The Toulonnais had to win to maintain the hope of qualification, they finally sank. Beaten by the Scots from Glasgow 29-5, Pierre Mignoni’s men will not play in the final stages of the Champions Cup. Worse, with this dry defeat, they finished in last position in pool 4 and will not be able to defend their Challenge Cup title.
For their reunion with the biggest club competition, the Rouge et Noir ended their adventure with a fourth loss at the Scotstoun Stadium, in the lair of the Glasgow Warriors (29-5). Toulon is eliminated from all continental competitions to the delight of Bayonne. Rowing will, at a minimum, be transferred to the Challenge Cup.
After several years of absence, Toulon was delighted to qualify for the Champions Cup. Setting out with the objective of playing the competition to the fullest, the Rouge et Noir rather, unfortunately, brought joy to their opponents. In a decisive match at Scotstoun Stadium, Baubigny’s partners were unable to maintain the hope of qualification. For its reunion with the Warriors, who showed a poor performance during the last Challenge Cup final, Toulon got caught in the Scottish kilt (29-5). Jones and Rowe each scored twice.
In group 3, Toulon finished in last place with only two points. Glasgow is qualified with its 10 points. Bayonne (5th, 3 points) is guaranteed to be transferred to the Challenge Cup.
Sione Tuipulotu showed his passing talent
In a generally balanced first period, Glasgow was devilishly efficient. After a distant failure at the foot of Smaili (12th), Rowe struck first (7-0, 23rd). Behind a relay from the forward cell, Tuipulotu put Jones into orbit. The Scottish center held off two opponents before releasing his winger.
On the second try, the Warriors took the same and started again. In a game in the direction, Bhatti served behind Tuipulotu’s back. This time, the Scottish international played on a step towards Jones, who made a good run inside (12-0, 31st).
Despite several crossings from Smaili and Dréan, Toulon lacked continuity in its game to really undermine Glasgow. The Varois particularly suffered physically, losing most of the collisions. And since nothing is going well at the moment, the Mignoni gang lost Gabin Villière (34th) to injury. The French international came out complaining of an ankle.
Dréan saves honor
Returning from the locker room, Toulon found the fault on a counter-attack ball. From a cross at the foot of Luc, Tuicuvu made a 30-meter run only to be stopped five meters from the goal. On the play in the direction, after percussion from the forwards, Dréan was well served on a skipped pass from Hervé (12-5, 48th). An ounce of hope? It was short-lived.
On two balls lost in touch, the Varois conceded as many tries through McKay (19-5, 62nd) and Jones (24-5, 65th). Three minutes which sealed the European destiny of Toulon. At the end of the game, facing a disillusioned Rouge et Noir, Rowe let off the fireworks (29-5, 80th+2). This is the Warriors’ first success against Toulon in five confrontations. From now on, the entity struck by thrush will devote itself to the Top 14. Over the next two weeks, it will host La Rochelle and Bordeaux-Bègles in Mayol. Capital shocks to dream, from now on, of a spring with final phases.