Toulon (AFP)

Deprived of several of its key players, including its flagship rookie Eben Etzebeth, Toulon had a tenth game without defeat in all competitions by crushing Castres Olympique (43-3) Sunday at the Félix-Mayol stadium for the 13th day.

With this improved success, Toulon took third place and edged La Rochelle (4th) by 3 points, before the clash between Stade Français and Toulouse.

For their part, the Tarnais, who have also played without their star half-scrum, Rory Kockott, and many holders, have still not won away this season and remain stuck in 12th place.

If everything is once again gone very quickly for the Toulonnais with a penalty try awarded by the referee Adrien Descottes and a yellow card issued to the hooker Castres Jody Jenneker (2), Toulon has stammered his rugby.

Despite this start of the match with a fanfare, the Toulonnais did not manage to impose their rhythm, very embarrassed in touch, where the absence of the South African world champion Etzebeth, slightly touched in the calf against Toulouse, was cruelly felt .

His replacement Romain Taofifenua even received a yellow card for a high tackle (15).

- Carbonel delighted -

But after a first half-hour chopped up by mistakes and scuffles between the two teams, Mauricio Reggiardo's men completely broke down. In front of the power of the Toulon forwards, they received three yellow cards in twelve minutes.

Facing thirteen Tarnais, Toulon wandered. After a new penalty try (32), Louis Carbonel, already the author of a superb try in Toulouse the previous week, registered a new try (33).

Then Romain Taofifenua, well offset by his little brother Sébastien, tore up the Tarn defense (36).

Patrice Collazo's players could have even scored more. At 15 to 15, the Reds and Blacks have also put a layer ten minutes after the resumption. Well offset by the New Zealand rear Bryce Heem, the 21-year-old French winger, Gervais Cordin finished behind the line (50).

French opener Louis Carbonel delighted Mayol late in the game. The one who took over at short notice after the forfeit of Julian Savea, sick, lit the game with his right foot.

Daniel Ikpefan, put on the bench by Carbonel, received a cross pass from the double U20 world champion to add five points.

The two clubs will now turn to the European Challenge next weekend, with a trip to the Scarlets for Toulon, which could validate their ticket for the quarter-finals.

The Olympic Castres also receives Welshmen, the Dragons, to try to take them first place in their group.

© 2020 AFP