London Irish 15 Toulouse 21:IT WILL take a while for London Irish to get reconciled to this defeat, simply because they were twice tantalised by the prospect of victory in the dying throes of this richly entertaining Heineken European Cup semi-final at Twickenham on Saturday. In terms of quality it was far from blemish free but it was never less than an enthralling spectacle. Regrets may initially colour the memory but Irish should not linger unduly when the loss is weighed against the character demonstrated in defeat.

Judged on how they played over the 80-plus minutes, they did not necessarily deserve to prevail. They were not the better team on the day, but they were the side whose relentless passion and adherence to the core principles of their expansive game brought them to the cusp of a place in the final. When trailing 21-15, London Irish threatened to pen an unlikely twist to the final chapter of Saturday's encounter.

Topsy Ojo skinned Yannick Jauzion on the outside but as he careered away headed for the final Toulouse defender with his fellow wingman Sailosi Tagicakibau in support, he stumbled and veered toward the touchline in an attempt to remain upright, the victim of Maxime Medard's despairing tap tackle from behind.

It was enough to allow Toulouse to scramble back as scrumhalf Byron Kelleher's thumping tackle on Tagicakibau a couple of metres from the line averted the danger.

Then there was Shane Geraghty's coruscating line break, as he ducked under the tackle of replacement Thierry Dusautoir and raced 35 metres into the Toulouse 22. Tagicakibau glided up on his outside, screaming for the pass. Geraghty had a decision to make but chose the wrong one in trying to dummy and step inside Cedric Heymans. The opportunity vanished in that split second.

Perhaps the young Irish outhalf recalled two moments earlier in the match when Heymans's brittle defence had gifted the Exiles their two tries as the French international contrived to uncharacteristically fall off two routine tackles: Ojo and Tagicakibau were the beneficiaries.

Irish didn't have the monopoly on spurning gilt-edged opportunities; twice the Toulouse captain and secondrow, Fabien Pelous, galloped clear only to succumb to similarly flawed option-taking when tries seemed inevitable.

The French side did take enough of their opportunities and the three-time European champions possessed the vital ingredient for any successful team: character in adversity.

Going into this match they were denied the luminous talents of Vincent Clerc, Clement Poitrenaud and Florian Fritz, to name but three. Valentin Courrent cried off before the match to be replaced by Dusautoir, the latter showing tremendous mental strength to recover from virtually knocking himself out in a game last weekend and the death of his father during the week.

The paucity of their back-line cover was reflected in the fact they could name only one back, Maxime Mermoz, in the replacements alongside six forwards and ended the match with flanker Yannick Nyanga on the wing.

Toulouse have rightly been celebrated for the exquisite flair with which they play the game but this victory was largely honed with more earthy qualities. The French side may have buckled periodically at Twickenham but they did not break.

It started with the pack and their work ethic in the tight. They edged the scrums and in taking on what is regarded as the best lineout in the English Premiership pilfered three against the throw, also shading this duel.

They mauled with power and technique, evident in their second try, scored by their outstanding hooker William Servat, and their aggressive counter-rucking meant Irish had to commit more numbers than they would have liked in this area to secure possession.

If the Toulouse backs were largely overshadowed, they did conjure one beautifully crafted try, centre Manu Ahotaeilea applying the finishing touch to a sweeping move that underlined the twin benefits of retaining depth and soft hands.

They might have offered one or two more reminders as they occasionally managed to outflank a London Irish defence that got too narrow in terms of numbers close-in, and whose line speed seemed a little passive at times. On another day Toulouse would have more ruthlessly exploited the space out wide.

Outside of the industry and collective excellence of their pack, Kelleher's work-rate at scrumhalf, was an inspiration and he made several telling interventions in defence, including spoiling at a London Irish scrum five metres from his own line.

Most of the back-line enjoyed cameos but arguably the most effective player in a concrete way outside Kelleher was Medard.

London Irish could not be faulted in terms of perspiration - Bob Casey, brilliant at restarts and leading by example in most facets of the game, Steffon Armitage abrasive and hard working, Nick Kennedy too - but it was the quick feet and blistering pace of their wings Ojo and Tagicakibau that proved their most potent weapon on the day.

Toulouse outhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Irish fullback Peter Hewat - his line kicking was brilliant - exchanged early penalties before Irish claimed the first try of the day, Ojo standing up Elissalde before brushing aside Heymans's tackle. Hewat converted but it was Toulouse who would dominate the rest of the half, leading 15-10 at the interval.

Irish's line led a charmed life at times but they could not hold out indefinitely as first Ahotaeiloa and then Servat crossed for tries, Elissalde posting one conversion.

The Exiles struck three minutes after the restart when Tagicakibau, inches from the touchline when receiving possession, swatted aside Heymans before loping 40 metres for a try.

Unfortunately for Irish, indiscipline cost them six points, both penalties kicked by Elissalde after Faan Rautenback and Ojo were penalised in quick succession for coming in from the side and holding on at rucks.

Momentum changed jerseys for the final 10 minutes but Irish just could not find the precision to snatch victory. The decision to name Ojo man of the match was an apposite metaphor for the day: It was a topsy-turvy occasion.

Scoring sequence: 10 mins: Elissalde penalty, 0-3; 13: Hewat penalty, 3-3; 19: Ojo try, Hewat conversion, 10-3; 33: Ahotaeiloa try, 10-8; 38: Servat try, Elissalde conversion, 10-15 (half-time: 10-15). 43: Tagicakibau try, 15-15; 47: Elissalde penalty, 18-15; 50: Elissalde penalty, 21-15.

LONDON IRISH: P Hewat; T Ojo, P Richards, S Mapasua, S Tagicakibau; S Geraghty, P Hodgson; D Murphy, D Paice, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, B Casey (capt); D Danaher, S Armitage, P Murphy.

Replacements: T Lea'aetoa for D Murphy (half-time); J Leguizamon for P Murphy (56 mins).

TOULOUSE: C Heymans; M Medard, M Ahotaeiloa, Y Jauzion, Y Donguy; JB Elissalde, B Kelleher; D Human, W Servat, S Perugini; F Pelous (capt), P Albacete; J Bouilhou, Y Nyanga, S Sowerby.

Replacements: T Dusautoir for Nyanga (59 mins); O Hasan for Perugini; R Millo-Chluski for Pelous (both 67 mins); Nyanga for Ahotaeiloa (71 mins); G Lamboley for Bouilhou (73 mins); A Vernet Basualdo for Servat (76 mins).

Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).