With this success acquired thanks to a test by his three-quarter Australian center Duncan Paia'aua, Toulon is back in 11th place in the Top 14.

If the match started with great physical intensity with Lyonnais brawling on all the rucks, Mathieu Bastareaud's injury cut the pace.

On an innocuous occasion, the former Toulon third line collapsed before impact and did not get up.

He went out on a stretcher (4th), to a standing ovation from Mayol's audience before leaving the stadium in an ambulance.

This is a new blow for Bastareaud (54 caps, 33 years old) who already suffered a ruptured left knee tendon last season and had been operated on on his right hand at the start of the season.

After a quarter of an hour spent in his camp due in particular to two balls lost in his 22 meters by the opener Anthony Belleau, preferred to Louis Carbonel on this meeting, the RCT then reversed the trend by settling in half of Lyon land.

Twice, the Toulonnais spoiled opportunities five meters from the in-goal, further confirming their difficulty in scoring on their highlights this season.

It was finally on a ball against that the lightning arose.

For the first time this season, the three-quarters of the Var have signed a test built from their half of the field.

Full-back Aymeric Luc and Fijian winger Jiuta Wainiqolo combined perfectly to start Duncan Paia'aua on trial.

In an unbridled but pleasant first period, Franck Azéma's men logically led 10-3 at halftime.

But only two minutes after the break, they were cold picked.

The Rhone took advantage of a rare bad game at the foot of Baptiste Serin, who signed his return to competition on Saturday after six months without competition following a shoulder injury, to pick up the score thanks to a good try, concluded in end of the line by winger Tavite Veredamu.

The 3rd line of Lyon Mathieu Bastareaud is evacuated on a stretcher after being injured on the Toulon field, November 27, 2021 Nicolas TUCAT AFP

Surprised, the Var players reacted.

Louis Carbonel replaced a not very successful Belleau and quickly scored three penalties which restored confidence to his teammates.

Without trembling, the Toulonnais held the score and finally signed a successful victory even if success in the brand area was still lacking.

They will now try to snag their first away victory of the season on Saturday in Pau while Lyon will have to react with the reception of Brive.

© 2021 AFP