In a nail-biter at Stade Mayol, Toulon clinched a spot in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals, edging past the Stormers 28-27. The match was a rollercoaster from start to finish, with Toulon initially taking control, only for the Stormers to come agonizingly close to a last-minute upset.
The clash kicked off with Toulon asserting dominance, quickly stifling the Stormers with aggressive play and territorial control. Their early efforts saw them nearly scoring twice through mauls, but the Stormers’ desperate defense kept the scores level. However, the breakthrough came when Scotland's Ben White capitalized on a break by Gaël Dréan, with Tomás Albornoz adding the conversion for a solid lead.
The Stormers, undeterred, found their footing as the game progressed. Jurie Matthee's boot put them on the scoreboard, followed by a surge that saw Adré Smith bulldoze his way to a try, converted by Matthee for a slight edge. But the tug-of-war continued, with Dréan slicing through for his second try, putting Toulon back in front before the halftime whistle.
The second half was equally charged. The Stormers briefly reclaimed the lead when Evan Roos scored near the posts, showcasing some slick handling by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Warrick Gelant. But Toulon’s Matias Ferté and Setariki Tuicuvu each crossed the whitewash, keeping the scoreboard ticking and the pressure mounting on the visitors.
The Stormers made one final push as the clock wound down, with Imad Khan scoring and Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting, bringing them within a point. Despite a heart-stopping series of attacks in the dying moments, the Stormers couldn't breach Toulon's line, with Marcel Theunissen controversially held up, a decision that left fans and players alike in disbelief.
"The ref made some dreadful decisions,"
lamented former player and commentator Nick Mallett, expressing the frustration felt by many Stormers supporters.
In the end, Toulon's resilience in defense and efficiency in attack saw them through a thrilling encounter, breaking hearts but securing their passage to the next round of the Champions Cup.
TOULON: Tries: Ben White, Gael Dréan, Matias Ferté, Setariki Tuicuvu. Conversions: Tomas Albornoz (4).
2,100 posts
In a nail-biter at Stade Mayol, Toulon clinched a spot in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals, edging past the Stormers 28-27. The match was a rollercoaster from start to finish, with Toulon initially taking control, only for the Stormers to come agonizingly close to a last-minute upset.
The clash kicked off with Toulon asserting dominance, quickly stifling the Stormers with aggressive play and territorial control. Their early efforts saw them nearly scoring twice through mauls, but the Stormers’ desperate defense kept the scores level. However, the breakthrough came when Scotland's Ben White capitalized on a break by Gaël Dréan, with Tomás Albornoz adding the conversion for a solid lead.
The Stormers, undeterred, found their footing as the game progressed. Jurie Matthee's boot put them on the scoreboard, followed by a surge that saw Adré Smith bulldoze his way to a try, converted by Matthee for a slight edge. But the tug-of-war continued, with Dréan slicing through for his second try, putting Toulon back in front before the halftime whistle.
The second half was equally charged. The Stormers briefly reclaimed the lead when Evan Roos scored near the posts, showcasing some slick handling by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Warrick Gelant. But Toulon’s Matias Ferté and Setariki Tuicuvu each crossed the whitewash, keeping the scoreboard ticking and the pressure mounting on the visitors.
The Stormers made one final push as the clock wound down, with Imad Khan scoring and Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting, bringing them within a point. Despite a heart-stopping series of attacks in the dying moments, the Stormers couldn't breach Toulon's line, with Marcel Theunissen controversially held up, a decision that left fans and players alike in disbelief.
"The ref made some dreadful decisions,"
lamented former player and commentator Nick Mallett, expressing the frustration felt by many Stormers supporters.In the end, Toulon's resilience in defense and efficiency in attack saw them through a thrilling encounter, breaking hearts but securing their passage to the next round of the Champions Cup.
TOULON: Tries: Ben White, Gael Dréan, Matias Ferté, Setariki Tuicuvu. Conversions: Tomas Albornoz (4).
STORMERS: Tries: Adré Smith, Evan Roos, Imad Khan. Conversions: Jurie Matthee, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2). Penalties: Jurie Matthee (2).