Following Toulon’s 28-27 win over the Stormers in their Investec Champions Cup round of 16 tie, here are our five takeaways from Stade Mayol.
A Drean was born in Stade Mayol
Pure theater.
27 Steps In Toulon, the entire city was packed into the stadium that sits in the middle of its streets, and the black-clad heroes gave a performance that echoed the glory days of Toulon’s great European love.
This was a team performance of great courage and quality, and at the heart of it was a young winger who chose the biggest event of his career to introduce himself on the continent. Gaël Drean scored on his first game for France earlier this year. On Saturday, he scored two goals in a Champions Cup knockout match at Stade Mayol. The first came with a fine play down the short side, Nacho Brex feeding David Ribbans in the yard before Drean raced around Leolin Zas and slotted past Ben White. The second, at 31 minutes, was even better.
After a flurry of Toulon pressure, Tomás Albornoz threw in a superb 35-metre cross which Drean collected at full speed. Drean’s debut, you might say, for a player who is among the first to try the tournament. He is quick, smart, creative under the ball and is already capped by his country. Toulon unearthed something unique.
Toulon won the match, against the South African team
This is what separates Saturday’s result from the ordinary. Ever since South African sides entered European competition, they have dominated the northern hemisphere more often than not without reaping the rewards for their efforts. At heart, Charles Ollivon’s influence meant the whole afternoon. Ribbons hit the gainline and Mika Shioshvili brought aggressive energy into the tight. Jean-Baptiste Gros and Kyle Sinckler broke the authority. This was the first joint effort of the highest level.
Stormers player details: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu just came off a stunning win.
When the Stormers threw everything at them in the last quarter, Toulon, reduced to 14 men and now 13 after Ma’a Nonu’s yellow card for a headbutt on Zas, fired attack after attack with passion. Brex’s vaporising hit on Ruhan Nel in the closing stages produced a defensive effort. It was a game that said everything about the meaning of this game and to finish the game, Ollivon, who had already taken the power of the best player in the world of rugby, then raised the Stormers’ try with his line in red time to save the game. It was a leader’s performance in every way. Mayol was a pot, the city was there. And the Toulon package gave them everything. Ribbans, who excelled throughout the side that released him and where his professional career began, was named man of the match. How England has failed to maintain his quality.
Four world-class half-backs, and two from Toulon won the battle
There were four outstanding half-backs on display in Toulon. White’s kicking was excellent, low and accurate behind the wings, forcing the Stormers into three difficult situations and buying his first point of the game. Albornoz was a creative heartbeat, producing two try assists with passes of real quality, and his control of the game in the second half as Toulon held on to their lead was mature beyond his years. Cobus Reinach brought his trademark pace and shooting threat but was starved on stage to influence proceedings. And Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the 10 best rugby player in the world, made an impact immediately from the bench. His unassuming chip in setting up the try gave the Stormers a 14-20 lead and reminded everyone in the stadium of his rare, rare talent. He is a player who changes the temperature of the game as soon as he crosses the whitewash.
However, in the end it was Toulon’s halves that won the tournament. White was a rock. Albornoz produced an important moment. In a game of this quality, the battle in the back half was decisive.
Toulon won for themselves, and the authorities
If there is any confusion for Toulon in this victory, it is that the score could have been easier. Their handling errors in the first half were chronic, giving the Stormers a strong field position every time the home side threatened to pull clear. The Stormers are typical South Africans on the road: soak up the pressure, keep the scoreboard ticking, and wait for a change. Toulon’s inaccuracy gave them that invitation, time and time again.
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And then there were decisions. A clear pull back by Zas on Drean’s hand with a try line at his mercy was not penalised. A sideline gave the Stormers three points as the player was late on Ollivon’s strike. A scrum penalty which Toulon had completely wasted was against them. These were key moments in a one-point game, and each time TMO was quiet.
That Toulon still found a way to win, however, tells you everything about the character of this team.
Paris’s last trip to Europe, and the way to Bilbao
Sergio Parisse exclusively told Planet Rugby ahead of the game that this game will define Toulon’s season. It is his final season in European competition before he takes up his first coaching role with Italy, and the emotional weight of that transition was all over the place on Saturday. Parisse has given so much to this team and to this tournament in an incredibly long career. The thought of his European tour ending in the round of 16, at home, in front of the city that loves him, was unthinkable. His players clearly felt the same way. Toulon have endured a dismal Top 14 campaign, 11th in the table, five games without a league win, losing to Perpignan last week.
But Parisse was clear; The League is over, and Europe is everything now. That fact describes the process. This was a side that made a deliberate choice to go all out in the Champions Cup, and it showed. They were fierce, cohesive and more determined than anything they have produced at home this season. Nonu and Deon Fourie, 83 years of combined rugby genius, were both on the field in the final stages. The campaign to separate Paris from Europe continues.
The quarter-finals will take place next week, with the road to Bilbao and the final on May 23 now close to Toulon.
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