Leinster play Toulouse in the second European Champions Cup semi-final of the weekend. The sides already faced each other in the tournament's pool stage with each winning a game. The game will be played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Where to watch Leinster vs Toulouse? The game will be broadcast live on Virgin Media One. Their coverage will begin at 2:30pm. The game will also be live on BT Sport 2 and Channel 4. Coverage begins at 2:30pm on BT Sport 2 and at 2:45pm on Channel 4. What time is kick-off for Leinster vs Toulouse? Advertisement The game kicks off at 3:15pm on Sunday, April 21st. What is the Leinster team to play Toulouse? Leinster: Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (capt), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Sean O'Brien, Jack Conan. Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Michael Bent, Scott Fardy, Max Deegan, Hugh O'Sullivan, Ross Byrne, Rory O'Loughlin. What is the Toulouse team to play Leinster? Toulouse: Thomas Ramos, Yoann Huget, Sofiane Guitoune, Pita Ahki, Cheslin Kolbe, Antoine Dupont, Sébastien Bézy; Clément Castets, Peato Mauvaka, Charlie Faumuina, Richie Arnold, Richie Gray, Rynhardt Elstadt, Joe Tekori, Jerome Kaino (capt). Replacements: Guillaume Marchand, Cyril Baille, Maks Van Dyk, Selevasio Tolofua, Piula Faasalele, Francois Cros, Romain Ntamack, Maxime Médard. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile See Also: Rugby Is Now The Second Most Drug Tested Sport In Ireland<doc-sep>18:01 Sexton loved Leinster's ruthlessness in showing Toulouse no mercy Johnny Sexton loved the ruthlessness on display from Leinster at the Aviva Stadium as they booked their place in the Champions Cup final. Sexton produced a man of the match display in his first appearance in five weeks as he orchestrated a three-try defeat of Top 14 leaders Toulouse today. Asked what pleased him the most about the 30-12 victory over the Red and Blacks, the 33-year-old replied: “The ruthless element to it. “We know they can score tries from anywhere and to be able to keep building on the lead was very impressive by us and something we spoke about at half-time. “I’m delighted with everyone, I’m so proud to play for this team and I’m sure our supporters will fill Newcastle’s stadium in a few weeks as well.” (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan) Sexton added: “It’s amazing, it’s amazing for all of these supporters here today. “To go to another Heineken Cup is dream come true stuff. I never thought I’d play in one, never mind five and throw a Challenge Cup in there as well. “It’s special, but we don’t play to get to finals, we play to try and win stuff. Hopefully we can go one step further.” One step further would mean becoming the first club to win the Heineken Champions Cup five times. To do that, Leinster must beat the 2016-17 champions Saracens in the decider in Newcastle on May 11. The out-half said: “We spoke a little bit about that, not too much, but we knew Toulouse had four stars on their jersey but at the same time Sarries have two and if they win they won’t be far behind us. “We saw yesterday how they dominated Munster and we know how tough a side Munster are. So, we’ll be up against it but we’ll prepare now for the biggest battle of our careers.” And his own performance, as he returned from a quad injury? “Yeah, a mixed bag,” said the Dubliner. “During the week I felt like I was cramming for a big exam, I haven’t trained in a few weeks so I had to fit in a lot of work during the week. “I probably tried to do a little bit too much during the week, I’m just delighted to be in another final”.<doc-sep>3:45am, 20 April 2019 This weekend’s second Heineken Champions Cup semi-final sees Leinster entertain Toulouse at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in a contest that pits Europe’s two most successful sides against each other. ADVERTISEMENT Both clubs are seeking a record fifth title and while Leinster enter the clash as the reigning champions, this is revitalised Toulouse’s first appearance at this stage of the tournament since 2011 when they were ironically beaten in Dublin by an Irish province that was then heading towards clinching their second of four titles. The French side booked their ticket in this last-four round with an epic 22-21 victory over Top 14 rivals Racing 92 in Paris, Toulouse somehow managing to find the resolve and the composure to play nearly an hour of that splendid knockout contest with just 14 players after Zack Holmes’ red card. Leinster had a lucky escape in their all-Ireland quarter-final, taking advantage of a jaw-dropping Jacob Stockdale mistake to narrowly defeat Ulster 21-18. They have since failed to win in the PRO14, drawing at the RDS to Treviso and then losing to Glasgow. Now they face a side that beat them in Toulouse in an early pool match before revenge was exacted in Dublin in January. With the two teams named for Sunday’s clash, RugbyPass has compiled its Composite XV from the 30 ready to start at the Aviva… 15. