Toulouse - 28 London Irish - 23:EUROPEAN CUP: At any other time in their history, London Irish might have celebrated a narrow defeat to the French patricians, Toulouse, in their newly renamed, if not fully constructed stadium, Stade Earnest Wallon.
The Exiles' efforts would have been considered all the more laudable in the context of this being their Heineken European Cup debut.
These are mitigating circumstances that might have salved tired minds and limbs on Saturday night over a few beers, but when player coach Brendan Venter pops the video in the machine come tonight, the London Irish players should be annoyed.
This was a golden opportunity not just to add a notable new chapter to the exiles' history, but to give the club a very pronounced edge in escaping their pool.
Irish had enough possession to win a couple of matches and for long periods played sensibly, albeit with limited imagination.
Therein lay the crux for the visitors; London Irish's backplay boasts the potency of a milkshake and about the same consistency at times, thick.
It's not that there is a lack of application, but there is precious little imagination and it is becoming a serious problem both domestically and now in Europe.
It is not a dearth of talent that denies them, but patterns that seek space in the most cluttered of corridors. This is also a reliance on the staple diet of every scrumhalf over 10 years of age, the reverse flick, and an uncanny knack for forwards to thwart promising attacking gambits with clumsy intervention.
It is all very well making backs and forwards interchangeable, but the latter have to bring something to the party when they are lurking in the wide open spaces, other than a love of contact.
It was all very frustrating for a London Irish side that tried hard, defended very well for the majority of the game and made Toulouse look very average for long periods.
The pivotal moment and one which Irish will certainly rue is the sin-binning of player/coach Brendan Venter on 53 minutes.
At that juncture the visitors led 15-11 and there was a growing unease among the home supporters.
The former Springbok was given 10 minutes on the sideline for an alleged high tackle on Toulouse replacement second row, Finau Maka.
It was more a shoulder-high wrap by the Springbok international, but it was the third occasion in the match that referee Nigel Whitehouse had to speak to Venter about the legality of his tackling.
Venter would not return, instead sending on Nick Burrows because he felt he might be sent off.
Unfortunately for London Irish, the referee was prone to more than the odd lapse during the 80 minutes and several crucial decisions went the way of the home side.
Toulouse will be seriously concerned by their performance. They looked distinctly mediocre for most of this match and needed the galvanising presence of Trevor Brennan, an early introduction on 22 minutes for David Gerard.
Anyone who doubts how the former Leinster man has settled need no further proof than the rapport he has already established with the crowd. At one lull in proceedings, he turned to exhort the crowd for greater support and they responded accordingly. Brennan produced an excellent performance, with several trademark thumping tackles and one great surge in the second half that almost led to a try.
London Irish started so well, a penalty from Barry Everitt and two beautifully taken drop-goals from the outhalf taking them to 9-0. Outhalf Jean Baptiste Elissalde narrowed the deficit with a penalty before the home side closed the gap to just a point.
Toulouse were awarded a dubious penalty, kicked to touch in the corner and, from Brennan's lineout take, Isitolo Maka was propelled over by the pack. Elissalde missed the conversion before Everitt and Frederic Michalak swapped penalties.
Everitt's third success with a placed-ball shortly after the interval pre-empted Venter's binning and the concession of 14 points from two turnovers in open play.
The beneficiary was Toulouse left wing Vincent Clerc who bagged both. Elissalde added two conversions and a penalty and suddenly the home side had a 28-15 advantage.
To their credit, Irish showed great character to finish strongly with a try from replacement centre Burrows and a late Everitt penalty.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 10 mins: Everitt penalty, 0-3; 13: Everitt drop goal, 0-6; 25: Everitt drop goal 0-9; 28: Elissalde penalty, 3-9; 36: I Maka try, 8-9; 38: Everitt penalty, 8-12; 40: Michalak penalty, 11-12. Half-time: 11-12. 50: Everitt penalty, 11-15; 53: Elissalde penalty, 14-15; 55: Clerc try, Elissalde conversion, 21-15; 71: Clerc try, Elissalde conversion, 28-15; 78: Burrows try, 28-20; 82: Everitt penalty, 28-23.
TOULOUSE: C Poitrenaud; E Ntamack (capt), C Desbrosses, X Garbajosa, V Clerc; F Michalak, JB Elissalde; P Collazo, Y Bru, B Lecouls; F Pelous, D Gerard; J Brouilhou, I Maka, C Labit. Replacements: T Brennan for Gerard (21 mins); F Maka for Pelous (43); W Servat for Bru (63); C Heymans for Gabajosa (67); Y Delaigue for Michalak (74); M Marfaing for Brouilhou (76); JB Poux for Labit (80).
LONDON IRISH: M Horak; P Sackey, G Appleford, B Venter, J Bishop; B Everitt, D Edwards; N Hately, N Drotske, R Hardwick; R Strudwick (capt), B Casey; D Danaher, P Gustard, K Dawson. Replacements: M Worsley for Hatley (45 mins); P Durant for Hardwick (57); K Burke for Gustard (62); N Burrows for Venter (63); H Martens for Edwards (73); A Flavin for Drotske (80).
Sin bin: B Venter (London Irish) 53-63 mins.
Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales).
Toulouse ... 28
London Irish ... 23
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