Toulouse survive Lyon comeback

Toulouse wing Alexis Palisson scored a hat-trick to quell a late Lyon comeback for his side to win 42-26 at Stade Ernest Wallon.

It was a high scoring game packed with free-flowing action as Toulouse scored five tries and Lyon managed to nab four of their own. Palisson found himself in the right place at the right time and showed searing pace to make it to the line each time.

Toulouse jump to seventh on the table, from tenth, after the win which sees them take Racing's spot. Lyon remain at 11th place on the table.

Toulouse got out of the blocks early after scoring in the fourth minute through hooker Julien Marchand to get an early lead. Fly-half Jean-Marc Doussain added the extras.

They then doubled their lead after Palisson dotted down in the 16th, after strong attacking play from the home side and Doussain keenly knocked the extra two points over making the score 17-0 after a penalty minutes earlier.

Lyon finally got onto the score board in the 26th minute when flanker Deon Fourie barged over the line with French legend Frederic Michalak adding the conversion to make the score look less imposing.

Palisson responded well for his side minutes later after an electric break that saw the winger grab his brace in the first 30 minutes. The home side were making it look too easy after that, as number eight Gillian Galan ran 30 metres after another great break from Toulouse.

Lyon closed the gap just before the end of the first half when winger Napolioni Nalaga scored in the 38th minute and after Michalak's conversion the half-time score was 34-14.

Lyon scored the first points of the second half when Nalaga scored his second try of the match to close the gap but unfortunately for the visitors Michalak missed the conversion. Minutes later they would score again after a handling error from Toulouse.

Lyon collected it and sent it down the line to inside centre Thibault Regard who ran 59 metres and fended off a defender before scoring in the corner with Jérôme Porical slotting the extras to make the score 34-26.

Toulouse put the final nail in the Lyon coffin after Doussain picked up an interception and darted down field before off loading to Palisson for his hat-trick, making the score 42-26. 

The scorers:

For Toulouse:
Tries: Marchand, Palisson 3, Galan
Cons: Doussain 4
Pens: Doussain 3

For Lyon:
Tries: Fourie, Nalaga 2, Regard
Cons: Michalak 2, Porical

Toulouse: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Arthur Bonneval, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Yann David, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Samuel Marques, 8 Gillian Galan, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 François Cros, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Piula Faasalele, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Joe Tekori, 19 Talalelei Gray, 20 Sebastien Bezy, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Semi Kunatani, 23 Census Johnston

Lyon: 15 Jérôme Porical, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Paul Bonnefond, 12 Thibault Regard, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Nicolas Durand, 8 Curtis Browning, 7 Deon Fourie, 6 Julien Puricelli, 5 Maselino Paulino, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mickael Ivaldi, 1 Alexandre Menini
Replacements: 16 Ti'I Paulo, 17 Stephane Clement, 18 Christian Njewel, 19 Felix Lambey, 20 Agustin Figuerola, 21 Facundo Isa, 22 Mike Harris, 23 Francisco Gomez Kodela

Referee: Salem Attalah
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Dufort, Thierry Guilloton
TMO: Jean-Marie Piraveau