At the end of the 10th day of Top 14, Stade Toulousain won this Saturday against Rugby Club Toulonnais (25-17), in a meeting which had been relocated to the Stadium. The Varois, who led the score at the break, were in the lead for a long time but Ugo Mola’s team woke up in the second half to make the difference. The RCT scored two tries by Smaili (9th) and Tolofua (19th). The Toulouse team fell three times thanks to Delibes (24th), Mauvaka (32nd) and Lebel (64th). Note that international hooker Julien Marchand, injured against the All Blacks at the World Cup, replayed with Toulouse. He came on in the 49th minute replacing Peato Mauvaka.
Toulouse offered itself, just before the Christmas holidays, a real victory by forceps. Because everything started badly for Antoine Dupont’s teammates, overwhelmed from the start by the determination and power of the Toulonnais. After 20 minutes, the RCT logically led 14-0 following two converted tries from Smaïli (10th), opportunist on a nice move, and Tolofua, strong scorer (21st). But as champions, Toulouse reacted by improving their only two real incursions in the first act, first by Delibes, at the origin and conclusion of the try on a royal service from Kinghorn (25th). Then thanks to Mauvaka, suffering with the throw, but decisive behind the line (33rd). The advantage of two small points (14-12) seemed poorly paid for the Varois at the break as their performance upset Ugo Mola’s men.
The latter, on the other hand, took the second half in the right direction, raising their level in conquest and in the kicking game. Following a successful penalty on each side, by the efficient Ramos and Biggar, the locals validated their highlight by piercing the Toulon defensive curtain for a third time. Kinghorn again with the jump pass, this time for Lebel in the corner (22-17, 67th). Toulouse had taken the upper hand and remained firmly clinging to its success, Ramos adding three points to force Toulon to come back (25-17, 73rd). Eager not to leave the Stadium empty-handed, the Southerners had one last opportunity, ultimately narrowly missed by Hervé 45 meters from the poles. Attractive in the first half, the RCT, now 5th in the ranking, ended up cracking against the reigning French champion, who is one point behind the Top 5 in 7th place.
