Berliner Tageblatt - Imperious Dupont guides record-breaking Toulouse to Top 14 final

Dupont scored a try and provided an assist in Marseille for the largest winning marging in a Top 14 semi-final to keep the 24-time champions on course for a record-equalling fourth-straight crown.

They crossed 10 times in total to set-up a decider in Paris next Saturday against Montpellier or Stade Francais, who meet in 24 hours' time in the second semi-final on the Mediterranean coast.

Racing's only points came from an early Antoine Gibert penalty and converted tries for Jordan Joseph and Max Spring as they failed to reach their first Top 14 final sine 2016, when the Parisian side claimed the last of their six titles.

Toulouse were without goal-kicking full-back Thomas Ramos due to a thigh issue but 29-year-old scrum-half Dupont played for the first time in more than a month having struggled with a groin niggle.

Racing head coach Patrice Collazo gave former NRL champion Joey Manu a start on the wing with Fiji's Vinaya Habosi out with a knee problem while powerful ex-England No 8 Nathan Hughes returned from injury.

Racing opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty from Gibert but the first period, and the rest of the game, belonged to Dupont's dominant side.

The half-back's first intervention was a chip-kick assist to winger Teddy Thomas before flanker Francois Cros, lock Emmanuel Meafou and flanker Jack Willis crashed over.

Dupont scored his first try in more than a month just before the break providing a perfect support line to cruise over before Romain Ntamack slotted the conversion to make it 38-3 at the break.

Racing suffered from their poor discipline, conceding eight penalties and having flanker Maxime Baudonne and centre Josua Tuisova yellow carded before the break.

The rout continued after the break with five second-half touchdowns from centre Kalvin Gourgues, winger Matthis Lebel, hookers Julien Marchand and Peato Mauvaka and winger Ange Capuozzo.

Dupont was given a standing ovation by the 67,000-strong crowd as he substituted with half an hour to play with the focus already turned to next weekend's game in the French capital.

K.Thomson--BTB