Toulon v Saracens: Five takeaways as RCT Bomb Squad ‘explodes’ while Sarries duo ‘make a mockery’ of midweek criticism
Toulon scrum-half and Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez.
Following Toulon’s victory over Saracens in their Investec Champions Cup clash at the Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday, Planet Rugby picks out five takeaways from the thrilling action.
The top line
A chaotic game for the ages saw a brilliant recovery by RC Toulon to move forward to the Investec EPCR quarter-finals as a Facundo Isa hat-trick saw them home in a 72-42 hammering of Saracens.
But the first half was so different. It looked for all money that Toulon were still somewhere in one of the many bars outside the Mayol whilst Sarries had come out onto the pitch on fire. The early exchanges saw Theo Dan and Juan Martín Gonzalez creating havoc in the sleepy Toulon defence and for all money, the upset of the round looked on the cards.
But suddenly, just before half-time, Toulon’s tide turned. Inspired by a thundering display from Facundo Isa at number eight, and some powerful work in close quarters by skipper David Ribbans, somehow Toulon awoke to deliver one of the most impressive second halves of rugby we’ve seen this season. They scored 40 points in a masterclass of running rugby, with Baptiste Serin coming off the bench to delight all of his fans with an exquisite display of the scrum-halves art as he conducted the demolition of the doughty Saracen defence.
It was the epitome of the phrase ‘a game of two halves’ – one where on another day Sarries may have worked their way clear, but it wasn’t to be and Toulon’s performance matured into something quite spectacular as they thrilled their fanatical supporters with artistry, power and pace in that phenomenal second half display.
Value of Isa
At the heart of this Toulon fightback was the superb personal contribution of Los Pumas number eight Facundo Isa. The big back-rower was RCT’s bludgeon with ball in hand as the veteran Test player grabbed an impressive hat-trick, leading the hosts’ fightback with some absolutely thundering carries.
He might not quite have the profile of some of the other Toulon glitterati, past or present, but now a club centurion, his simplicity and solidity at eight is a key pillar of the RCT structure.
His first try came just before half-time – at a moment where Saracens were fully in the ascendency and the scoreline 35-22 in their favour as Isa produced a clattering run into contact to crash over. A similar try followed on 55 minutes, but the best of all was saved to the last, as a lineout from a penalty saw a Sergio Parisse (RCT’s lineout guru) engineered play of a fast long throw to Ribbans who passed from the top of his leap to Serin, who fired the most beautiful miss-pass out to Isa coming into the line at pace.
With Melvyn Jaminet having a rather better day in attack than in defence, and Leicester Fainga’anuku also making some thundering carries in midfield, Toulon can be as happy with their efforts with ball in hand as they can be in their lapses without the ball.
Bench impact
Whilst Isa and Jaminet finished the moves, the second half masterclass we saw when Toulon awakened to deliver 40 odd second half points was inspired by their bench and in particular, the absolute genius of Baptiste Serin at nine who delivered a masterclass of creativity from the base.
Serin was everywhere and did everything. 50/22s, chickenwing passes, razor sharp miss-passes and of course, the complete skinning of any defender that dared to try and stop the jet propelled scrum-half.
Serin scored one but made probably four or five others as he delivered a performance that thrilled the Mayol faithful.
Alongside him, the impact of Danny Priso at prop in the loose was substantial, and with Brian Alainu’uese also crossing to grab an important try in the middle part of the match it was a day where the RCT Bomb Squad exploded powerfully to take the match away from Saracens.
Dan and Gonzalez toil
A lot of misinformed noise permeated social media this week in terms of Saracens’ decision to rest their England stars. ‘It’s a second team’ was the chosen trope, ‘an insult to the tournament’ was another.
However, a Sarries squad is deep and possesses immense depth throughout and their performance in this match underlined both the depth and the excellence of coaching that supports the success of this great club.
At the heart of this impressive but ultimately fruitless performance were two immense displays from England reserve hooker Dan, and one of the best back-row forwards in the world in the formidable shape of Gonzalez. Dan’s explosive pace and wonderful footwork caused havoc in the early encounters, as the Toulon defence were torn to ribbons by the pace and directness of his carrying. With Gonzalez an anxious cohort to the young hooker, the pair made hay in the Toulon sunshine, combining to create three tries between them in the first half.
It started in chaos when Toulon tried to pass out of defence in the opening exchanges after an horrendous botched catch between Gabin Villiere and Jaminet. The Toulon backs dropped ball under the posts as they tried to run out of defence and Gonzalez collected loose ball to dot down. A few moments later a brilliant set of carries from Dan and Gonazlez sees the Puma fall short of line, but manages to pass to Dan. With Gonzalez terrorising Jaminet at the back, the flank managed to make the most of yet another botched defensive effort from the former France full-back to make it a brace in a half for the Argentinian as both he and Dan made a mockery of the shade thrown at the Sarries selections in the lead up to this match.
The Mayol experience
For those who have never experienced the frenetic, cramped and passionate environment of the Stade Mayol in Toulon it is, without question, one of rugby’s bucket list experiences.
The stadium itself is the centre piece of the town; it’s loud – deafeningly loud; it’s vibrant, but above all, it’s absolute chaotic fun.
The stairs to the top of the stands almost need crampons and safety ropes, such is the steepness of the pitch of the stadium. Word is, that on the Bonnington-Scott mountaineering scale it’s officially a grade three scramble to the top and, coming down, especially if one’s imbibed in a few Pernods, needs steady footing and nerves of steel. It’s rugby’s equivalent of the Hillary Step, no less congested and certainly equally as technically challenging.
But Toulon is about the people; the support is fanatical but always welcoming. The kindness of the Cote D’Azur locals is stuff of legend and the fan engagement is a key part of the culture of RCT, as the pre and post match debates take place around the many bars surrounding the centrepiece Mayol.
It’s the sort of culture that other European sides can only dream of – dripping in authenticity, soaked in rugby etiquette- a place every rugby fan needs to experience once in their lives.
