Toulouse beat Perpignan in classic Top 14 game
Toulouse beat last year's Top 14 champions Perpignan 38-29 on Saturday in a great game of rugby that included a few fantastic tries. Toulouse scored five tries, including a great effort from Byron Kelleher, and two for Clement Poitrenaud.
Toulouse have now gone joint top with Montpellier and Racing Metro, but have an inferior points difference so sit in second place, ahead of Montpellier and Toulon.
Perpignan had started well and an outstanding try by number nine David Mele before Toulouse bounced back with a nice finish from Fijian wing Vilimoni Delesau in the corner. Shortly before the break, they scored again thanks to Pointrenaud snatching a neat chip before passing to Vincent Clerc who dived over for the try.
With the match evenly poised at 16-15, All Black Byron Kelleher scored a powerful solo effort as he brushed off the attempted tackles by the loosies, then showed his pace and strength to get over in the corner. Perpignan coach Jacques Brunel said that was very costly for his side. "That was the first turning point of the game, at the beginning of the second-half and Kelleher's try. That cost us dear," he said.
Toulouse backline coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde concurred. "We had a difficult beginning, but the try out of the blue by Kelleher did us the world of good. It is not something we work on at training and is really an individual spirit.
William Servat and Pointrenaud also scored, with David Skrela kicking 13 points in total.
Kelleher believes his side put in such a great performance thanks to the level of intensity in the Heineken Cup recently. "The victory against USAP isn't directly as a result of our performance. It's also about the culmination of a lot of physical and technical work done over the last three weeks.
"The break (from the Top 14) that the Heineken Cup offered allowed us to undoubtedly raise our game. In the match against Perpignan, we weren't a long way from test match level given the number of internationals on the pitch, the intensity, and the spectacle," he said.
It was a great game of rugby but as we can’t show the full eighty minutes, here’s some of the best tries from the game, as well as the hard fought final try for Perpignan.
Time: 03:19
Toulouse have now gone joint top with Montpellier and Racing Metro, but have an inferior points difference so sit in second place, ahead of Montpellier and Toulon.
Perpignan had started well and an outstanding try by number nine David Mele before Toulouse bounced back with a nice finish from Fijian wing Vilimoni Delesau in the corner. Shortly before the break, they scored again thanks to Pointrenaud snatching a neat chip before passing to Vincent Clerc who dived over for the try.
With the match evenly poised at 16-15, All Black Byron Kelleher scored a powerful solo effort as he brushed off the attempted tackles by the loosies, then showed his pace and strength to get over in the corner. Perpignan coach Jacques Brunel said that was very costly for his side. "That was the first turning point of the game, at the beginning of the second-half and Kelleher's try. That cost us dear," he said.
Toulouse backline coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde concurred. "We had a difficult beginning, but the try out of the blue by Kelleher did us the world of good. It is not something we work on at training and is really an individual spirit.
William Servat and Pointrenaud also scored, with David Skrela kicking 13 points in total.
Kelleher believes his side put in such a great performance thanks to the level of intensity in the Heineken Cup recently. "The victory against USAP isn't directly as a result of our performance. It's also about the culmination of a lot of physical and technical work done over the last three weeks.
"The break (from the Top 14) that the Heineken Cup offered allowed us to undoubtedly raise our game. In the match against Perpignan, we weren't a long way from test match level given the number of internationals on the pitch, the intensity, and the spectacle," he said.
It was a great game of rugby but as we can’t show the full eighty minutes, here’s some of the best tries from the game, as well as the hard fought final try for Perpignan.
Time: 03:19
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34 Comments:
some good tries there
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 11:34 am
Two good teams and an excellent rugby match. Go Stade, Go!
By Maximus, at October 27, 2010 11:43 am
i dont think perpigang were top 14 champuions
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 11:45 am
You're right, they were last year's champs anyway.
Thanks for pointing it out
By GMC, at October 27, 2010 11:56 am
This comment has been removed by the author.
By sylvain, at October 27, 2010 12:31 pm
If you want the other Poitrenaud's try (very good as well), watch on www.stadetoulousain.tv
By sylvain, at October 27, 2010 12:32 pm
Merci Sylvain!
Great Match from both teams
I was in the stadium on the Side of Byron's try. Pretty impressed!
By Geoff', at October 27, 2010 1:05 pm
The Top 14 Champions last year was Clermont and not Perpignan
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 1:23 pm
9th?
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 1:27 pm
BTW, RD, Toulouse is actually 2nd of the Top 14.
They have a better point difference than Montpellier and Racing Metro.
They won againsT Racing (28-23) but lost against Montpellier (22-21) => They sit 2nd.
