Ultra-dominant but very clumsy, the Toulouse team left their trip to South Africa with a victory against the Sharks (20-8). Ugo Mola’s men could have seized the offensive bonus without the multiple inaccuracies near the scoring zone. The Red and Black therefore let first place slip away to the benefit of the UBB.
The meeting was far from the offensive festival which took place during the previous clash between the two teams two years ago, in the quarter-final (Toulouse victory 54-20). However, it started well with the Sharks setting the pace, facing the Haut-Garonnais responding with physical impact. Mauvaka made a first crossing with the support of Dupont, who missed a potential decisive pass to Kinghorn (3rd). If the South Africans dominated the start of the match, the visitors opened the scoring. From 22m, Ntamack found an excellent 50-22. The group entering after the touchline was stopped within 5m, but two periods of play later, Meafou arrived launched to conclude (0-7, 10th).
On a false haunting rhythm
A blow behind the head of the Sharks, who unlocked their counter (3-7, 14th), but were underwater. Uninspired, they were under great pressure from Toulouse. Even the stretcher exit of Chocobares (26th) changed nothing in the match. Lebel was very close to going for his try, from a touch on the opposite side, but Ramos made the wrong choice of passing with his foot rather than with his hand. Poorly adjusted, it pushed the winger to put his foot in touch (29th). The full-back made up for it with two penalties (36th, 40th), consolidating his status as the best scorer in the competition, and passing the 400 career points mark.
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Champions Cup – Emmanuel Meafou and Blair Kinghorn omnipresent, Siya Kolisi transparent: Toulouse’s notes against the Sharks
A flash, and Toulouse wins without shining
The Toulouse team killed off the match as soon as they returned from the locker room. Willis launched a great offensive, and the Sharks only contained their opponents, much fresher and in shape. The visitors stared at the game on the right side, before heading wide. Lebel stared at three defenders before passing his arms to Ramos. Better inspired than at the half-hour mark, he transmitted to Kinghorn with a blind pass behind the back, for the Scot’s corner try (3-20, 44th). Without doubt the best gesture of the match. The Toulouse team could have killed the match, but were often guilty of going forward (55th), or of indiscipline (13 penalties in the match!).
Enough to beat the apathetic and uninspired Sharks, relying too often on the kicking game to play without any real idea behind it. They waited until the last quarter of an hour to wake up a little, but too late. Julius, more explosive, launched an action in the closed with two forwards. Hatton managed to give it from the ground, and he was going to hook Kinghorn to score the only South African try (8-20, 68th). Dynamo of his team, he was however unable to instill the same state of mind in his teammates, who were too clumsy. The score remained there. Toulouse is looking for the result it needed in South Africa, and is already securing its qualification in the round of 16, before hosting Leicester next week.
