Toulouse marched further ahead in Pool 5 with a bonus-point win against the spirited Dragons. The 26-7 victory was convincing, but the game was marred by a worrying neck injury to Gwent centre Marc Stcherbina.French international Frederic Michalak wasn’t in great touch with the boot, but his direction and control of the match was faultless. The outside-half set up Yannick Jauzion for the opening try and converted for the only points in the first half.
Stcherbina’s injury rocked the Dragons concentration and disrupted their tight organisation. Toulouse struck immediately through Clement Poitrenaud, Maxime Medard and Florian Fritz all running in tries to deflate Dragons hopes.
Steve Jones stole a late consolation try, but the three times European Champions Toulose proved their class in the Stade Ernest Wallon and established their ambitions for this year’s Heineken Cup.
Toulouse, having won their last ten games, picked up where they left off against Bayonne by camping in the opponents half with Michalak orchestrating play and testing the Dragons disciplined defence. His genius was proven with a delicate chip over the Dragons defence off a scrum 10 metres from the try line.
Jauzion read the kick perfectly to pounce on the bobbling ball to open the score and claim the first try. The conversion was successful, but three poorly missed penalties from Michalak to James Arlidge one, kept the match at stalemate.
The most controversial incident came just short of the interval as Richard Fussell was yellow carded for a high tackle on Medard. The mazy running winger recovered to dodge the defence and produce a try-scoring opportunity, only for Gareth Wyatt to beat the attackers to the ball and save the Dragons. The scored remained 7-0 at half-time.
The second half opened in the same manner as the first, with Michalak slotting another penalty wide. The turning point arrived on the hour mark as the figurative Marc Stcherbina landed awkwardly from a tackle. A suspected broken neck caused a long delay and worry throughout the camp. The influential centre was stretchered off after a long injury delay, and all thoughts are with him at this present time.
However, the players still had a game to focus on, but Toulouse didn’t hold mercy as they enforced their dominance. A Michalak grubber was again the Welsh side's undoing, Poitrenaud this time, securing the ball under his clutches for the second try.
Poitrenaud played a large role in the third try as his quick hands allowed Medard sneak in the corner. The bonus-point score soon followed as the relentless Toulouse onslaught continued, Michalak found Fritz on a switch to cross underneath the posts.
The Dragons battled to the end and were rewarded in the final move of the match. Rhodri Gomer-Davies paved his way through the defence with a powerful run, Jones supported for the try that was converted by Shaun Connor.
Toulouse: C Poitrenaud, Medard, Kunavore, Jauzion, Heymans, Michalak, Kelleher, Human, Servat, Perugini, Pelous, Millo-Chulski, Bouihlou, Dusatoir, Lamboley.Replacements: Fritz for Kunavore (41), Du Toit for Kelleher (69), Poux for Human (50), Vernet Basualdo for Servat (66), Lecouls for Perugini (50), Nyanga for Bouihlou (62), Sowerby for Lamboley (50).
Dragons: Dolman, Wyatt, Davies, Stcherbina,Fussell, Arlidge, W. Evans, Black, Willis, R. Thomas,MacDonald, Charteris, Bearman, Charvis, L. Evans.Replacements: Smith for Stcherbina (50), Connor for Arlidge (56), R. Lewis for W. Evans (71), Robinson for Black (73), S. Jones for Willis (71), Lydiatt for Charvis (71), Ringer for L. Evans (52).
Sin Bin: Fussell (40).
Att: 18,695
Referee: Dave Pearson (England).
No comments:
Post a Comment