TOULOUSE MADE IT two wins from two in the new Top 14 season with a hard-fought 35-27 victory over La Rochelle on Sunday, a win that extended their unbeaten home league run in the league to 33 matches.
The back-to-back defending champions scored four tries to three against a side they beat in the 2021 and 2023 finals, Thomas Ramos adding the other 15 points from the boot.
The win means Toulouse are the only team, alongside Lyon, to have won both of their opening games but they top the early table thanks to the offensive bonus point they earned last weekend at Vannes.
La Rochelle put the first points on the board after 20 minutes when Samoan international centre UJ Seueni broke a tackle and teed up Teddy Thomas to dot down, Antoine Hastoy adding the conversion.
Under the eyes of scrum-half and Olympic champion Antoine Dupont, who took part in the Olympians’ parade in Paris on Saturday, Toulouse hit back with two tries in quick succession from Tonga international Pita Akhi and France lock Thibault Flament.
Pierre-Louis Barassi notched Toulouse’s third try of the evening on the half-time whistle to give them a 22-10 lead at the break.
La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara responded by replacing six of his eight forwards in one fell swoop, a move that paid off when they took the lead following a try from prop Aleksandre Kuntelia and a second from Thomas.
But with Australian lock Will Skelton off the field with a yellow card, La Rochelle began to wilt and it was another giant lock Emmanuel Meafou, who grew up in Australia before becoming a France international, crashed over to give his side some breathing space in a tense end to the match.
On Saturday, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was on hand to witness his son, ex-England captain Owen Farrell, score five points as Racing 92 beat Clermont 33-20.
Great contest between the top 2 teams in Europe over the past 5 years. Won’t be the last time we’ll see these two giants go head to head this season.
@Ray Ridge: very observant last sentence considering their in the same league and play home & away. Flute
@5sZl1dX2: i know that ffs. I knew some wise guy would say that trying to look smart.
@Ray Ridge: No fear you’d ever look smart anyway
Looks like Joey Carberry has broken his hand 40 mins into his French debut. Poor fella, had hoped he’d have a bit more luck
@J M: He has no luck
Savage contest. La Rochelle have picked up another couple of big boys in their pack. Plenty of front-liners to come back into both 23s. PaddyPower doesn’t get it wrong very often. These two will be in and around the top table in Europe this year, no doubt.
Not a mention of the brennan lad.
@chris mcdonnell: few of the French players were mentioned, what’s wrong with that ?
Anyone know if this was televised? Was trying to find it on the sports channels last night
@Patrick Kennedy: yes on TNT
@Dan: Premier sports but on my Now tv tnt and premier sports same package
@Dan: on canal+
@Patrick Kennedy: Canal +