Wilkinson: Steered Toulon into the Amlin Challenge Cup final
Toulon fly-half Jonny Wilkinson slotted a 79th-minute drop goal to book his team a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup final after beating Stade Français 32-29 on Friday.
The former England World Cup winner steered Toulon into the final for the second time in three seasons, after contributing all but five of his side's points at the Stade Felix Mayol.
An outstanding early Steffon Armitage try was the only other scoring effort from a Toulon player as Wilkinson kicked 27 points consisting of seven penalties and two drop-goals, the last of which was his fourth attempt to win the game with the scores level.
The match swayed from side to side throughout, with visitors Stade 16-5 up at one stage in the first half through a converted try from Hugo Bonneval and nine points from fly-half Jules Plisson.
The sides went into the interval with Stade Français leading 19-11 after two of Wilkinson's penalties sandwiched a third from impressive youngster Plisson.
Wilkinson's boot pushed Toulon into the lead before the hour, but Morgan Turinui rounded off a sparkling move for the visitors soon after, and after an exchange of three-pointers between the two number tens the sides were locked together at 29-29 entering the final 10 minutes.
A yellow card for Julien Arias left Stade Français with 14 men for the vital last period, and despite failing with his first three kickable efforts, Wilkinson nailed the winning 40-metre drop-goal with the clock ticking over to 79 minutes.
Toulon now await the winners of the Biarritz v Brive semi-final played on Saturday.
The scorers:
For Toulon:
Try: Armitage
Pens: Wilkinson 7
Drops: Wilkinson 2
For Stade Francais:
Tries: Bonneval, Turinui
Cons: Plisson 2
Pens: Plisson 3
Drops: Plisson 2
Toulon: 15 Benjamin Lapeyre, 14 Alexis Palisson, 13 Geoffroy Messina, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Joe van Niekerk (capt), 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 5 Dean Schofield, 4 Christophe Samson, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Laurent Emmanuelli.
Replacements: 16 Sebastien Bruno, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Carl Hayman, 19 Joe El Abd, 20 Gabi Lovobalavu, 21 Luke Rooney, 22 Fabien Cibray, 23 Jocelino Suta.
Stade Français: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 George Smith, 11 Julien Arias, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Jerome Fillol, 8 David Lyons, 7 Pierre Rabadan, 6 Antoine Burban, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Tom Palmer, 3 David Attoub, 2 Aled De Malmanche, 1 Stan Wright.
Replacements: 16 Laurent Sempere, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Olivier Milloud, 19 Anton van Zyl, 20 Sergio Parisse, 21 Jonathan Danty, 22 Julien Dupuy, 23 Djibril Camara.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Well said in last post. Constant open champaign rugby gets a bit dull. We have 7s as well. In your earlier post... I think it's the title: Wilkinson won it. Tedious. Like watching rugby highlights that show the kicks. Why do that? Show the play that lead to the penalty. Don't need to see the kick.
Posted 12:16 29th April 2012
colvin says...
staph-glorious
There's a very interesting article by Toby Robson on Rugby Heaven NZ a couple of weeks ago where Toby is quoting Lyndon Bray on the performance of referees in this year's Super rugby. You may be aware that a number of games have been won or lost as a consequence of mistakes by referees and genuine rugby tragics are concerned. That's one of the reasons why I say too many penalties. There are too many mistakes by referees that ultimately determine the result. I can remember 1959 (yes, I can) when the All Blacks beat the Lions 18-17. Don Clarke kicked 6 penalties; the Lions scored 4 tries. In this case I'm not saying the penalties were wrong but the uproar at the time was unheard of because equally 6 penalty goals was unheard of. Nowdays 6 penalty goals for one team are more the norm. Can you imagine the uproar if Jonny had kicked 12 penalties.
But my other point is that Lyndon Bray is stating that the average number of penalties per game in Super rugby this year is 21 and he's happy that it's down from 22 last year. In my opinion it needs to be down to less than 15. Also, in my opinion, a number of offences for which penalties can be awarded are so minor or even worse the judgement so 50/50 that maybe they shouldn't have been awarded. Certainly many don't warrant the opportunity of a team getting 3 points. Perhaps more short arm free kicks are needed.
Concerning the time in play for the average match the article quotes 34 minutes. Therefore a penalty is awarded each minute and a bit of actual play which really is amazing.
sirtidychris, I hear you loud and clear but with respect given the mistakes that are made by referees which often determine the result it seems clear more use of technology is needed and will come. Added to that fixing the breakdown area and reducing scrum collapses and resets would go a long way to solving rugby's problems.
Posted 07:03 29th April 2012
sirtidychris says...
