With Stade Ernest-Wallon rocking, and Toulouse looking to make up for lost time in the European Champions Cup, Leinster succumbed to a rare victory this afternoon in France.
Although it'll be scant consolation to Leo Cullen and his men, this result will surely become a footnote in what will undoubtedly be held up as one of the games of the season.
Coming right down to the wire, a 28-27 win was enough to bring Leinster's 10-match winning run in this competition to an end, and launch Toulouse to the top of Pool 1.
An exhilarating tie, there was no shortage of high praise for the game.
And... exhale.
Damn it.
Bravo les Toulousains 👍#TOUvLEI— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) October 21, 2018
Well, you can't win them all, that why Toulouse also have ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
That's a valuable away bonus point.
What a super game. #TOUvLEI #ChampionsCup— Killian Byrne (@killianbyrne) October 21, 2018
A game marked by fantastic moments of skill (and some less desirable mistakes), a reverse pass from Johnny Sexton to allow Sean Cronin in for what looked for a short while to have been the match-winning try certainly caught the eye.
That Johnny Sexton reverse pass 😍
You know it's coming and you still can't stop it!
Leinster lead for the first time in the match through Sean Cronin. pic.twitter.com/EVHPs2HBh6— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 21, 2018
No one throws a no look pass like Sexton 🍑#TLSvLEIN
— Kate McEvoy (@ImKateMc) October 21, 2018
However, not to be undone, this break from deep inside their own half saw some wonderfully clinical passing from Toulouse result in a well-worked try.
The resulting conversion would be enough to give Toulouse the required 28 points to overhaul Leinster's tally.
Vintage Toulouse 🙌
The French side just refuse to quit as they re-take the lead on the back of a huge interception!
Superb 👏 pic.twitter.com/6OWkUID9Dy— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 21, 2018
In the end, though one team had to lose, even the most ardent of Leinster fans were left admiring what was an incredible clash between two great sides.
Lost. Cest la vie . But what a game to be at. #TOUvLEI pic.twitter.com/MGsnvLoFzU
— Tom Coleman (@LeinsterRoyalty) October 21, 2018
Incroyable
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) October 21, 2018
Wow. This is some match #STLEI #TOUvLEI
— Tony Silvester (@ts_thesTig) October 21, 2018
Sucks to have lost, but that was a great game to watch. Well done Toulouse! #TOUvLEI
— Ciarazy (@Ciarazy1) October 21, 2018
The best game of the weekend #TOUvLEI great game #ChampionsCup toulouse 28 lenster 27
— denis mccarthy (@dennymac66) October 21, 2018
Fantastic game of rugby, a real battle. Great to see @StadeToulousain back at the top table as well. Looking forward to the return fixture #TOUvLEI
— Caílte ☘️ (@Cailtegdfc) October 21, 2018
#TOUvLEI what a match, fest of rugby .
— James Murray (@DamageCase1979) October 21, 2018
That was everything you want in a game. #TOUvLEI
— Padraig O'Neill (@PatcheSAM) October 21, 2018
That’s one of the best intercept returns I’ve ever seen. The initial pass was a bullet, caught almost at point blank range. Incredibly good game. #TOUvLEI
— Simon Hick (@hicksimon) October 21, 2018
This is some game!!!#ChampionsCup #TOUvLEI
— Bar McHugh (@barmchugh) October 21, 2018
You can read a full breakdown of the match here.
