Toulon edge Toulouse in scrappy affair
Toulon claimed their second win of the season on Sunday but were lucky to escape with a 20-16 success over Toulouse at Stade Mayol.
It was an error strewn effort from the home team but they'll be relieved to get four points on the board against a spirited Toulouse outfit.
Toulouse came out in imposing form and took a 10-0 lead by the 21 minute mark thanks to a Jean-Marc Doussain penalty and his conversion of Antoine Dupont's try. The lively scrum-half, who was solid throughout, finished off a strong carry from Yoann Huget near to the posts.
But that woke up Toulon and it didn't take long for them to respond, with hooker Anthony Etrillard crossing at the back of a driving maul.
Toulon were now in the ascendancy and when Toulouse tighthead Dorian Aldegheri was sin-binned for a ruck offence, Anthony Belleau chipped away at the scoreboard with a drop-goal. However, Doussain struck a penalty before half-time to put Toulouse into a 13-10 lead.
Toulon came out after the break with purpose though and Josua Tuisova crashed over Semi Kunatani on right wing after some powerful carries from his pack. The try was converted by Belleau for a 17-13 lead but Doussain stepped up soon after, making it 17-16 off the tee.
Marcel van der Merwe inexplicably then took out Huget in the 65th minute and was sent to the bin, leaving Toulon a man short. But the prop was lucky his team-mates saw out the game and a Belleau penalty nine minutes before the end proved enough for them to claim victory.
The scorers:
For Toulon:
Tries: Etrillard, Tuisova
Cons: Belleau 2
Pens: Belleau
Drop Goal: Belleau
Yellow Cards: Bonneval, Van der Merwe
For Toulouse:
Try: Dupont
Cony: Doussain
Pens: Doussain 3
Yellow Card: Aldegheri
Toulon: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Josua Tuisova, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Eric Escande, 8 Samu Manoa, 7 Facundo Isa, 6 Jean Monribot, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Swan Rebbadj, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Anthony Etrillard, 1 Laurent DelBoulbes
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Jocelino Suta, 19 Mamuka Gorgodze, 20 Francois Trinh-Duc, 21 JP Pietersen, 22 Anthony Meric, 23 Emerick Setiano
Toulouse: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Wandie Mjekevu, 13 Yann David, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gillian Galan, 7 Semi Kunatani, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Piula Faasalele, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 David Roumieu, 1 Lucas Pointud
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Joe Tekori, 19 Talalelei Gray, 20 Zack Holmes, 21 Paul Perez, 22 Jarrod Poi, 23 Maks van Dyk
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz