Leicester Tigers 9 Toulouse 5: match report Leicester also had to cope with centre Manu Tuilagi withdrawing just before kick-off with his twisted ankle playing up and absorb the loss, too, of influential flanker, Steve Mafi, who pulled a hamstring just 15 minutes into the game when chasing a ball. True to their uncomplaining self, Leicester weathered the mishaps. The end-game was taut, it was frenetic and, for those in Leicester colours, it was sweet. This was a tough group, with the French and Rabo title-holders in it, and Leicester have finished top. That's champion stuff by any standards. "The players have made their own little bit of history today," said director of rugby, Richard Cockerill. They still speak here of the 1997 victory over Toulouse. Let's hope they're still speaking in 16 years' time of this day when Toulouse came to town and couldn't get past us. It was an afternoon for rolling up the sleeves and dogging it out. It was every man for himself. The attitude was exceptional. Leicester now travel to Top 14 front-runners, Toulon, in the quarter-final with Flood reunited with his former Newcastle team-mate, Jonny Wilkinson. "Toulon are the glitterati of French rugby, aren't they?" said Flood. They've got sensational players there. You'd rather be at home but it's exciting for us. Four time European champions, Toulouse, were fired-up and furious in those closing stages as they realised what was about to befall them. This is the first time in six years, only the third time ever, that the French champions have not made it through to the knockout stages. Is the most famous of all French clubs on the wane, ceding status to the arrivistes of Toulon, financially outmuscled by the Cote d'Azur newcomers as well as by the powerhouse Clermont Auvergne? It certainly looked that way yesterday. They had their moments but they were bitty and unsure, a far cry from the swagger they showed in their pomp. Leicester even bested them at the set-piece, a complete turnaround from the opening match in this pool. Of course it was a terribly difficult day, one not suited to a team reared on the hard surfaces of south-west France. True, too, that if the hapless Toulouse fly-half, Lionel Beauxis, had had even a modicum of accuracy in his boot, that they might well have prevailed. The French international fluffed kick after kick, points that would have pulled Leicester back on the scoreboard as well as given his own team a lift. Penalties, drop goal, conversion - you name it, he missed it. His pal alongside, Luke McAlister fared little better, sending a penalty wide in either half way. It was a long trip home for the pair of them. By contrast, Toby Flood nailed all bar one of his attempts on goal, all first-half efforts. Leicester even had an early chance of a try, wing, Niall Morris, losing control of the ball as he dived for the line, Vincent Clerc's last-gasp, sliding tackle doing just enough. Inevitably for long stretches it was hard-nosed, attritional stuff. No wonder with ground staff sweeping the lines even as play went on. Flood had to swerve round one of the broom-handlers at one point. It was blizzard-like for much of the match and it was no surprise that there were mistakes. The only area where Leicester were almost without fault was in the line-out and it was only fitting that lock, Geoff Parling, nicked a crucial Toulouse throw just two minutes from time. It was a crucial bit of pilfering. Toulouse were knocked out of their stride at the line-out, usually such an area of dominance. Toulouse upped their game in the second-half, pressing harder and testing Leicester's rear defence. It soon paid dividends. In the 49th minute McAlister hoisted a high, taunting kick which Leicester full-back, Matt Tait, failed to gather cleanly and was then flattened as he tried to clear. The ball went loose where Toulouse wing, Yoann Huget, following up slithered in to score. Toulouse might have sensed an opening. Leicester had other ideas. They had no intention of letting slip such a moment. And they did not. Destination Toulon beckons.