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse) It has been an inconsistent season for veteran Rob Kearney, the incredible high of another win over New Zealand mixed with the low of being excluded on other occasions for Ireland and Leinster. Wales stitched the 33-year-old up beautifully for their sole Grand Slam match try and while he scored twice last weekend versus Glasgow, Kearney’s defence is a concern. In contrast, 23-year-old Ramos is having the season of his life, a handful in attack and full of fearless exuberance on the back foot. ADVERTISEMENT 14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster) Here’s a similar match-up to full-back and again you’re compelled to go with the younger man. As with Ramos, there has been an immense excitement surrounding the dancing feet possessed by Larmour whose every touch sends a sense of expectation coursing through a stadium. It’s the sort of pressure that could have affected the 22-year-old in his second season, but not a jot. Missing from the quarter-final, 32-year-old Yoann Huget is back in the Toulouse XV and while his France try at Twickenham demonstrated he still has moments of brilliance, he’s not producing them consistently enough these days. 13. Sofiane Guitoune (Toulouse) Sift through the RugbyPass Player Index and no Toulouse player scores higher than Guitoune who, at 30, is in his midfield prime. His influence has been a pivotal reason why Toulouse have been flying this season in Europe and in the Top 14 and his form in recent weeks has continue along an upward trajectory. Guitoune’s selection is no major slight on Leinster’s Garry Ringrose. He, too, carries a serious threat, but the 24-year-old’s defensive solidity isn’t yet near where you would expect it to be for a player on the scene for a couple of years. 12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster) Just eight months separates Henshaw in age from Toulouse’s Pita Ahki, but their careers have had very different developments. Whereas the Irishman has earned his stripes at all levels, even touring with the Lions in 2017, Ahki has had a wandering time where he has struggled to prove himself at various pit-stops, including Henshaw’s former club Connacht. The New Zealander with Tongan origins has finally found a home from home in Toulouse, where he has recently signed a contract extension. However, despite recent injury frustrations, Henshaw is still by far the more complete player. 11. Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse) As what happens in Ireland when Larmour comes onto the ball, the reaction in French stadiums when Kolbe takes possession is similarly electrifying. He packs a powerful punch for such a diminutive presence and his ability to generate space when none should exist is evidence that rugby remains a sport for players of all sizes. Despite all this kudos, Kolbe’s selection in this Composite XV wasn’t straightforward. James Lowe has his own style of rich entertainment and is also full of tries. His defence, though, is what lets him down compared to Kolbe. ADVERTISEMENT 10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster) Antoine Dupont, who starts ahead of Holmes, ticks most of the same boxes compared to Sexton. He is hugely influential, possessing multiple attacking threats that require monitoring. However, don’t expect him to be a match-winner off the kicking tee which is what Sexton has been all throughout his career. It’s strange to note that Sunday will be Sexton’s first Leinster appearance since a December run at Munster, a sign of how injuries and Ireland duty have kept him from Leo Cullen’s plans. He is needed this weekend, though, and gets our Composite nod at out-half. It's set to be a super Sunday as reigning champions @leinsterrugby meet the last French team standing @StadeToulousain ???? Both 4?? time winners, but which one will make the #Heineken #ChampionsCup final? ? Watch it LIVE on @btsportrugby 2 from 14:30 ? pic.twitter.com/WFITttRg6U — Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 18, 2019 9. Sebastien Bezy (Toulouse) Bezy checks in 12kgs lighter than opposite number Luke McGrath, but the influence he exerts on Toulouse is far greater than what his opponent brings to Leinster. Having soldiered throughout the doldrum years with the French club, this has been the season for Bezy to flower. He has been the heart of engineering a revival that has made the whole of Europe sit up and take notice and he is currently ranked by the RugbyPass Player Index as the No1 scrum-half in the world. Unlike Conor Murray who stands out at Ireland in partnership with Sexton, the dynamic at Leinster is different as scrum-half McGrath is too frequently viewed from the perspective of living in Sexton’s shadow. 