Still in the game at the very start of the second half, the RCT suffered in the second act on the Sale Sharks pitch. Defeat with a score of 33-7 for the Var, who conceded five tries. With this improved victory, the English qualify for the round of 16. For their part, the Toulonnais finished at the top of their group and will receive their eighth and their quarter-final if they qualify.
Already qualified at the time of moving to cool Mancunian, Toulon, who had decided to put a mixed team on the field, had the ambition of finishing this Champions Cup group stage undefeated. The Rouge et Noir could also hope to climb among the best leaders. To do this, we had to win with the offensive bonus, while inflicting a card on Sale. The English, for their part, also had to win with the offensive bonus to hope to beat Racing 92 to the post.
Dominated from start to finish, Toulon was severely beaten with Sale (33-7). Thanks to this improved success, the Sharks move ahead of Racing 92, who are thus transferred to the Challenge Cup. Toulon finishes first and will host Saracens in the round of 16. The Varois could possibly host Stade Toulousain in the quarter-finals.
Touches, scrums, bleeding tackles and a flash
Between two very dense forward packs, the spectators at Salford Community Stadium witnessed a first half from another time. Far from the 80 points scored by Toulouse, the 66 scored by Bordeaux-Bègles, the first act ended with a goalless draw (0-0). The Sharks, twice, managed to enter the goal without flattening the ball.
-Finally, starting from 22 meters, the Ford gang found the solution. The Curry brothers made the difference in the five-meter corridor, and after several contact passes, a ruck was placed in the Var 22 meters. From one wing to another, Roebuck, with an inside hook, escaped Wainiqolo. The Fijian, weakened in the right shoulder, was not able to stop his opponent (7-0, 40e+1).
Toulon ended up cracking
In difficulty in a closed scrum, Toulon was put under pressure by the English team. During a first-hand launch, the Sharks took advantage of a missed rise from Wainiqolo to put Ben Curry in space. The third line, with a large bridge at the foot, scored between the posts (14-0, 51e). After a thunderous maul, in the closed side, Rodd flattened into a corner (21-0, 60e).
On the counterattack, Sale also did wonders. Chased out of a ruck, Serin was stripped of possession. O'Flaherty recovered the offering for the offensive bonus try (26-0, 65e). An achievement which eliminated Racing 92. Ten minutes later, Roebuck scored twice on a missed launch from the Varois (33-7, 75e). Between these two attempts, Coulon improved a superb work from Sinzelle to make the bill a little less heavy (26-7, 67e).
