Toulouse crush Toulon to go top of French Top 14 / Photo: Valentine CHAPUIS - AFP
Toulouse crush Toulon to go top of French Top 14
Juan Cruz Mallia ran in three tries as reigning champions Toulouse dominated Toulon 59-24 at home on Sunday to go top of the French Top 14.
The bonus-point win takes Ugo Mola's side to 25 points, level with Stade Francais, but the southern side boast a better points difference.
The two clubs meet in Toulouse on November 1, though their international players will already be off with their countries ahead of the November Tests.
"We saw some great things, quite a few tries scored," Toulouse defence coach Laurent Thuery said.
"Toulon rested some players, we are aware of that, but in terms of points, it's very positive."
Argentina wing Mallia opened the scoring on six minutes as the hosts ran in eight tries against a much-changed Toulon outfit at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
Toulouse led 24-3 at the break with Julien Marchand and Romain Ntamack also crossing the whitewash after Toulon's Ben White saw yellow, while the home side's Scottish full-back Blair Kinghorn was flawless with the boot.
Mallia got his second seven minutes after the interval, before compatriot Santiago Chocobares was sin-binned for Toulouse.
Toulon responded by grabbing a converted try of their own through Mathis Ferte on 57 minutes but former New Zealand captain Ma'a Nonu saw yellow four minutes later as any hopes of a Toulon comeback were immediately halted.
Nonu's dangerous tackle saw Toulouse prop Georges-Henri Colombe leave the pitch on a stretcher.
Mallia completed his hat-trick swiftly afterwards, and was soon followed over the try-line by Ange Capuozzo.
Ferte doubled up on 64 minutes for the visitors before Thomas Ramos and Guillaume Cramont rounded off the scoring for the home side.
Either side of Toulouse's two final scores, Mathieu Smaili crossed for Toulon and Joe Quere Karaba picked up a third and final yellow card for Pierre Mignoni's charges.
"We played against a great team, we knew that," Mignoni said.
"There's nothing to say about the match, that score is par for the course. They really do have some incredible players."
Defeat leaves Toulon ninth in the standings, though they have played one match less than their opponents.
O.Olivares--ECdLR
