Toulouse (AFP)

After its elimination in the semifinals of the European Cup last weekend, Stade Toulousain recovered on Sunday by inflicting a heavy defeat Toulon 39-19, 5 tries to 3, during the poster of the 3rd Top 14 day.

With this victory, Toulouse climbed to the top of the standings, tied on points with Racing, whose match in La Rochelle was postponed due to cases of Covid in its workforce, Clermont (winner of Agen) and Brive, victorious from Pau.

In front of 1,000 spectators, the last French champion quickly came off the score.

First by two penalties from the international opener Romain Ntamack, then thanks to a try at Toulouse concluded at the end of the line by winger Mathis Lebel (19).

Ten minutes later and after two attempts refused to Médard and Kolbe, Lebel pierced the defense of Toulon, shifted to Dupont full center which, with a long pass, put Kolbe in orbit (28).

Faced with overtaken Toulonnais, Tauzin scored a third try (31), well served by Tolofua.

Deprived of Parisse, Etzebeth, Étrillard, Belleau, and practically non-existent in the 1st period, the Toulonnais reacted to the return of the locker room by scoring two tries out of two breakthroughs concluded by Moretti (43) and Egiziano (50).

The Toulousains remained dominant and on a change of wing from Kolbe, Lebel worsened the mark (55) and signed his second try of the evening.

After the exclusion of the Toulouse pillar Neti, on a dangerous shoulder charge on Gigashvili on the ground, Patrice Collazo's men exploited their numerical superiority to score their 3rd try, by Méric, and return to 13 points from Toulouse (32- 19).

A short-lived advantage because Ezigiano was excluded 10 minutes.

At 14 against 14, Cros, in power, crossed the line (72) for the fifth try of Toulouse, which remains undefeated at home for two years.

Finalist of the European Challenge in two weeks, Toulon will have to face Montpellier again on Saturday in Mayol in Top 14 before doing battle with the English of Bristol.

Next week, Toulouse will travel to the Arena for the duel at the top of the 4th day against Racing 92.

© 2020 AFP