Toulon draw with Stade Francais in Top 14 opener
The French Top 14 kicked off at Stade Mayol on Friday night as Toulon hosted visitors Stade Francais in front of a sell-out crowd. The match wasn’t a classic by any means, but it was tense at times and ended in a 22-22 draw.
English flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson had an adequate start for his new club, kicking 17 points. He looked to have snatched the win for his side with a well taken drop goal nine minutes from time.
It was Stade’s South African scrumhalf Falie (Noel) Oelshig though who matched Wilkinson for all he was worth, having an equally good kicking night, and slotting a neat drop goal of his own to tie things up late in the match.
Tries were scored on the night by Juan Leguizamon for Stade Francais, and Thomas Sourice for Toulon.
James Haskell, also on debut in the Top 14, was yellow carded late in the first half for cynically playing the ball on the ground at a ruck.
All eyes were on Wilkinson though, with the 30 year old having enjoyed the night.
"I felt good physically and it was important for me to play 80 minutes," he told a French website.
"I scored 17 points, but the most important thing was that we didn't win.
"But the atmosphere was incredible. At one moment, I had just kicked a penalty and I asked myself what had happened in the stadium such was the noise.
"I hope that there will be a lot more moments like this."
Time: 07:59
English flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson had an adequate start for his new club, kicking 17 points. He looked to have snatched the win for his side with a well taken drop goal nine minutes from time.
It was Stade’s South African scrumhalf Falie (Noel) Oelshig though who matched Wilkinson for all he was worth, having an equally good kicking night, and slotting a neat drop goal of his own to tie things up late in the match.
Tries were scored on the night by Juan Leguizamon for Stade Francais, and Thomas Sourice for Toulon.
James Haskell, also on debut in the Top 14, was yellow carded late in the first half for cynically playing the ball on the ground at a ruck.
All eyes were on Wilkinson though, with the 30 year old having enjoyed the night.
"I felt good physically and it was important for me to play 80 minutes," he told a French website.
"I scored 17 points, but the most important thing was that we didn't win.
"But the atmosphere was incredible. At one moment, I had just kicked a penalty and I asked myself what had happened in the stadium such was the noise.
"I hope that there will be a lot more moments like this."
Time: 07:59
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44 Comments:
Wilko = best 10 ever
but not anymore, still amazing, but Carter and Gituea outclass him, hopefully Wilko can prove me wrong but probably not...
By ArranR, at August 16, 2009 9:51 am
Excellent to see my favorite player of all time back out on the pitch...I think that top 14 rugby will be a good fit for him, but only time will tell. Assuming that he (somehow) manages to remain injury free, i dont think its unrealistic to expect to see him back ontop of the game. I wish him nothing but the best of luck for at both club, and international level.
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 10:19 am
Great to see him back. Those Kicks weren't easy either. He needs to get some games together before we will really be able to tell if he is back to his best.
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 10:53 am
Thanx for posting the video
Just a correction : Toulon's try was scored by flanker Thomas Sourice, not JM Fernandez-Lobbe :-)
Not a great game anyway. But Wilko hadn't play for 10 months..
By 4LC4TR4Z, at August 16, 2009 11:00 am
Morne #1
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 11:14 am
am I the only one who thought the commentary was god awful?
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 12:24 pm
i didn't think that the top14 was still on eurosport!
By no9, at August 16, 2009 1:27 pm
i didn't think that the top14 was still on eurosport!
By no9, at August 16, 2009 1:27 pm
good work johnny
By rugbyazzuri, at August 16, 2009 1:33 pm
no9 u're absolutely right
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 1:42 pm
Good job Wilko - nice to see you back.
By Crosser, at August 16, 2009 1:44 pm
commentary dreadfull 'there's a big kick up in the air' well hey thanks for pointing that out a 5 yr old could've told me that jeez! Good to see jonny back and thats from a scotsman think he'll have a good season fingers crossed he deserves it
By roddymac, at August 16, 2009 2:02 pm
It was like the commentator was reading a newspaper, and just glanced up at the game every now and then to try and tell people what was happening......probably should have put some music over it instead lol
By theFullback, at August 16, 2009 2:21 pm
boring match. didnt help that i had to watch it in french.... stade need beauxis. leibenberg not a 10 at all
By b, at August 16, 2009 3:21 pm
I am still in disbelief at that commentary. Without doubt the worst commentator I have ever heard in my life. "he err just um...um..ran into the um the no.8"
Thanks for the highlights...but if possible French commentary would be far more pleasant next time!
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 3:23 pm
Who is the English commentator? Absolutely awful!!! It's as though the braodacast went into the local cafe and pulled out some bloke to do it.
Makes Barner look good.
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 3:46 pm
beautiful drop goal by wilko!
