Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Toulouse cruise into the Top 14 final with win over Clermont

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Toulouse cruise into the Top 14 final with win over Clermont

Toulouse eased to the Top 14 final with a 29-6 win over current champions Clermont at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Rupeni Caucaunibuca scored both the tries.

The famous French club will face Montpellier, who narrowly beat Racing Metro yesterday, in the final on June 4th. Over 56 000 fans had turned out expecting a close battle, but Toulouse flexed their muscles and made it an unhappy occasion for Clermont.

From the get-go Toulouse, who topped the table all season, showed their intent with a wonderful flowing passage of play that started behind their own tryline. They were unsuccessful on that occasion, but later on scored through Fijian superstar Rupeni Caucau, who is surely playing his best rugby in years.

Late in the match Clermont looked to get some kind of consolation after Toulouse had pushed the scores apart even further through penalty kicks, but a turnover and sprint from Caucau rubbed salt in the wound.

It wasn't the most amazing game of rugby, but as you'll see in the highlights, the victors showed what an uncompromising outfit they can be,. With such talent to burn out wide, give them a sniff and they'll make you pay, as Clermont learnt on this occasion.

The best bits from the other semi final, the Magners League and Aviva Premiership finals, the Edinburgh Sevens, and Super Rugby, will all follow throughout the course of the next few days. If you saw anything you'd like featured, be sure to leave a note in the requests section.

Time: 03:56

Wow some great french flair, love it! Can't wait for the world cup.

As for Caucau, what an exasperating player, I thought he was unfit but frankly he just seems better than ever. Great to see him enjoying his rugby, Toulouse clearly have an environment he enjoys and looking forward to the final!

By anonymous no.6, at May 29, 2011 4:41 pm
I am a ST fan, and it's a poor score ! Indeed, there are 3 tries action ! and 3 Bezy penalities. The just scrore is 40 or 50 points for ST !!!!!

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2011 5:11 pm
Caucau is back!

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2011 5:12 pm
Not even Newton can explain how someone that big can run that fast.

Really hope CauCau plays for Fiji.

Real shame that Fiji may miss out on Nacewa and CauCau, two of the best backs in the game.

By Daft_Faser, at May 29, 2011 5:23 pm
caucau....is knackered!!

By Alexander, at May 29, 2011 5:40 pm
Nyanga (i think) nearly broke his back trying to help Caucau up at the end hahah

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2011 5:50 pm
Caucau is the best! I love that guy. Have you guys heard that Fiji isn't sending a team to the RWC?

By Fijineedsmoney, at May 29, 2011 7:07 pm
Mate, what's he been doing the whole time??? Eating orrr lol

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2011 7:54 pm
Great offload by Servat, made it look casual.

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2011 8:25 pm
Why would Fiji not be sending a team?

By Bruno, at May 29, 2011 8:34 pm
From the official Fiji Rugby website:

"Mercurial Fiji winger Rupeni Caucau has today asked to be released from international duties for the Flying Fijians with immediate effect. In discussions with Flying Fijians national head coach Sam Domoni, the player revealed he wanted to focus on his personal life.

“He wants to concentrate on his family and will stay in Toulouse for the remainder of the year and has wished the FRU every success in the Pacific Nations Cup and the Rugby World Cup,” Domoni said.

At his best Caucau is regarded as arguably the most talented player in the world by many international rugby pundits. He last played for the Flying Fijians in June, 2010 in Fiji’s 49-3 loss to the Wallabies."

By Bruno, at May 29, 2011 8:35 pm
What? Eating or laughing out loud?

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2011 9:40 pm
Fiji might still send a team to the RWC, not sure if they can afford CowCow's food bill though, someone must be placing cheeseburgers in the try zone or something to inspire him.

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2011 9:45 pm
The Servat pass was FANTASTIC!

By Born To Ruck!, at May 29, 2011 11:04 pm
oooh Toulouse..!

Great stuff as usual from the rouge&noir
the squad is a bit tired after top14 and hcup battles but they did the job. With burgess, mc allister, steenkamp and beauxis the bench reserve will be stronger than this year.

By Colombes, at May 29, 2011 11:47 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 12:33 am
Cau Cau, massively overweight and still the best winger in the world...

He makes it look too easy

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 12:37 am
Doussain & Bézy.
I truly hope Novès wants to keep em both and make em play together. They could well be the undisputable scrum- and open- halves France has been waiting for so long.
Such an impressive team when they want.
Go Toulouse! Go!

ST-MHRC is a very promising final.

By Maximus, at May 30, 2011 12:48 am
Nice to see rupeni "munch like a whole battalion" caucau regaining some form. Plus, he really seems to like Toulouse and showed some love for the jersey. Maybe that love will keep him away from trouble?

By The Green Mafia, at May 30, 2011 12:56 am
Even if he is built like a prop these days, Caucau is still freakishly quick and talented.

By David, at May 30, 2011 1:33 am
Beautiful running rugby by Toulouse! Seems like Rupeni is enjoying his rugby. Great move by the club to get Delasau & Caucau together as a sort of buddy-mentoring environment when considering the language barrier for Caucau. To see him beaming/smiling shows that he is thriving in the Toulouse enironment. Hopefully he changes his mind & avails himself for the World Cup.

By Rika, at May 30, 2011 1:39 am
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gs9t3o-aVZPkCwEN3IoRRNvukDvg?docId=6980083

So 1)Fiji does not have enough money to travel to the RWC? and 2)Due to the political coup, New Zealand won't allow them in anyway?

