Harlequins returns home to The Stoop on the back of a remarkable win over Racing 92 in a thrilling encounter in Paris.

Nolann Le Garrec scored the opener for Racing 92, and Quins responded emphatically through tries from Marcus Smith and Andre Esterhuizen, plus a drop goal from the former. Racing had the final say of the half through Antoine Gibert, as Quins led 17-14. 

Tries from Le Garrec and Ibrahim Diallo edged Racing ahead, but Alex Dombrandt and Jack Walker surged Quins back into a 31-28 lead, which they held onto, despite pressure from the hosts. 

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That win over Racing came off the back of a decisive 36-3 win over the Sale Sharks, which was a stellar response to back-to-back losses, falling to Saracens (38-10) and Northampton Saints (36-33). 

Meanwhile, Toulouse headed into the Champions Cup break, winning five of its nine Top 14 games and sits sixth overall on the log. Their form prior to the Champions Cup has been indifferent, beating Perpignan (43-34) and Clermont (31-10), but losing on the road to Castres (31-23) and Stade Francais (27-12). 

However, they hit the ground running in the Champions Cup, scoring seven tries in a 52-7 victory over Cardiff and currently top Pool 2.

LIVE UPDATES - HARLEQUINS VS TOULOUSE

Hello and welcome to FloRugby's live updates of Harlequins vs Toulouse from the Twickenham Stoop in South West London.

Both teams have arrived at the ground and the players have come onto the pitch to begin their warm-ups.

Quins vs Toulouse.

Who have you got?! #HARvTOU #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/R4PY5z9qpr

— Philip Bendon (@PBendon) December 17, 2023

Min 1: Quins will kick-off through Marcus Smith.

Min 1: Antoine Dupont knocks on to set up an early attacking scrum for Quins.

Min 2: Marcus Smith shanks a kick for the corner to let Toulouse off. Moments later Dupont has his second unforced error as he kicks directly into touch on the full.

Min 7: TRY! Through their first sustained period of possession, Toulouse strike through Pierre-Louis Barassi to take a 7 - 0 lead with Thomas Ramos's conversion.

Min 10: TRY! Harlequins strike back through centre Andre Esterhuizen who barges straight over the top of Ramos. Smith converts and we are all level at 7 - 7.

Min 11: TRY! Ramos redemption as the flyhalf rips through the Harlequins defence before two quick phases see the visitors go over in the right corner through Dimitri Delibe. HAR 7 - TOU 14.

Toulouse at their 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆 best 😍

It's all go at The Stoop! @StadeToulousain take the lead again with a beauty in the corner, finished off by Dimitri Delibes 🇫🇷#InvestecChampionsCup | #HARvTLS pic.twitter.com/jnHCIVcDOz

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 17, 2023

Min 14: Yellow card for Toulouse - Pita Ahki for his tackle on Dino Lamb who leaves the pitch.

Pita Ahki has been yellow carded for head on head contact 🟨#InvestecChampionsCup | #HARvTLS pic.twitter.com/U1dyerJGWn

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 17, 2023

Min 21: Toulouse penalty from a collapsed scrum - Ramos finds touch just outside the 22m line.

Min 29: Back-to-back knock-ons see both sides awarded a scrum. From the second one of which Quins had possession, Marcus Smith kicks long only to see the ball roll over the deadball line and hand Toulouse a scrum just outside the Quins 22m.

Min 36: TRY! Peato Mauvaka is the benefactor of some sublime interplay between Blair Kinghorn and Matthis Lebel. Ramos converts to take the visitors two converted tries clear at 21 - 7.

Min 39: TRY - Harlequins score to get back in touch on the stroke of halftime as  Irne Herbst takes a smooth offload from Alex Dombrandt. Smith misses the conversion - Toulouse lead 21 - 12 at the break.

Min 40: Two changes for Quins to start the second half as Joe Marler and Cadan Murley depart to be replaced by Fin Baxter and Oscar Beard.

Min 42: TRY! Lebel gets his second and Toulouse's fourth to secure the bonus point. Ramos converts. HAR 12 - TOU 28.

Min 47: TRY! Harlequins get their first of the second half as Herbst crashes over for his second. Smith converts HAR 19 - TOU 28.

Min 49: A double substitution for Harlequins as Danny Care and Dillon Lewis come on whilst Toulouse replaces Cyrille Baille.

Min 51: TRY! Dupont makes a huge break to set up Toulouse's fifth of the evening. Pierre-Louis Barassi finishes the move, and Ramos converts. HAR 19 - TOU 35.

Min 63: Harlequins substitution Chandler Cunningham-South comes on for James Chisolm.

Min 65: Toulouse substitution, Anthony Jelonch is replaced by Piula Fa'asalele.

Min 68: Double substitution for Toulouse, Blair Kinghorn and Pita Ahki depart as Paul Costes and Santiago Chocobares enter.

Min 70: A further two changes for Toulouse as Peato Mauvaka and Nepo Laualala depart and Guillaume Cramont and Rodrigue Neti come on.

Min 71: Harlequins substitution - Jack Walker off and Nathan Jibulu on.

Min 74: TRY - Toulouse breaks forty points, this time it is the substitute prop Rodrigue Neti. The conversion is good. HAR 19 TOU 42.

Min 77: TRY! Toulouse are in again, this time it is Ramos who crossed in the left corner from a long Dupont pass. Conversion is missed - HAR 19 - TOU 47.

Min 80: Toulouse Lock Emmanuel Meafou is named the Investec Player Of The Match.

Min 80 Toulouse are awarded a penalty on the Quins 5m line and opt for a scrum.

Min 81: Thomas Ramos ends it as he kicks to touch and so it ends Harlequins 19 - Toulouse 47.

Harlequins:

15. Tyrone Green, 14. Nick David, 13. Will Joseph, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Cadan Murley, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Will Porter, 8, Alex Dombrandt, 7. Will Evans, 6. James Chisolm, 5. Dino Lamb, 4. Joe Launchbury, 3. Will Collier, 2. Jack Walker, 1. Joe Marler

Replacements:  16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Fin Baxter, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Irne Herbst, 20. Chandler Cunningham-South, 21. Danny Care, 22. Jarrod Evans, 23. Oscar Beard

Toulouse:

15. Blair Kinghorn, 14. Dimitri Delibe, 13. Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Matthis Lebel, 10. Thomas Ramos, 9. Antoine Dupont, 8. Alexandre Roumat, 7. Anthony Jelonch, 6. Francois Cros, 5. Emmanuel Meafou, 4. Richie Arnold, 3. Nepo Laulala, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 1. Cyril Baille

Replacements: 16. Guillaume Cramont, 17. Rodrigue Neti, 18. David Ainu'u, 19. Piula Fa'asalele, 20. Alban Placines, 21. Baptiste Germain, 22. Paul Costes, 23. Santiago Chocbares