Toulouse stunned by Lemi
David Lemi's late try secured Wasps a 21-16 win and denied denied Toulouse a home quarter-final in the Heineken Cup.
By Rob Lancaster
Last Updated: 23/01/11 6:01pm
David Lemi's late try secured Wasps a 21-16 win at Adams Park and denied denied Toulouse a home quarter-final in the Heineken Cup.
The reigning champions had Florian Fritz sent off in the second half but still looked set to escape with a draw when the scores were level in the final minute.
However Lemi had other ideas, getting on the end of a loose ball before it ran dead to clinch Wasps a place in the last eight of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
While they will now make the short trip to London rivals Harlequins next, Toulouse have to face up to a tough away day at fellow Top 14 heavyweights Biarritz in what is a repeat of last year's all-French final.
Complete control
All this came after an opening quarter that had seen Toulouse in complete control.
David Skrela had already missed a penalty by the time Yannick Jauzion broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with a try that was gifted-wrapped by some sloppy Wasps tackling.
An offload by Clement Poitrenaud, who released the ball quickly after claiming an up-and-under, sent the centre scampering away, though he should have been stopped by the combination of Mark van Gisbergen and Ben Jacobs.
The conversion was successful from Skrela but the number 10 was unable to slot over a long-range penalty as points continued to go begging.
Wasps eventually responded from the initial onslaught with a penalty from Dave Walder before the game was turned on its head by a yellow card.
Toulouse's Louis Picamoles was sent to the sin bin by referee Alain Rolland and then had to watch on from the sideline as his team-mates leaked 10 points in his absence.
It did not take long for the home side to make the most of their numerical advantage; 10 phases through the forwards from the resulting penalty led to Richard Haughton touching down not long after replacing van Gisbergen.
The former Saracens winger came on the angle to accept scrum-half Joe Simpson's delayed pass back on the inside and race over untouched.
Walder converted to give the home side an unlikely lead with 35 minutes gone and a further penalty from the fly-half sent Wasps in at the break five points in front.
Marching orders
Any thoughts Toulouse had of launching a second-half onslaught, particularly with Picamoles' return to the field, disappeared seven minutes after the restart when Fritz was given his marching orders by Roland.
The centre was shown a red card for a spear tackle on Wasps winger Tom Varndell, leaving his side to play over half an hour with only 14 men.
Walder kicked the resulting penalty to make it 16-7 - only for the hosts to give the three points straight back when they foolishly tried to attack from deep.
Skrela kicked a further two penalties to bring the scores level, the second of which came after Serge Betsen had been sin-binned, Roland finally running out of patience with the flanker who consistently went off his feet at rucks.
Toulouse twice failed with drop goals attempts to put themselves in front, but seemed satisfied with a draw as time ticked away. Yet just as a home tie looked in their grasp Lemi landed the knockout blow, kicking over the top and then beating Nicolas Vergallo to the ball to settle a see-saw contest.
