Toulouse hold off Harlequins as Leinster await in Champions Cup final

Toulouse thwarted a thrilling Harlequins fightback to triumph 38-26 and book an Investec Champions Cup final clash against Leinster.

The competition's two most successful teams, who boast nine titles between them, will go head-to-head at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 May.

But Toulouse had to survive a major scare on home soil at Le Stadium after Quins threatened to overhaul a 31-12 deficit.

Playing in the Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time, the Gallagher Premiership outfit went blow for blow with revered opponents, showcasing their exhilarating attacking adventure through tries from Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley, Will Evans and Tyrone Green, while Smith kicked three conversions.

Toulouse could not relax until wing Juan Cruz Mallia's 69th-minute touchdown - it immediately followed a yellow card for Quins hooker Jack Walker - and came after earlier tries by Antoine Dupont (2), Matthis Lebel, Peato Mauvaka and Thibaud Flament, with Blair Kinghorn adding three conversions and Thomas Ramos one.

Quins gave it everything, trailing by only five points with more than an hour gone, yet Toulouse had just enough in the tank.

Toulouse blasted out of the blocks and were ahead after just four minutes following a lineout steal deep inside Quins' 22.

It was a poor error by the visitors, and Toulouse punished them ruthlessly as Romain Ntamack's long, floated pass allowed Lebel an unopposed run to the line.

Ntamack and his revered half-back partner Dupont freely delved into their box of tricks, and it took Quins 12 minutes to emerge from their own half, such had been Toulouse's dominance, but they responded brilliantly.

Toulouse were shunted on to the back foot as Quins attacked, and after number eight Alex Dombrandt went close, Smith