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European Champions Cup: Toulouse failed to qualify for the last eight after defeat at Montpellier

Image: Lucas Dupont scored twice in the second half as Montpellier upset Toulouse

Toulouse crashed out of the European Champions Cup after they suffered a stunning 27-26 defeat at Montpellier in Pool 4.

Montpellier had lost all of their previous five games in the event while Toulouse won their first four matches but they squandered a 20-9 second-half lead here to suffer their second loss in eight days and ended up finishing second in the group behind Bath.

Montpellier made a really solid start and took a 3-0 lead when Ben Lucas kicked a penalty in just the second minute.

They then did well not to concede any points when Rene Ranger was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes after he was ruled to have lifted a player in the tackle.

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Match highlights: Montpellier 27-26 Toulouse

Luke McAlister missed his second penalty of the match during that period and Montpellier’s Benoit Paillaugue showed him how it is done with a fine effort from the halfway line to make it 6-0.

But Toulouse then went in front minutes later when Montpellier full-back Pierre Berard had a kick charged down by Gael Fickou and Clement Poitrenaud caught the ball on the full before cruising over the line, McAlister adding the conversion.

McAlister also kicked a pair of penalties before half-time, as opposed to one from Lucas, and the visitors led 13-9 at the interval.

Toulouse’s former England fly-half Toby Flood came on for the second period and made an immediate impact.

The hapless Berard attempted another clearance kick but it bounced off the charging Flood’s leg and he grabbed the bouncing ball to score under the posts, then kicked the conversion to make it 20-9.

However, Montpellier hit back moments later with an absolutely brilliant try.

Ranger gathered a Toulouse kick and launched a devastating counter-attack, scything through the defence before passing to Akapusi Qera, and the back row man found Lucas Dupont, who raced over from halfway.

And Dupont was at it again three minutes later, crossing for his second try in a few minutes after Paillaugue created the opening with a fantastic burst down the blindside.

That made it 21-20 to the hosts and the lead then began to change hands rapidly as the sides exchanged penalties.

Flood twice put Toulouse into the lead but Paillaugue responded by booting a three-pointer over off the post and Lucas then made it 27-26 with just over 10 minutes left.

Toulouse worked the ball deep into Montpellier territory in the final 10 minutes but were unable to score any points, sending the four-time champions crashing out of the competition.

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