This is crazy, we got to have Fiki in the World Cup!

By Fijineedsmoney, at May 30, 2011 2:33 am
Fiji not Fiki. I don't care if Fiki is in the World Cup.

By Fijineedsmoney, at May 30, 2011 2:34 am
A sure leave Fiki alone, its those racist attitudes that are the exact reason why Fiji aren't allowed to this RWC

By TheRadicalBogger, at May 30, 2011 12:05 pm
Toulouse and Leinster are the best NH teams. And Caucau looks great!

By OMG, at May 30, 2011 12:52 pm
Leinster beat Clermont and Toulouse so they are the kings of Europe!

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 1:40 pm
Toulouse team next year:
*=International player

1- Poux* (Human)
2-Servat*(Botha*)
3-Steenkamp* (Johnston*)

4-Milloshusky*(Bouquerou) 5-Albacete*(Maestri)

6-Bouilhou(Nyanga*)
7-Dusautoir* (Nicolas)
8-Picamoles* (Sowerby)

9-Doussain (Burgess*)
10-Beauxis* (Mc Calister* ,Bezy)

12-Mc Calister* (Jauzion*,David*)
13- Poitrenaud* (Fritz*)

11-Clerc* (Donguy)
14-Caucaunibuca* Matanavou)

15-Médard* (Poitrenaud*)

What a great team !!!

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 1:53 pm
Leinster beat Toulouse at home after a great match of two teams but can they beat Toulouse in Toulouse? I am not sure. Remember last year.

By Kodaa, at May 30, 2011 1:58 pm
Top 14, the greatest league in the world.

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 1:59 pm
@anonymous

Daan Human is international too

By dezzy, at May 30, 2011 2:02 pm
New arrivals in top 14 next year:

Bakkies Botha,Rokocoko,
McAlister,Steenkamp,Gary Botha,Smith,Armitage,SBW,Burgess,
Byrne,Hook,Giteau,Sivivatu
Tialata,Chisholm,Fourie, Cipriani, Hines,Warwick,...

OMG

By Top14, at May 30, 2011 2:18 pm
Really good clip. Thanks RD

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 2:47 pm
What a pass from Servat!! lol

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 2:50 pm
We all know that Toulouse is the town of rugby. It's a fact.

By Carter, at May 30, 2011 2:56 pm
Great to see the genius of Caucau at the highest level again! But how retarded is it that for his second try, the only people racing him were a sustitute prop and the ref?? Had Clermont given up? Was the guy standing on the right wing injured or something?

By Mike, at May 30, 2011 3:30 pm
Im so upset with the way Lievermont has treated Jauzion. Hes a class player and his experience and composure would surely be useful in a world cup.

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 4:30 pm
http://www.stadetoulousain.tv/V2011/top14-Demi_Finale_Les_temps_forts_de_Stade_Toulousain___Clermont-846.html

etended highlights for those who want more.

Great match, both defensively and offensively, but we could (should) have score two more try (yet caucau's first is stained by a good 20cm forward pass).

I hope we beat montpellier now.

By Anonymous, at May 30, 2011 5:23 pm
That pass by Servat!!!

By Threma, at May 30, 2011 6:58 pm
Toulouse is also an amazing school of rugby which has produced years after years big names. You find a lot of talented players elsewhere who learnt their rugby in Toulouse.
This plus a very big budget makes it what it is.

On Caucau: the backline coach (forgot his name)said he doesn't fully understand the way Caucau operates, but also said he was very happy to see him back at his best. He also added that the medical team made a great job, that he was in a poor state when he came in Toulouse.

The game was not great but the final should be a cracker of a game. I go for a Toulouse win.

By Louise, at May 30, 2011 9:22 pm
The flying gut does it again.

By Les Bleus, at May 31, 2011 12:42 am
Cacau picking up the ball & kicked down field ,no fullback even the wingers where were they?Clermont gave up already I guess , good thinking for Rubs to kick since the only clermont players up front were forwards.

By Anonymous, at May 31, 2011 4:57 am
Cacau picking up the ball & kicked down field ,no fullback even the wingers where were they?Clermont gave up already I guess , good thinking for Rubs to kick since the only clermont players up front were forwards.

By Anonymous, at May 31, 2011 4:57 am
Fiji will manage to get there.
The IRB will fork out some money if they absolutley have to.
The Fijian govt had promised the team a couple million to get them there but seem to be delaying giving the union the money.

They'll make it though, surely.

In regards to the ban from NZ due to the coup, it only applies to military personel.
It may mean one or two fringe players who are members of the Fijian military may not make it.

The real reason Fiji is crying about it, is that the military junta who control the country want to come and watch the team! In fact the current self-appointed president/head of the military wanted to appoint himself as head of the Fiji Rugby Union!

Luckily the IRB put a stop to it. But the military is intertwined with Fiji rugby and alot of military offciers are miffed because they can't be involved in the World Cup as officials and supporters of the team.

Considering these guys initiated a military coup overthrowing democratic government in Fiji, I don't think anyone should have sympathy for them.

By Anonymous, at May 31, 2011 7:24 am
fiji is going to the rwc. delasau and caucau opted out of the world cup squad because of personel reasons. lets hope they change there minds.

By Anonymous, at May 31, 2011 9:49 am
Could have been a great try at the start there.

By Anonymous, at June 01, 2011 9:00 am