TOULON WENT SECOND in France’s Top 14 today, moving ahead of Racing 92 with a thrilling 21-20 win over the Paris side in front of 40,000 fans in Lille.
The match, opposing two sides packed with international talent, came two weeks before they are due to face off again in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Both sides scored two tries, with Frederic Michalak nailing the winning penalty kick for Toulon with the last action of the match.
Toulon now have 61 points, just one point behind leaders Clermont who have a tough trip to Bordeaux on Sunday. Racing slip back to third place after two straight losses.
Michalak, making his first start since France’s World Cup quarter-final thrashing to New Zealand in October, and Dan Carter, playing at centre for the home side, had an early exchange of penalties before Toulon scored the opening try of the game.
Racing were pressing just short of the Toulon try-line only for hooker Jean-Charles Orioli to intercept. He fed winger Delon Armitage, who sprinted clear and held off a late challenge to touch down in the corner.
Michalak made it 11-3 with another penalty before Racing enjoyed a long period of sustained pressure, from which they were unable to add to their score before half-time. They were made to pay the price for that lack of a cutting edge 10 minutes into the second half with another piece of opportunism from Toulon.
No. 8 Charles Ollivon was quickest to pounce on a loose ball at a maul allowing him to break through the middle past two tackles. He offloaded to centre Theo Belan who ran in unopposed for his side’s second try. Michalak converted to make it 18-3 to the visitors.
Carter popped over his second penalty on the hour and with six minutes to go Racing finally managed a try, flanker Wenceslas Laurent barging his way over through two covering tackles.
At 18-13 down Racing needed a converted try to pull off an unlikely win, and they thought they had done so with three minutes to go, scrum-half Maxime Machenaud breaking clear to feed inside to Carter.
But from the kick-off replacement prop Martin Castrogiovanni was collared for obstruction and Michalak slotted home the winning kick from 35 metres out.
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The rest of the league is improving, if that continues then great. Hibs are a joy to watch for instance with a good manager. Steve Clarke has worked wonders with Kilmarnock also. Aberdeen are very consistent. Another close season and some good buys then hopefully these sides will be even stronger next year.
The most important thing is the negotiation of the new TV deal.
@Ciaran Rice: yeah hopefully Scottish football improves for all our sakes.
@Ciaran Rice: you knew I was going to comment. Jesus Ciaran I think you are a secret Hibs fan. The love in from Celtic fans towards Hibs is laughable due to Lenny being at the helm.
Now there’s you harping on about how competitive this league is and there’s MON stating this is the worst rangers team he has ever seen yet there is only 3 points separating aberdeen, Hibs and the rangers and you are singing the praises of the other two
@Mel Roberts: I appreciate the football that Hibs play. I praised Kilmarnock too. They aren’t as good to watch as they don’t have the players that Hibs do but they are very well organised and drilled by Steve Clarke.
@Ciaran Rice: Gerard is a catholic according to Wikipedia. Wonder how Rangers faithful will react?
@Ciaran Rice: awww Scottish pub football. That’s nice!
@Henry Porter: let’s not tell them for the craic.
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: fk off back to Brighton ya West brit
Just need another team to challenge Celtic, doesn’t have to be rangers. Why not have a strong Hibs team and begin a glasgow – Edinburgh rivalry which could be just as good for Scottish football
Rangers under Gerrard will slip
@Maurice Bourke: I’d say you’re the first person to ever make that joke.
@Maurice Bourke: Yep Glasgow isnt a good place for former Liverpool players to begin managerial careers as John Barnes can testify
Let rangers rot, they bring nothing to the league.
@Ray Farrell: most successful Scottish team by a bit still!
@Gavin Scott: 9 or 10 illegal Scottish titles but never kings of Europe.
@Jamie McCormack: And their fans are hated worldwide .
Martin is beginning to sound a little like the cheerleaders in the Scottish press now.Was he not bothered by the industrial strength cheating when he was up against the old club?Scotland needs a strong Aberdeen,Hibs and the like and not just this particular club which is still living way beyond its means.
I don’t see this as a poisoned chalice for Gerrard at all. All he really needs to do is establish rangers as the undisputed no2 in Scotland and be competitive with Celtic in the head to heads especially at home. Draw a few and the odd win and the majority of fans will be content. The gap in the budgets will keep all bar the headbangers realistic. They should be a clear second and above for the very same reasons they are behind Celtic though and anything less will be inexcusable.
@tim dawson: this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Rangers fans are not going to accept being second to Celtic continuously. I’m going to assume you don’t understand football in Glasgow.
@tim dawson: You obviously dont watch Scottish Football. Neill Lennon and Hibs are miles ahead of Rangers.. Rangers have no money and will start spending stupidly to stop Celtic doing the 10 in a row.. Where as Hibs have decent young players, are playing brilliant football and a potential financial windfall if they sell McGinn to Celtic..
@David Garland: ahhh no they are not. Rangers and Aberdeen are both ahead of Hibs.
@Ciaran Rice: The majority will reluctantly imo. They wouldn’t have prior to sevco but they are a lot more clued in financially now than they used to be and than the average big club fan. Yes they want to finish above Celtic but not by bankrupting the club. They will not accept finishing behind anyone else though and They will not accept second to anyone if the money is there through a new owner etc but in the current circumstances they have no choice and they know it.
@David Garland: I don’t they will. As for hibs etc that’s why Murty was sacked. I agree that hibs are playing good football. It’s great to see them getting full houses.
Puke football…and i support finn harps
@Jono: you’re speaking from experience so
O’Neill would know all about dreadful teams
a joke League at least in the LOi most of the top half are comppeting
If rangers won just 2 of the old firm games Brendan Rogers would probably be about to be replaced by Gerard
Hibs are crap. When was the last time they won the league?
Sevco are a joke and deserve to be laughed at. Relegation could be a reality for them next season.
@Trevi Fountain: what has their last title win got to do with the current Hibs team being good? Nothing?
When was the last time you watched Hibs?
One less team to pillage the rest, gives Aberdeen, hibs hearts etc a chance to build teams and not have the best ripped away from them