Troubled Toulon continue to struggle, however, with their latest reverse – their third of the season – being a 27-9 drubbing away to a Brive side which began the afternoon way down in 12th position.

The Limousin club were gifted the early initiative after Australian centre Mafileo Kefu was handed a straight red card in the fifth minute of the match following a crude high-armed tackle which unnecessarily hindered Toulon’s efforts. Playing 85 minutes a man down was always likely to prove a tough ask after that, although the visitors initially held out as they went into half time tied at 6-6 after two Jonny Wilkinson penalties cancelled out a brace from Brive’s Mathieu Belie.

The home side bulked up at the interval with two new props entering the fray and their continuing domination eventually paid dividends when flanker Gerhard Vosloo touched down five minutes after the restart. Belie added the conversion and although Wilkinson subsequently kicked his third penalty of the evening, Brive finally pulled clear as understandable gaps emerged in Toulon’s defence during the closing quarter.

Replacement lock and former captain Simon Azoulai went over for Brive’s second try with 15 minutes remaining and the hosts capped a superb afternoon when France international Alexis Palisson then sealed the attacking bonus five minutes later. The full-back went on to convert his own score, with Toulon’s misery compounded when scrum-half Pierre Mignoni – on as a second-half replacement – went off injured with a knee problem in the closing stages.

Source French Rugby Club

England international Jonny Wilkinson kicked all 15 points as Toulon edged to a narrow 13-15 away win at La Rochelle.

The 31-year-old fly-half landed a hat-trick of drop-goals and two penalties as Philippe Saint-André’s side made it two away wins from two to sit alongside their brace of home defeats after a strange opening to the season.

Wilko’s boot kicked Toulon into a seemingly comfortable 0-12 half-time lead, but they betrayed a lack of confidence in the second half as they made too many errors which encouraged a valiant La Rochelle to rally.

Substitute Benjamin Dambielle slotted penalties in the 45th and 57th minutes before veteran winger Norman Ligairi touched down three minutes from time to prompt an anxious finale. Dambielle’s conversion brought the ‘Maritimers’ to within two points, but that’s how it stayed as the Top 14 newcomers had to settle for just a defensive point.

French Rugby Club

Despite the best efforts of England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, Racing Metro held on to secure a hard-fought 36-31 victory over Toulon at the Stade Mayol on Friday night.

Wilkinson landed 26 of his side’s points in front of another capacity crowd, with No.8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe scoring their only try with eight minutes left on the clock. The visitors pounced for three tries and saw mercurial Argentina fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez make his long-awaited bow as a second-half replacement.

Jonathan Wisniewski and Wilkinson traded early penalties but the game was sparked into life dramatically on 10 minutes when Racing outside-centre Albert Vulivuli made mincemeat of the Toulon line to set up blindside flanker Antoine Battut for the opening try. Toulon were left shellshocked and suffered a further blow when flanker Joe van Niekerk saw yellow for a high tackle on Battut as he charged for the line.

Wilkinson’s boot dragged Toulon back into contention and the hosts were soon on the right end of a numerical advantage as Racing lost Italian international Andrea Masi for a professional foul as van Niekerk looked to collect a chip ahead. Wilkinson added the three points before a lengthy stoppage for a serious-looking injury to Racing prop Benjamin Salemane Sa.

Despite the distressing injury Racing picked up the pace again after the break with a try to Masi, atoning for his earlier indiscretion. As Toulon kept scrapping through Wilkinson, Racing wing Sireli Bobo sealed the result by picking off a lazy pass from Tom May to race away and score under the posts. Lobbe’s late try and the continued efforts of Wilkinson made the final minutes nervous ones for Pierre Berbizier’s side, but there was to be no great comeback.

Source: Scrum.com

Toulon fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has lauded his side’s team spirit after their impressive 13-3 away win over Biarritz on Friday night.

Injury forced Wilkinson to miss Toulon’s disappointing opening home loss to Bayonne last weekend but the England international insisted that there was little difference in the two performances from Philippe Saint-André’s men.

“I don’t know if there was huge difference between the match and the other [last week],” Wilkinson told Var Matin. “Often, it’s the little things that allow you to keep your phases going. Against Biarritz, I thought we demonstrated an incredible team spirit. We expended a lot of energy. Our defence was strong and reliable. Now it’s all about trying to repeat that kind of level again and again. One thing is sure – our season has truly begun.”

Scrum.com

The boot of Jonny Wilkinson and a try from Kris Chesney gave cash-rich Toulon a belated jump-start to their Top 14 season on Friday as the pair combined to inspire a memorable 13-3 win at Biarritz.

Philippe Saint-Andre’s star-sprinkled squad made a false start by losing at home to Bayonne, but this time they made no mistake despite being without experienced Argentinian duo Felipe Contepomi and Juan Fernandez Lobbe, as well as Scotland back Rory Lamont and veteran scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.

Biarritz started off with a win at home to Montpellier but were unable to stay the course despite the return to the fray of France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy following a rib injury.

After a cagey opening, Toulon went on the offensive against the European Cup finalists before a 14,000 crowd at the Stade Aguilera and Chesnay scored what proved to be the game’s only try after 26 minutes, which Wilkinson converted.

The latter’s boot then inflicted further damage with a penalty on the hour and a drop-goal four minutes later, after a Dmitri Yachvili penalty had briefly given Biarritz hope before the interval.

“Tonight, there were no stars but a team,” said Saint-Andre.

“In rugby you need champions, but the star is the team. Last week we didn’t follow the gameplan, but this time we did.

“I think Toulon hadn’t won at Biarritz for 29 years and now we have. At least I’ll have this record.”

AFP

England World Cup-winning flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson has declared himself fit for Friday’s tough Top 14 clash at Biarritz and give them a welcome boost after a disappointing opening loss at home to Bayonne.

Toulon need all the good news they can get at the moment, as Philippe Saint Andre’s side have been severely weakened by injuries and face a Biarritz side that won its opening match and has France No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy due to return to action after recovering from a rib injury.

However, Saint Andre – who did a superb job in shaking Toulon up after a disappointing debut season in the Top 14 with Tana Umaga by guiding them to the play-offs last term – is not downhearted after the opening defeat and that he will be missing several stars such as captain Joe van Niekerk.

“We’ve got to move up a gear that’s for sure,” said Saint Andre.

“However, there is no need to panic, we have new players who have just arrived and I think it will take four to five weeks to integrate them properly into the side.”

However, Toulon will do well to avoid a second successive defeat as also among the missing are Scotland back Rory Lamont and veteran scrumhalf Pierre Mignoni while experienced Argentinian duo Felipe Contepomi and Juan Fernandez Lobbe are forced to sit it out owing to international rules.

Biarritz, who had a disappointing domestic campaign last term, but reached the European Cup final where they lost to Toulouse, will be without France international prop Fabien Barcella who is out for six months after rupturing an Achilles tendon last weekend in training.

But they will probably start with Zimbabwe-born American international wing Takudzwa Ngwenya, who is back in favour after being punished by the club for a disciplinary offence.

Biarritz’ backs coach Jack Isaac said that the fact Toulon had been beaten in their opener would make their clash all the harder.

“We always knew it would be a difficult match whatever the circumstances,” Isaac told rugby365.

“Now that they have lost at home that only confirms that it is going to be a red hot encounter. We are going to prepare for it with a little bit of fear in our bellies and perhaps that will help us rise to the challenge.”

Source Rugby365