Fred Michalak: 22 points
Toulon continued their unbeaten start to the Top 14 season on Friday with a 32-25 victory at Stade Yves du Manoir in Montpellier .
Toulon made it five wins in five outings - including four away from home - this season to maintain the championship lead.
Toulon were in complete control at the interval, leading 16-0 thanks to a 34th-minute try from flanker Pierrick Gunther, well-served by Kiwi winger David Smith, in the 34th minute with fly-half Frederic Michalak kicking 11 points.
But Montpellier rallied after the break when South African hooker Rassie van Vuuren scrambled over for back-to-back tries in the 49th and 55th minutes.
That cut the deficit to 22-12 before Toulon then stretched out to 32-15 thanks to a try from replacement back-row forward Joe van Niekerk in the 67th minute.
Michalak, getting a rare start in the absence of the resting Jonny Wilkinson, converted as he finished the match with 22 points.
The impressive Francois Trinh-Duc added Montpellier's third try with three minutes left.
More to follow...
The scorers:
For Montpellier:
Tries: van Vuuren 2, Trinh-Duc
Cons: Paillaugue, Escande
Pens: Trinh-Duc, Escande
For Toulon:
Tries: Gunther, van Niekerk
Cons: Michalak 2
Pens: Michalak 6
Montpellier: 15 Benjamin Thiery, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Thomas Combezou, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Yohann Artru, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Benoit Paillaugue, 8 Alex Tulou, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Hendrikus Hancke, 3 Vincent Pelo, 2 Erasmus Jansen van Vuuren, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili.
Replacements: 16 Fabien Dorey, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 Alikisio Fakate, 19 Alexandre Bias, 20 Eric Escande, 21 Pierre Berard, 22 Matthew Carraro, 23 Giorge Jgenti.
Toulon: 15 Alexis Palisson, 14 Vincent Martin, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Mickael Ivaldi, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Jean Charles Orioli, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Nick Kennedy, 20 Maxime Mermoz, 21 Joe van Niekerk, 22 Benjamin Lapeyre, 23 Xavier Chiocci.
Comments
tokyojb says...
@Houston_11
"OK, and next week we'll rest them both and give Giteau a run at 10..."
Posted 02:44 15th September 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@Houston_11, and if they're both tired or hurt they can throw Matt Giteau in. Their options at prop are also pretty stellar between Hayman, Sheridan and Jenkins. France's failure to use Michalak at fly-half is, in my opinion, directly related to their lack of consistent 6N and RWC success.
Posted 00:36 15th September 2012
Houston_11 says...
What a luxury...
"Let's rest Wilko."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, we'll give Michalak a run and see what he can do."
Posted 22:46 14th September 2012