidding to reach a fourth successive final, had to be content with late tries from flanker Yannick Nyanga and centre Yannick Jauzion, a Frederic Michalak drop goal and 22 points from the boot of flylhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.
Powerful centre O'Driscoll scored the only try of the first half after a fluent move in the 24th minute and Contepomi did the rest, converting it and scoring four penalties to give the visitors a 19-9 lead at halftime.
Looking clumsy under pressure and making many errors, Toulouse suffered during the first 40 minutes and managed only three penalties by Elissalde.
Toulouse looked determined when play resumed and soon earned two penalties which Elissalde kicked successfully. Cheered on by a partisan 35,000 crowd, Toulouse then closed the gap to just one point courtesy of a drop goal from 30 metres by Michalak.
Leinster, however, fought back, lock Jowitt exploiting a Michalak blunder to score their second try in the 53rd minute, which Contepomi converted to give the visitors a 26-18 lead.
Winger Denis Hickie then shattered Toulouse's hopes with a superb counter for another try before winger Shane Horgan put the issue beyond doubt with Leinster's fourth try of the match.
Toulouse went down fighting, Nyanga and Jauzion giving them consolation tries before they bowed out.
