Reigning Top 14 champions Toulouse cruised past reigning European champions Bordeaux-Bègles, winning 48-12 in the prime-time Sunday evening fixture at Stade Ernest Wallon.
In a Round Two fixture which featured 32 French internationals, Toulouse secured their first league win of the season after last weekâÂÂs disappointing defeat to La Rochelle.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the European champions Bordeaux who started the stronger of the two sides. Italian international scrum-half Martin Page-Relo kicked a smart 50-22 to give his side good territory. However, the visitors failed to capitalise on the field position.
The hosts settled into the game when their star-studded backline started to show their quality. They began to slice through the Bordeaux defence, with Teddy Thomas chipping over the full-back before being unable to gather the ball under pressure from the covering defence.
Toulouse started their first-half onslaught in the 16th minute through centre Kalvin Gourgues after he dotted down Ange CapuozzoâÂÂs deft grubber in behind the Bordeaux defence out wide.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatters got worse for Bordeaux when Matthieu JalibertâÂÂs restart was kicked dead. From the resulting scrum, Gourgues continued to sparkle, stepping two defenders before kicking in behind the defence. The ball rolled back off the corner flag and was smartly finished by Capuozzo.
Toulouse then got their set-piece game firing when Julian Marchand scored his first try of the evening following an unstoppable driving maul.
The reigning champions all but secured the victory in the 31st minute when Marchand threw a pre-planned lineout straight over the top where Argentinian Santiago Chocobares collected superbly and cut through the visitorsâ defence under the posts. Romain Ntamack converted.
2021 World Player of the Year scrum-half Antoine Dupont grew into the game, sniping and throwing a wonderful pass over the final defender for winger Thomas to dot down. Ntamack added the extras.
Hooker Marchand scored his second in the last play of the first half from another strong Toulouse driving maul. Ntamack added another two points, giving his side a 36-0 lead at the break.
The hosts continued in the second half with the same fluidity and pace in their game, extending the lead through loosehead prop Cyrill Baille.
Bordeaux finally came to life, coming through the wizardry of Playmaker Jalibert, who provided the spark, taking a quick tap to ignite his side before winger Pablo Uberti rounded off the move.
The visitors were rewarded with their second try of the evening when prop TomaâÂÂAkino Taufa bundled over after a strong set-piece move from their pack. Maxime Lucu converted.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey thought he had scored his third try in two games for UBB after finishing a smart move out wide on the left wing. However, the TMO judged Romain Buros to have interfered with the defender in the build-up, ruling out the score.
The hosts sealed the bonus-point victory in the final play of the game as Georges-Henri Colombe powered over from close range, with Ntamack converting.
Stade Toulousain will look to build on this performance when they travel to Vannes next Saturday, while Bordeaux return to action at home to Stade Français next Sunday.
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