An injury-hit Leinster crashed to their first defeat of the season with a six-try dumping by Toulouse in the Stade des Sept Deniers on Sunday.

That heavy reverse now means that they travel to face defending Heineken Cup champions Leicester at Welford Road for a quarter-final tie in a fortnight's time.

All tries came in a free-flowing display by the French in the second half with wing Cedric Heymans grabbing a hat-trick.

It was a bitter blow to the inaugural Celtic League champions who had hoped to secure a home draw in the knock-out stages after winning their pool with ease.

They went into the game with problems with Lions and Ireland star Brian O'Driscoll having to be drafted into an emergency fly-half role following the withdrawal of Nathan Spooner and Andy Dunne.

Leinster appeared to be holding Toulouse with only a Yann Delaigue penalty seperating the sides at the break.

Bad dream

However, the inaugural European kingpins came out after the break with all guns blazing.

They set about Leinster with some wonderful running rugby and were soon stretching out of sight.

Flanker Finau Maka crossed after only five minutes of the restart and then Heymans sprinted in for two tries with Delaigue converting all three.

Michel Marfaing then blasted in for try number four in the 67th minute before Leinster finally asserted themselves.

Number 8 Victor Costello crashed over for Brian O'Meara to convert, but it was really only a consolation effort as Heymans ran in his third try in the 74th minute.

Leinster bad dream was finally ended when replacement Emile Ntamack scorched in for try number 6 following an interception two minutes from the end.

Toulouse: Tries: Heymans (3), Maka, Marfaing, Ntamack; Pen: Delaigue; Cons: Delaigue (4), Michalak.

Leinster: Try: Costello; Con: O'Meara.

Att: 6,800.

Toulouse: C Poitrenaud (Ntamack 72 mins); N Jeanjean, C Desbrosse, X Garbajosa (M Marfaing, 53), C Heymans; Y Delaigue (J Fillol, 53), F Michalak; J Poujade (B Lecouls, 26), Y Bru (W Servat, 52), F Tournaire, H Miorin, F Pelous, capt, J Bouilhou (Gerard, 62), F Maka (D Lacroix, 53), C Labit.

Leinster: G Dempsey (S Keogh, 78); D Hickie, A Magro (B Willis, 74), S Horgan (L Toland, 78), G D'Arcy; B O'Driscoll, B O'Meara; R Corrigan, capt, (P Coyle, 70), S Byrne (G Hickie, 78), P Wallace, L Cullen, R Casey, T Brennan (M McCullen, 74), K Gleeson, Costello.

Referee: S Leyshon (England).