Toulon (AFP)

Thanks to Anthony Belleau, excellent foot, and tests Facundo Isa and Julian Savea, Toulon dominated La Rochelle (23-3) Sunday at the Stade Felix-Mayol, closing the 6th day of the Top 14.

The Var thus go back to 7th place (equal points with Pau, 6th) while the Maritimes dive (12th), after this second defeat rank outside.

Under pressure at the beginning of the match, the Toulonnais still managed to open the scoring during their first foray into the half of course Rochelais (5th). Faced with good play at the foot of the hinge Var, the Rochelais opted for balloons worn on each key. After a strong time in the 22 meters Toulon, Stade Rochelais eventually equalize (14).

However, these first twenty minutes were mainly marked by the hand-offs between these two teams in lack of confidence. On the Maritimes side, the turning point could have been after 22 minutes when left-back Sebastien Taofifenua received a yellow card after a dangerous game, which seemed unintentional, on Lopeti Timani. But at 14-15, the Rouge et Noir, who recorded the return of Anthony Etrillard in the heel and Raphael Lakafia in the third row, held the score and were even dangerous.

The Varese could have taken off before the break. Once again at 15, they added three new points before experiencing a strong moment when the siren sounded. In chaining several good scrums 5 meters from the goal line, they pushed Jeremy Sinzelle to a yellow card. But the Yellow and Black finally won this showdown with a ball lost by Taofifenua.

-The silent Rochelais after the break-

After the break, Belleau had a new penalty before experiencing her first failure of the season in this exercise by tapping the post (49). More enterprising on his turf, the RCT was rewarded with his third line center Argentinian Facundo Isa, coming to conclude a nice collective action (54).

Ronan O'Gara's men reacted and camped within 22 meters for more than 13 minutes. But the Rochelais did not score the slightest point. And were even punished late in the game. Julian Savea, the New Zealand winger, who replaced Julien Heriteau at breakneck time, has concluded a new collective action well conducted (78).

Still undefeated on their turf, the Maritimes will have to react Saturday with the arrival of Brive. For its part, Rugby Club Toulonnais will try to get a second victory in rank on the lawn of Stade Français, Sunday.

© 2019 AFP