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Cardiff Blues Flanker Sam Warburton during the Heineken Cup match at Sandy Park, Exeter. Tim Ireland/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Review

Heineken Cup wrap: Toulon weather Glasgow fightback, Exeter overcome Cardiff

Meanwhile, Jonny Wilkinson will undergo tests after picking up a thumb injury in today’s game.

CHAMPIONS TOULON GOT the defence of their European Cup crown off to a scintillating start with a free-running 51-28 victory over Glasgow on Sunday.

The star-studded Toulon side, bankrolled by comic book magnate Mourad Boudjellal, dominated the first-half, scoring four converted tries for a 34-0 lead.

But it was a tale of two halves as Glasgow gallantly responded with four tries of their own in the second period to claim an unexpected bonus point.

“We worked hard, built pressure and were able to get easy tries,” Toulon centre Matt Giteau said of the first 40 minutes before adding of the second period: “Glasgow started playing a lot more.

Their victory in the European Cup last season had left Toulon craving more success, the Australian added.

“We’ve got a taste for it now,” he said. “It’s something we talked about today, to get back out there and perform as a team year-in, year-out.”

Toulon captain Jonny Wilkinson kicked a seventh-minute penalty just after Glasgow winger Nikola Matawalu had a breakaway try disallowed.

The Englishman was then in decisive action catching an up-and-under and quickly setting the backline free, full-back Delon Armitage crossing in the corner.

It was one-way traffic for Toulon as Maxime Mermoz was next on the scoresheet, the France centre merely having to fall over the line after a Josua Tuisova pass following great hands from Matt Giteau and Joe van Niekerk.

Wilkinson converted both tries from the touchline and then another as Chris Masoe went over to make it 24-0 after 25 impressive minutes.

Mermoz crossed for his second as Frederic Michalak, on as a replacement for Wilkinson, played the centre in through a weak midfield defence, Giteau hitting the extras and Michalak kicking a penalty on the stroke of half-time for a 34-0 lead at the break.

Canadian back DTH van der Merwe gave the Scots immediate hope in the second period, however, holding off Danie Roussouw to bundle over for a try converted by Ruaridh Jackson.

Things were soon back to normal when Giteau ghosted through for a five-pointer.

But Glasgow responded with three tries through Matawalu, lock Jonny Grey and a second from Van der Merwe to make it 41-28 in an incredibly feisty riposte.

Michalak kicked a penalty with Toulon nerves frayed and Giteau crossed for his second try to wrap things up.

Last season’s beaten finalists Clermont visit Racing Metro in Paris in the late match in Pool 4.

Earlier, Exeter racked up a convincing 44-29 victory over Cardiff in the other Pool 2 match.

- © AFP, 2013

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