The game is fine, rugby can be played in so many ways. If you have a kicking fly half like Wilkinson, a big pack of forwards or if its a wet rainy day then you kick for possession, your big pack of forwards rumble on then you kick your penalty points after forcing errors....eg saracens, england 2003 etc. If you have a quick mobile pack, a dry day and/or a running fly half like the Queensland reds 2010/11 then you chuck the ball out wide and play a quick expansive offloading game. Depending on the coach, the players, the opposition team and the conditions the game of rugby can be played in so many ways. The Toulon game just happened to be a game of forced errors and kicking.....but it was still an edge of the seat finale was it not ?? Last weekend we had harlequins and Leicester scoring 7 tries, the week before that we had a 9-6 saracens - newcastle plod fest. The rugby world cup final was a nervous error strewn 8-7 game, last years Heineken cup final was an amazing 33-22 affair in leinsters favor. Its not always pretty to watch but we cant dilute the game of rugby to make it a score fest everytime, rugby is tactical, some days the backs have there day and somedays the pack do their thing. It should be enjoyed for what it is not interfered with.
Posted 17:50 28th April 2012
staph_glorious says...
colvin,
Are you getting those figures from anywhere in particular? I'm especially interested in times "in play", as you say. If you had a source for that, it would be great. Though if you're doing it under your own steam, tip of the cap.
I don't believe that the number of penalty infringements are a problem, but rather the 'penalty' itself is not harsh enough. The yellow card could be utilised more often, resulting in something of a 'power play'* for the opposition. In exchange, red cards would be reserved for only the heinous acts on the field. A reduction in the sin-binning period may eventually follow, should the player advantage prove too significant. On review, a change in the value of the conversion kick might then be considered.
Of course, this would all be fantasy were the scrum and 'breakdown' still matters of contention. More than anything in the game, more than TMO privileges and white cards, more than subtracting from the penalty kick and adding to the conversion, the IRB needs to prioritise reducing the contest to its simplest form, one that allows the superior players to claim their superiority. These are the targets for your overhaul, the fundamentals of this game upon which all performance and spectacle balance.
It is no easy task, most notably concerning the 'breakdown'. (I believe, at least, that the scrum would benefit in part from the removal of the 'hit'). But as long as the IRB concedes to the spectators, ignoring the pathology for its symptoms, they spite the game.
I would much rather a governing body that admits to no progress in the right areas than one who will regularly send the latest manicures to South African schools. It insults rugby union fans the world over.
* Though I hope that term doesn't creep into the vocabulary.
Posted 16:27 28th April 2012
papachinzo says...
Wilkinson could have lost it for them at the same time... he missed about 5 or 6 kicks?
Posted 15:40 28th April 2012
blametheref says...
Wow 27 points, impressive...
Posted 11:16 28th April 2012
sirtidychris says...
gnlr
If you actually read the article at no point does it praise wilkinson at all...it says that Steffon Armitage and Jules Plisson were impressive but then merely states wilkinson got 27 points including the match winning drop goal, but also mentions he missed quite a few....it would be a pretty odd match report not to mention a guy that scored 95% of the teams points.
TBH they would be totally fair if they did give him some praise as he essentially won toulon the match with 27 points including a 40m drop goal in the 79th minute..
Posted 10:54 28th April 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I think he did show it at LI but agree hes getting better. He's the 7 England need. Him and Fourie as back up would transform the game plan
Posted 09:36 28th April 2012
Stag says...
George smith at centre and parisse on bench? What has Cheika been smoking?
Posted 09:35 28th April 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
That most wonderful England player hitting his best again in such a key position wins it for Toulon again. How can Lancaster over look him. He must take... Stefan to South Africa.
Posted 09:33 28th April 2012
colvin says...
An important win I suppose but Jonny had something like 16 shots at goal during the match. Something like 12 penalty attempts and 4 attempts at dropped goals. Why even have 22 players on each side, 2 assistant Referees and 1 Referee.
Why not just have 2 players,1 on each side and they could have say 20 kicks at goal each from different parts of the field and the player who gets the most kicks over wins for his team.
On the other hand if a game of rugby is wanted there needs to be a complete overhaul of the laws and the way the laws are interpreted. For a game to have any hope of being interesting to watch there needs to be less penalties and less penalty attempts at goal.
It seems that most games have 20 to 25 penalties. Rugby games are only in play for about 32 minutes. So it's about 1 penalty each minute and a bit. It's too many, particularly when many seem to result in attempts at goal. The laws need to change so that penalties are reduced by a third and only certain offences are so serious that attempts at goal are allowed. Teams shouldn't be able to take 12 shots at penalty
goal. 3 or 4 penalty goals per team per match is enough. Not 7 and potentially 12 for 1 team. Also while I'm at it a conversion should be worth 3 points making a converted try worth 8. Might encourage more attempts at tries.
Posted 08:54 28th April 2012
gnlr says...
I get fed up with all this persistent praise of Wilkinson. I watched the game and sure he kicked some goals, but he missed plenty and his general play was at best average.
Posted 06:58 28th April 2012
NHsaints says...
Steffon Armitage has found incredible form for Toulon, shame he didn't have it at LI or else he'd be wearing an england jersey.
Posted 23:14 27th April 2012