Laporte gushes over Toulon

Delighted: Bernard Laporte

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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."

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