Toulon makes big Euro statement
MATCH REPORT: Toulon powered into the Challenge Cup semifinals with an emphatic 48-23 win over reigning champions Lyon at the Stade Félix Mayol on Saturday.
Jiuta Wainiqolo (two), Teddy Baubigny, Dany Priso, Waisea Vuidravuwalu, Charles Ollivon and Aymeric Luc were the hosts’ try scorers, Ihaia West kicking 11 points.
Lyon were well beaten at their TOP 14 rivals – who they defeated in last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup final – but got over for two second-half scores, through Baptiste Couilloud and Toby Arnold.
Lyon won the battle of the opening stages as two Lima Sopoaga penalties saw them in front, flyhalf West responding with one for Toulon as the game lacked any clear try-scoring opportunities.
But the hosts would provide the first score on 29 minutes when Baptise Serin took a penalty quickly and kicked forward for wing Wainiqolo to streak through and dot down.
Two tries from line-out mauls in the final minutes of the first half then put Toulon in command at the break, with hooker Baubigny crossing before prop Priso crashed over.
Toulon's big runners continued to cause Lyon problems after the restart, with centre Vuidravuwalu powering over from close range on 49 minutes before flank Ollivon cruised in shortly after.
Replacement scrumhalf Couilloud darted across the whitewash to provide Lyon’s first try of the afternoon on 61 minutes, but Toulon hit back as Wainiqolo was sent over in the corner with ease for his second try.
Lyon fullback Arnold grabbed a second score for the visitors when he muscled over on 71 minutes, but Lyon capped their impressive display when wing Luc profited from a mistake by Thibaut Regard late on.
The scorers
For Toulon
Tries: Wainiqolo 2, Baubigny, Priso, Vuidravuwalu, Ollivon, Luc
Cons: West 4, Biggar
Pen: West
For Lyon
Tries: Couilloud, Arnold
Cons: Berdeu 2
Pens: Sopoaga 3
The teams:
Toulon: 15 Marius Domon, 14 Jiuta Naqoli Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Vuidravuwalu, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Aymeric Luc, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Charles Ollivon (captain), 6 Cornell Du Preez, 5 Brian Alainu’uese, 4 Swan Rebbadj, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Dany Priso.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Bruce Devaux, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Mathieu Tanguy, 20 Sergio Parisse, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Jérémy Sinzelle.
Lyon: 15 Toby Arnold, 14 Tavite Veredamu, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jonathan Pélissié, 8 Arno Botha (captain), 7 Mickael Guillard, 6 Liam Allen, 5 Loann Goujon, 4 Killian Geraci, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Jérôme Rey.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Feao Fotuaika, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Felix Lambey, 20 Joel Kpoku, 21 Baptiste Couilloud, 22 Leo Berdeu, 23 Thibaut Regard.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Ian Kenny (Scotland)
TMO: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Source: @ChallengeCup_