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BSP-04
RUGBYU-FRA-TOP14
Toulouse ready for Champions Cup quarters after stretching Top 14 lead
PARIS, March 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Toulouse extended their lead in France’s
Top 14 on Sunday as captain Piula Faasalele shone in a 23-19 victory at La
Rochelle that was the ideal preparation for next weekend’s European Champions
Cup quarter-finals.
New Zealander Faasalele’s try on the hour-mark put Toulouse 20-12 ahead on
the west coast and the four-time European champions survived a late onslaught
from the playoff-chasing home side to extend their lead over Clermont to
seven points.
“That was a real fight with an incredible intensity and we had the answers.
This team is full of confidence,” Toulouse’s co-coach Regis Sonnes said.
The victory set Toulouse up perfectly for their clash with domestic rivals
Racing 92 next Sunday in the continental competition. The Parisian side also
won on Sunday, with a 45-27 come-from-behind hammering of Bordeaux-Begles.
Racing, who will host Toulouse next weekend, scored more than 40 points at
their La Defense Arena for the sixth time this season in a fine bonus point
win.
Brock James opened the scoring for the away side with a fifth-minute
penalty kick before France forward Bernard Le Roux dotted down after nine
minutes for the hosts.
Bordeaux-Begles responded well and took a commanding-looking 20-7 lead
thanks to another James three-pointer and tries for Yann Lesgourgues and Nans
Ducuing.
However Ireland second row Donnacha Ryan’s 24th minute converted try
brought the scores to 20-14 at the break, and Racing’s comeback continued
five minutes into the second half.
France hooker Camille Chat bundled over and Machenaud’s conversion gave the
hosts the lead for the first time since the 10th minute, and Georgia prop
Vasil Kakovin then extended the advantage with his first try of the season.
Machenaud added another penalty and substitute back-rower Baris Palu dived
over to bring the score to 38-20 with 15 minutes to play.
The Parisians played the final 12 minutes with 14 men after Machenaud’s
replacement Teddy Iribaren was sent off for punching Baptiste Serin.
Simon Zebo claimed his 13th try of the campaign in the closing seven
minutes to take the home side over the 40 point-mark.
Fiji winger Semi Radradra crossed for a consolation score in the final
minutes.
Racing move up to fourth place on 56 points, four ahead of Bordeaux who
remain sixth after their fifth loss in nine matches.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1008 hrs