1. Cian Healy (Leinster)<doc-sep>Leinster v Toulouse, Aviva Stadium, Sunday 3.15pm, Wayne Barnes (Eng) TV: BT Sport, Channel 4, Virgin Media 1 Radio: Live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport, with Michael Corcoran and Donal Lenihan Online: Live match tracker on rte.ie/sport Weather: Partly cloudy in Dublin with a high of 20C. The teams, who have both won the tournament four times, meet for the third time this season. Last October Toulouse inflicted a rare defeat on the champions, who were unbeaten in their title run in 2017/18. That result, 28-27, was reversed in the RDS when the holders ran out 29-13 winners, with the scoreline flattering the visitors. Since then Toulouse have improved and caused a big shock when winning their quarter-final on the road against Racing 92. They lead the Top14 and won't be short of confidence when they arrive in Dublin. This will be the 12th tournament meeting between the sides (Leinster W5, Toulouse W6), and only Munster and Castres have clashed more often (16 times). Leinster, on the other hand, struggled against Ulster with coach Leo Cullen conceding that his side were under-cooked, a charge that O'Sullivan agrees with. "There’s really no continuity in this team over the last month," he said of the champions, who welcome back Johnny Sexton after an injury lay-off. "If you look at Toulouse, they have won four of their last five games, they are battle-hardened. "There’s a tipping point here where you are not battle-hardened; you’re fit and you’re healthy but you are not up to speed at the top end of the game and your combinations haven’t played together." Toulouse’s Cheslin Kolbe has beaten 45 defenders, seven more than any other player. Leinster’s Garry Ringrose ranks fourth with 29 defenders beaten. Saracens 32-16 Munster, Ricoh Arena, Saturday, 3pm, Jérome Garcès (Fra) TV: BT Sport Radio: Updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport Online: Live tracker on rte.ie/sport Weather: Partly cloudy in Coventry with a high of 22C. Munster are appearing in a record 14th semi-final but haven't broken through this stage since last winning the title in 2008. The sides have met twice before in the semi-final with Munster winning 18-16 at the Ricoh Arena in 2008, while Saracens secured a 26-10 victory at the Aviva Stadium in 2017, with Munster failing to land a punch in that game. On each occasion the winning side went on to lift the trophy. The English champions topped their pool with six wins from six before demolishing Glasgow in the quarter-finals, while Johann van Graan's men were pushed all the way in Edinburgh. TEAM NEWS ? ? Tyler Bleyendaal and @D93sweets come in for the injured Joey Carbery and Keith Earls respectively for @Munsterrugby ? ? How would you assess their semi-final chances? ? ?#Heineken #ChampionsCup podcast preview ? ?https://t.co/4S4uMa5Kk5 pic.twitter.com/AU9MlsBBef — Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 19, 2019 That win came courtesy of two Keith Earls' tries but they must do without the Ireland flyer and Joey Carbery tomorrow. Saracens, meanwhile, have been boosted by the return of captain Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell, while the Vunipola brothers are both named to start. The injury to Ireland out-half Joey Carbery opens the door for Tyler Bleyendaal but former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is unconvinced that the New Zealander's style fits in with the way Munster are playing at the moment. "I would have a lot of time for Bleyendaal as a player, he's a fantastic footballer, he plays really flat to the line," he told the RTÉ Rugby podcast. "He's a very dangerous game-breaker and he can run himself or put others in space but that's not how Munster are playing. "They are playing their traditional game, dominating up front, one-off runners, around the corner, beating teams up, milking penalties, banging it in the corner, squeezing teams out in the 22. "His kicking game has been okay but it's not the strength of his game. He's not in character for what Munster are doing." Munster lock Tadhg Beirne has won the most turnovers (14) to date, while Saracens and England hooker Jamie George has hit the target with 94% of this lineout throws (80/85), the best rate of any of the 16 players to take 30+ throws. We need your consent to load this SoundCloud contentWe use SoundCloud to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences Follow Munster v Saracens (3pm, Saturday) & Leinster v Toulouse (3.15pm, Sunday) via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the News Now app. Listen to live national radio commentary of Leinster v Toulouse on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.<doc-sep>
