Top 14: Toulon make successful start to title defence with 29-15 victory over ...

Matt Giteau: Kicked 16 points as Toulon flog Bayonne

Mathieu Bastareaud: Touched down Toulon’s initial try of a match

Toulon done a successful start to a counterclaim of their Top 14 pretension as they flog Bayonne 29-15 during a Stade Jean Dauger in Friday’s deteriorate curtain-raiser.

After finale their 22-year wait to lift a top-flight shield, Bernard Laporte’s group got their influence bid underway with a hard-fought feat in south west France.

Mathieu Bastareaud and David Smith scored a usually tries of a compare in a second half after a reigning European and French champions were hold 12-12 during half time.

Australian fly-half Matt Giteau – confronting a unenviable charge of stuffing a blank left by a late Jonny Wilkinson – contributed 16 points from a tee as Toulon got off to a winning, despite unglamourous, start.

With Bayonne struggling to make their symbol on a diversion in a opening exchanges, Giteau dismissed a visitors into a lead and non-stop adult a kicking duel with Bustos Moyano.

Argentine winger Moyano easy relation with his initial chastisement of a dusk and went on to compare Giteau as a sides entered a mangle level.

Superior scrum

Bayonne struggled to understanding with Toulon’s higher scrummaging ability following a restart and column Gert Muller was yellow carded after a array of infringements early in a second period.

Full-back Delon Armitage slotted a chastisement from operation and Toulon done their crew advantage pay, scoring both tries while Bayonne were reduced to 14 men.

The initial came when formidable France centre Bastareaud crashed over after a beautifully-crafted play from focus Giteau.

Bastareaud also played a pivotal purpose in a second try, providing Toulon a plain height during a relapse alongside Steffon Armitage, before winger Smith displayed an glorious change of gait to hold down a lax kick.

Bayonne went down fighting though had small possibility of interlude Toulon induction a excellent opening salvo; a outcome that will locate a courtesy of their rivals given a array of general talent left out of a deteriorate opener.

Toulon were propitious to see out a second half with usually 3 points conceded and a full element of players on a margin after a series of infringements were overlooked, though Laporte will delight points divided from home however they come.

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Article source: http://www.skysports.com/rugbyleague/match_preview/0,,11070_3686497,00.html

Top 14: Toulon make successful start to title defence with 29-15 victory over ...