In case 2 teams have the same number of points, Global Point difference comes 2nd after particular point difference between the 2 teams.
It remains not very important (but could be at the end of the season!)
By Geoff', at October 27, 2010 1:41 pm
No Clermont were this year, last season. They are 2010 Champions, Perpignan were 2009 champions.
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 1:49 pm
Thanks Geoff - this article is now officially a disaster. I'll fix that up though.
By GMC, at October 27, 2010 2:02 pm
Poitrenaud awesome try with Vincent Clerc
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 2:09 pm
looks like Byron Kelleher would be a good choice as scrumhalf for the allblacks next year. don't know how his overall form is but this looked impressive
By dutchrugbyplayer, at October 27, 2010 2:49 pm
that forward power is what super 14/15 teams can only dream of
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 3:10 pm
cracking try at the end fp!
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 3:18 pm
Didn't know that Byron Kelleher played center as well. How do you let a scrumhalf run through your loose forwards unscathed like that? Honestly.
Tito
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 4:01 pm
that Vincent Clerc try is a perfect example of completely unselfish play from Poitrenaud and good awareness. Also excellent support from Clerc. Quality try.
By Unknown, at October 27, 2010 4:32 pm
Poitrenaud at center? WTF. Hes a fb
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 4:50 pm
You have got to love those French commentators.
By EARugbyFan, at October 27, 2010 6:04 pm
Poitrenaud was center because Yann David is injured, and the medical joker (caucaunibuca) is not ready to play (too big after vacantions in his island...)
Awesome game!
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 7:40 pm
clermont was last year top 14 champion !!
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 10:02 pm
^ The final was this year, no?
By Anonymous, at October 27, 2010 10:10 pm
You can see all tries, penality and Highlight here : http://www2.stadetoulousain.tv/V2011/top14-Stade_Toulousain___Perpignan_Les_temps_forts_de_Stade_Toulousain_Perpignan-711.html
It's the official chanel for Stade Toulousain.
By Lhdlovebooh, at October 27, 2010 11:57 pm
Unreal rugby, iv never really liked top 14... But these highlights have converted me, I'm a fan!
By Nicko, at October 28, 2010 1:36 am
wow perp plays with a purpose, and their # 4 is a brick wall ahha
By USA7, at October 28, 2010 3:25 am
Duthrugbyplayer, Kelleher would never be chosen.
He's not playing in the right competition (T14 isn't the same standard as S14), and Weepu and Cowen are both just as good.
By Bill, at October 28, 2010 7:26 am
Anonymous said...
that forward power is what super 14/15 teams can only dream of.
Yeah sure.
By jumper, at October 28, 2010 10:54 am
@ tito:
Well, kelleher is quite a bit unit for his position. 95kgs, with 175cm, he is heavy and has a low centre of gravity. Plus, he has that pair of logs he calls legs, so he is made to snipe from the ruck and cause havok in opposing defenses. He also has crisp service from the ruck.
I would like to see him in the AB setting. Ok, the top14 isnt the super 15, but the french championship is by far the best NH competition, with some huge players. Plus, now with Piri injured, I say give byron a chance. He may be a bit old, but he may still surprise you. He has been one of the standout scrummies in the NH for quite some time
By Xavier, at October 28, 2010 12:51 pm
Poitrenaud at 12 lookd good. x
By Anonymous, at October 28, 2010 1:55 pm
"that forward power is what super 14/15 teams can only dream of."
Yeah I'm pretty sure the fact that s14 teams are full of forwards who have played or currently play for NZ, SA and Aus means they have the best forward packs in the world.
Forward power? How about Mccaw, Elsom, Pocock, Burger, Palu, Rusouw, Read, Mealamu, Moore, Sharpe, Botha, etc, etc...
By Jimmy, at October 29, 2010 5:29 am
Xavier, will not happen for a number of reasons.
Firstly, NZ won't play European based players for their national team to protect the integrity of NZ domestic rugby. This is non-negotiable for them.
Secondly the T14 might be the best in the NH, and is certainly of a very high standard, but it's just not fast enough.
Kelleher would have too much catching up to do, to get used to the much faster pace of rugby in NZ and particularly for the All Blacks.
By Bill, at October 29, 2010 5:31 am
With Weepu out for what looks like a long time do you think NZ will try and lure Kelleher back. What's the deal with Leonard at the moment? he completely dropped of the scene. Other than Cowan that doesn't leave a lot of experience at 9.
By Nick, at October 29, 2010 3:42 pm
Anonymous,
"Poitrenaud at center? WTF. Hes a fb"
In Toulouse youth teams, he played almost if not all the time at center and only occasionaly at fullback. That's odd, isn't it ?
By Murf, at October 31, 2010 2:16 pm
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