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 3:53 pm
It's great to see sir Jonny back in action!
and that drop goal was fantastic
i really wish him and injury free season!
By Laura, at August 16, 2009 4:15 pm
I actually thought the commentator was ok. He didn't seem to know what he was on about sometimes, but I liked the cut of his jib nonetheless. A good distinctive voice is half the battle in commentating.
By Kearney for tests, at August 16, 2009 4:38 pm
those were the worst commentators, the6y need a bit more confidence...
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 7:21 pm
good to see Wilko and JM Lobbe back, didn't love the game but it was ok. do you know what happened to Beauxis?
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 7:21 pm
can anybody please explane why theres a girl on the stade francais jersey??
By creggs08, at August 16, 2009 7:24 pm
how comes sonny bill williams wasnt playing for toulon??? him and wilko would be deadly
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 8:19 pm
>Creggs
The woman on the jersey is Blanche de Castille, queen of France and mother of the king St-Louis. The club was created by students of the school Saint-Louis in Paris. And that is why apparently someone decided it was a good idea to put her on the jersey... Yeah... Oh yea and make it pink.
>Anon
Williams needs to rest his leg a little, nothing to worry about.
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 8:56 pm
who was the 10 year old commentator? that was shocking!!!
By Anonymous, at August 16, 2009 9:24 pm
Max Guazzini chose them, as always, he fucks rugby up. He spreads it but he alters it, those atrocious jerseys are only the most unsignificant of his -bad- deeds. (bloody shows before the matches, with cheerleaders and stuff, it has nothing to do with rugby)
By Anonymous, at August 17, 2009 12:10 am
I wonder what the odds were on Haskell for first Yellow card of the Top 14 season...
Would have loved to hear Brian Moore's commentary to this :) x
By Anonymous, at August 17, 2009 12:47 am
Very bad match, the others top 14 matchs of the week end were good, but Toulon - Stade Francais was very bad, Wilko was good, Mignoni for Toulon was really good.
By Anonymous, at August 17, 2009 11:45 am
WILKINSON IS OVERRATED!!!!
By Kabous, at August 17, 2009 3:37 pm
Are you sure you don't mean underrated? You've already managed to post negative comments on the new vid (bulls game). Do you just come on here to start rows or something?
By Andy, at August 17, 2009 4:25 pm
Are the commentators correct in saying James Haskell was wrongly awarded a yellow card?
By sobered, at August 17, 2009 5:56 pm
he was the tackler so techinically would he be ok doing what he did and not getting onside? thats what he was saying to the ref i think, motioning that he was the tackler
By Anonymous, at August 17, 2009 6:00 pm
Haskell was fine to do what he did, he made the tackle and got to his feet to play the ball. The ref was an idiot to give him a yellow, he was totaly within his rights.
By Jon, at August 18, 2009 8:33 am
As far as I know Top14 Rugby is´nt showed anymore on Eurosport. The right for the whole of Europe (Besides France) has been bought by ESPN but are only shown within the UK.
So no idea why this vid shows Eurosport live. Does anyone have an Idea
By Chrizzzie, at August 18, 2009 11:09 am
eurosport rugby commentary = some of the very worst around... while others may be biased at least they're not completely clueless this was pub standard!
on another note nice to see wilko back... as for haskell hope he fades into nothing and reaslises that he won't be wearing an england shirt for a very long time with the quality and loyalty of players staying in England.
By Anonymous, at August 18, 2009 12:01 pm
THIS COMMENTATOR IS DIRE!
Good to see Jonny back in action though :)
Thanks RD
By Anonymous, at August 18, 2009 12:07 pm
Chrizzzzie, because it was on Eurosport.. logically :P
By ShootTheCommentator, at August 18, 2009 1:11 pm
hmm but wasnt the ruck formed when he picked up the ball? It looked quite similar to what happen in the tri nations game between australia and south africa
By sobered, at August 18, 2009 4:07 pm
How can any team with pink outfits take themselves seriously or expect the other side to respect them?!?!
By Anonymous, at August 18, 2009 4:12 pm
sobered is correct...if the ruck hadn't formed then Haskell would have been ok.
By jackohos, at August 18, 2009 4:25 pm
jackohos is correct. Richard brown got a yellow card against the boks 2 weeks ago for the same offence.
By Chris, syd Aust, at August 19, 2009 7:34 am
That's what I didn't get from the commentary, there were 3 guys creating a ruck, so wouldn't that put Haskell in an offside position?
By Anonymous, at August 19, 2009 11:41 am
I think the game was broadcast on Eurosport's Asia/Pacific channel which makes it even worse.
Eurosport shows this event on the other side of the world while a big part of Europe is left behind. :(
By Anonymous, at August 19, 2009 3:44 pm
To ArranR,
Giteau is crap, not even the best 10 in Australia.
By Anonymous, at August 22, 2009 6:51 am
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