Delighted: Bernard Laporte
Toulon head coach Bernard Laporte admitted he felt like kissing all of his players following their emphatic 59-0 victory over Bayonne on Saturday.
Laporte's side extended their lead at the top to five points with an eight-try, bonus-point triumph with Steffon Armitage scoring twice and brother Delon also getting over the try-line at Stade Felix Mayol.
South African lock Bakkies Botha, winger Vincent Martin, hooker Jean-Charles Orioli, Joe Van Niekerk and David Smith completed the victory, Toulon's eighth in nine games this season.
Jonny Wilkinson converted seven of the tries and kicked a penalty for a 17-point haul with Australian star Matt Giteau, who penned a new two-year deal on Thursday, converting Smith's last-minute try.
"I felt like kissing all of my players on the mouth in the dressing room," admitted Laporte afterwards.
"I have rarely experienced such pleasure watching a team play. Even my mother, who is 72 and understands nothing about rugby, told me it was great."
Meanwhile, two tries from Italian captain Sergio Parisse inspired Stade Francais to a much-needed 28-24 victory over champions Toulouse in Paris and captain Pascal Pape revealed that they had never given up hope even when they trailed at half-time at the Stade de France.
"It is not every day that you beat the great Toulouse, champions of France," said the lock.
Toulouse head coach Guy Noves said that three missed chances of scoring a try had been costly, but believed Stade's second try by Jerome Fillol should not have been awarded.
"Paris (Stade) really put their foot down at the end of the game," he said.
"It is a pity about their try which got them back on equal terms as there was a forward pass but the referee was five metres behind play. We shouldn't have a go at him, but he needs to work on his fitness."
Comments
GoWalesGo says...
These Leinster trolls are everywhere aren't they?
Posted 09:31 31st October 2012
Kent says...
Just a thought. What happens if S Armitage is banned as a result of his failed drugs test?. Do all the games he's played in since that test become void?. I'm not saying for a moment that he's guilty but he is awaiting the outcome.
Surely it would have been sensible to uphold his suspension pending the outcome (and that process should have been carried out without delay). Rugby needs to get a grip on this or we'll end up down that rocky road.
Posted 10:22 29th October 2012
froggy73 says...
@leinster_goy: who proclaimed Toulon champion of anything ?? And why every post of yours need to get back talking of Leinster ?? And before you "smash" Toulon (good luck for that), try first to get out of your group ;-)
Posted 17:24 28th October 2012
froggy73 says...
@leinster_goy: who proclaimed Toulon champion of anything ?? And why every post of yours need to get back talking of Leinster ?? And before you "smash" Toulon (good luck for that), try first to get out of your group ;-)
Posted 17:24 28th October 2012
Bambo says...
leinster_goy - You're reading something that hasn't been said. Nowhere does Laporte claim glorious invincibility or Toulon as champions of the universe (those calls belong usually, in my experience, to Leinster fans!?). All he is doing is celebrating a pretty whopping win, just as you would if it were your team. Yes, Toulon is something of a Barbarians squad but they still have a strong French contingent and are much loved by their fans. I'm no fan of the Man U approach of excessive buying in of global superstars but it happens across rugby; Leinster isn't 100% boys from Ireland, is it?
Posted 17:06 28th October 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Oh shut up Leinster Goy. You'll get your chance one day. Just moaning about another team being succesful. Toulon are playing really well this season, playing open attacking rugby, you should be applauding it not whingeing, get a life. Oh soory, only Irish teams are allowed to be succesful in the Northern Hemisphere are they. Thats the trouble you win a few then you get cocky, then you get arrogant, then you're a pain in the neck. Sounds like some of the worst English supporters after 2003 and look what happened to them.
Posted 16:16 28th October 2012
leinster_goy says...
let's look at the recent record of this glorious invincible team of selfless home-grown frenchmen:
2010 amlin final: LOST
2012 amlin final: LOST
2012 top 14 final: LOST
so let's not proclaim them champions of the universe just yet. of course, the erc have handed toulon-chester city a easy group this year, effectively giving them a bye to the HC semi-finals. never mind though, they'll be smashed eventually by a real team...perhaps by Leinster in lansdowne road in may? (if not them, then hopefully ulster/toulouse/clermont can do the job instead)
Posted 12:27 28th October 2012
Patron says...
Imagine that, the Ayatollah la Paorte is back. His last job was running the needle exchange programme for the the Tour de Farce (Mistress of Sport). I believe that did not go well.
Posted 11:11 28th October 2012