Sexton's last game was Ireland's Six Nations defeat by Wales in Cardiff European Champions Cup semi-final Venue: Aviva Stadium Date: Sunday, 21 April Kick-off: 15:15 BST Coverage: Full commentary on BBC local radio and live text commentary on the BBC Sport website Fly-half Johnny Sexton returns to face Toulouse in the semi-final of Leinster's Champions Cup defence. The 33-year-old, who has had a quad injury, has not played for his province since the end of the Six Nations. Prop Tadhg Furlong is fit after limping out of the defeat by Glasgow, while Jack Conan starts at number eight. Toulouse have selected Antoine Dupont, more usually deployed at scrum-half, at fly-half, while Scotland international Richie Gray starts in the second row. Former All Blacks Jerome Kaino and Charlie Faumuina are both included in the pack, with exciting Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe also in the starting XV. Second row Devin Toner and centre Robbie Henshaw are both in the Leinster team after successful returns from injury against Glasgow. This is the two teams' third meeting in the competition this season after Toulouse won the pool-stage match in France 28-27 but were beaten in the reverse fixture 29-13. Leinster's win at the RDS Arena in January ended a 12-match winning streak for Toulouse "There's a lot of excitement around this match," said Leinster centre Garry Ringrose. "We saw in the pool phase that Toulouse are a very difficult team to beat. "They have a lot of experience in this competition and are dangerous in all positions. All the team are playing well, but we have to keep an eye out for Kolbe, who has scored some incredible tries this season." Leinster have not won since their hard-fought quarter-final success over Ulster last month, drawing at home to Benetton and losing away to Glasgow. But Ringrose insists the champions can raise their game as they seek to become the first team to lift the trophy five times. "We encountered the same kind of situation last year, but the squad knew how to rally themselves for the end of the season. We aren't worried about that and above all we want to show our other face in the European Cup," he added. Match stats This will be the 12th tournament meeting between Leinster and Toulouse (Leinster W5, Toulouse W6), and only Munster and Castres have met more often (16 times). Leinster and Toulouse have met twice previously in the semi-finals, with Toulouse winning the 2010 contest at Le Stadium before Leinster emerged victorious at the Aviva Stadium in 2011; on both occasions the winning side went on to lift the trophy. Leinster and Toulouse are both appearing in the semi-finals for the 11th time and only Munster (14, including 2018-19) have reached this stage more often. Toulouse have won six of their semi-finals, more than any other side. Toulouse's Cheslin Kolbe has beaten 45 defenders, seven more than any other player. Leinster's Garry Ringrose ranks fourth with 29 defenders beaten. Leinster's Jordan Larmour and Toulouse's Sofiane Guitoune are two of five players to have played the maximum 560 minutes from seven tournament matches this season. James Ryan is one of just two players to have made 100+ tackles (107) and 100+ carries (103). Munster's CJ Stander is the other. Three of the six players to make 12+ offloads this season are in the Toulouse squad - Sofiane Guitoune (16), Joe Tekori (16) and Thomas Ramos (12), while no one has made more than six for Leinster (Garry Ringrose 6). Leinster: Kearney; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton, McGrath, Healy, Cronin, Furlong, Toner, Ryan, Ruddock, O'Brien Conan. Replacements: Tracy, E Byrne, Bent, Fardy, Deegan, O'Sullivan, R Byrne, O'Loughlin Toulouse: Ramos, Huget, Guitoune, Ahki, Kolbe; Dupont, Bezy; Castets, Mauvaka, Faumuina, Arnold, Gray, Elstadt, Tekori, Kaino. Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Van Dyk, Tolofua, Faasalele, Cros, Ntamack, Medard