Toulouse defeated Toulon. AFP / VALENTINE CHAPUIS / AFP / VALENTINE CHAPUIS
Trailing for a long time, Toulouse overthrew the RCT at the end of the 10th day of Top 14 this Saturday.
TOPS
Toulouse, champion reaction
Trailing 14-0 after twenty minutes of play at the Stadium, Toulouse found the resources to bring down RC Toulon (25-17), who are heading back to Var. However, things seemed to be going very badly for Ugo Mola’s players, dominated in all areas of the game at the start of the game. But like the conquest in touch and certain individuals like Antoine Dupont and Anthony Jelonch, the entire collective of French champions gained strength over the minutes. Consecutive tries from Delibes and Mauvaka closed the gap before the break. Then the second half allowed Stade Toulousain to settle into the opposing camp and gain the upper hand, thanks in particular to an effective kicking game. A week after dominating the Harlequins (19-47), the Haut-Garonnais suffered until the end this time. But victory is at the end, that’s the main thing before the Christmas break.
Blair Kinghorn distributes the caviars
For his first match in the Top 14, the Scottish rookie delighted his supporters and teammates. Comfortable in coverage and kicking, the former Edinburgh full-back was especially decisive on two of the three tries scored by his team. Both times, his precise jump pass offered the ball on a platter to wingers Delibes then Lebel, for whom the conclusions seemed easy. Since Kinghorn, through his quality of transmission and his vision of the game, overtook the Toulon defense.
The start of the Toulon match
Defeated in the Champions Cup by Exeter Chiefs (18-19) then Northampton (19-22), the RCT arrived in Toulouse as a wounded beast. Vengeful, he put in all the ingredients from the kick-off to achieve a prestigious success. Dominant in impact and conquest, the Toulonnais were logically rewarded by the tries of Smaïli and Tolofua even if the domination could have been illustrated even more clearly on the scoreboard. Few teams will put Toulouse in such difficulty on their home soil. Problem for Charles Ollivon and his partners, a good performance does not necessarily guarantee points…
FLOPS
Toulon leaves fanny
Some will see the glass half full by retaining the copy returned by the Varois, others will insist on the empty glass, namely that Pierre Mignoni’s team is leaving the Pink City fanny. Fifth in the standings this evening, the Rouge et Noir could have found themselves in the Top 4 by snatching, at least, the defensive bonus that was available to them. Except that the visitors seemed to be struggling at the end of the match while the starter at the opening, Enzo Hervé, missed the last penalty by a hair. A huge frustration for Toulon, who undoubtedly deserved better.
Nepo Laulala in pain
Like Kinghorn, the New Zealand pillar was playing his first match in the Top 14. But the 32-year-old did not really shine, unlike the Scot. Suffering in the scrum against his direct opponent Dany Priso, Laulala really struggled to exist until his exit on the hour mark. With the ball in hand, he did not make a big difference alongside Peato Mauvaka, deficient in touch but still decisive with a try scored in power.