The bad news first. South African world champion Cheslin Kolbe was injured while scoring the second try for the Rouge et Noir shortly before half-time, and his stretcher exit, in tears, does not bode well for the rest of the championship. Poor support when getting up seems to be the cause of his ailments. It would be a sprain at best, according to Rugby Rama this Sunday, when the first exam feared a fracture.
“It’s all going to be played out
to a point in the end »
But the RCT will need its X factor because the season could singularly lengthen. After three weeks of inactivity, Ollivon and consorts won in Lyon, an opponent in the race for the dams. « We dominated in the ground game, the bench made a good entrance. These two points did us good », welcomed the former manager of Lou. Early in the game, Duncan Paia’aua had shown the way to Toulonnais. This did not prevent Lyon from reciting their rugby thereafter but the locals, clumsy and jostled in the rucks, left too many chances on the way.
With a third try from Wainiqolo and the boot from Thomas Salles, the RCT enters the Top 6 of the Top 14 at the best time. « It’s important to get into the top six. It’s all going to come down to a point in the end. It’s gonna be very tight, no one’s gonna let go », predicts Mignoni. While waiting for the next day, Toulon has an appointment with the European Cup. First step: sound 8e home against the Cheetahs on Saturday, before a possible quarterfinal the following week.
21e Top 14 day.
Lyon, Gerland stadium.
Referee: Luke Ramos.
For Lyon: 2 Dumortier tries (15e), Botha (48e), 2 transformations and 3 penalties (27e40e+3, 58e) Berdeu.
For Toulon: 3 Paia’aua tries (6e), Kolbe (35e), Wainiqolo (44e), 3 transformations and 2 penalties
(52e78e) Rooms.
