Toulon player ratings: England duo ‘show what Steve Borthwick is missing’ but Italian maestro is the ‘match-winner’ in remarkable triumph
Juan Ignacio Brex and Kyle Sinckler in action for Toulon against Glasgow Warriors.
Following a 22-19 victory over Glasgow Warriors in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final at Scotstoun on Saturday, here are the player ratings for RC Toulon.
15 Melvyn Jaminet: Struggled with his kicking in the wind, but provided an extra playmaking option from full-back, and it was his pass which sent Drean free for the second try. 7
14 Gaël Drean: Two excellent finishes from the rising French star. Only got one opportunity in the recent Six Nations, but it won’t be long before he becomes a regular on this evidence after two excellent tries. Was a threat every time he had the ball in his hands. 8
Match-winner
13 Juan Ignacio Brex: Was at the heart of the Toulon attack, mixing his game up nicely. Carried well and distributed excellently on the gain line, while he also put a nice kick in, before scoring an outstanding individual try, which proved to be the match-winner. An unbelievable display 9
12 Jérémy Sinzelle: He may be 35 now, but he still has plenty of energy and did his job well in the midfield. Provided the assist for Drean’s try and was physical on both sides of the ball. 6
11 Setariki Tuicuvu: Looked a threat at times, but there were a few too many errors, including one poor penalty which put the pressure on his team. 5
10 Tomas Albornoz: Was dangerous with ball in hand, but at times it felt like Brex, rather than the half-backs, were running the attack. However, the Argentine contributed in both attack and defence, which included a breakdown turnover. 7
9 Ben White: Against his countrymen, White couldn’t quite get the quick ball he is used to with Scotland, but the scrum-half did well with what he had. Remained patient and kept his pack moving forward. 7
8 Mikheil Shioshvili: The teenage Georgian trucked it up hard, laid a platform and ultimately didn’t look out of place but he still has plenty to learn at this level. 6
Big shifts up front
7 Charles Ollivon: Never falls below a certain standard, and the France star was central to his performance. With and without the ball, Ollivon was utterly relentless and typified the Toulon effort in this Champions Cup quarter-final success. 8
6 Junior Kpoku: A real talent who had some big moments, including disrupting the mightily effective Glasgow Warriors and stealing the ball at the breakdown, but he also got yellow carded, albeit for a team indiscretion. 7
5 David Ribbans (c): Another forward with a mammoth effort. Ribbans showed what England and Steve Borthwick are missing with a remarkable work ethic in both the loose and the tight. Some big contacts on both sides of the ball. 8
4 Corentin Mezou: Not as influential as his locking partner. Did the basics well and offered physicality as he got the job done. 6
3 Kyle Sinckler: Another England international who is playing well in the south of France. The set-piece was solid while he was everywhere in the loose. With his country’s lack of tightheads, it is not a surprise that Sinckler has been linked with a return to the PREM. 7
2 Teddy Baubigny: Lineout was a bit of a disaster. The wind didn’t help, but Glasgow didn’t appear to have the same issues with Baubigny’s darts going one way and then the other. 5
1 Jean-Baptiste Gros: Rinse and repeat from Sinckler. Scrummaged well against Zander Fagerson, but it was his work ethic in the loose which was utterly ridiculous. Was rewarded with a try for his efforts. 8
Replacements: It was a mixture. The reserve front-row tended to go in reverse, despite winning the odd penalty, but Zach Mercer was prominent, and Baptiste Serin was composed, although the gifted scrum-half almost got it wrong in the latter stages by overplaying and producing a poor box-kick. 6