Barassi at the double as Stade Toulousian smash Harlequins

Outside centre Pierre-Louis Barassi scored two of Stade Toulousain’s seven tries as they showed impressive form at Harlequins in their 47-19 win.

The French side have hit the ground running in this year’s Investec Champions Cup scoring 14 tries in their opening two Pool 2 matches. 

The five-time tournament winners were ahead on six minutes when scrum-half Antoine Dupont capitalised on a loose ball. Barassi crossed, with fly-half Thomas Ramos kicking the extras.  

However, Harlequins were level minutes later when the ball came out of a maul to inside centre Andre Esterhuizen who powered through the defensive line to score under the posts and fly-half Marcus Smith converted. 

From the re-start Stade Toulousain hit their hosts again, driving forward before recycling the ball out wide for right winger Dimitri Delibes to score a converted effort to lead 7-14. 

The visitors were reduced to 14 men when inside centre Pita Ahki was sent to the sin-bin for head contact during a tackle on second row Dino Lamb, who was injured in the process. 

Four minutes before half-time Delibes played through hooker Peato Mauvaka for his side’s third converted try. 

However, Harlequins responded immediately with some powerful play resulting in second row Irne Herbst scoring, but with Smith missing the conversion they trailed 12-21 at half-time. 

Stade Toulousain secured the bonus point two minutes into the second-half as a line-out collected by hooker Peato Mauvaka was played to left winger Matthis Lebel to score a converted try. 

The hosts kept themselves in the game using their strength to drive over a third score with Herbst dotting down and Smith adding the extras. 

An impressive fifth try for the visitors saw several quick offloads before replacement loose-head prop Rodrigue Neti found Barassi to score, converted for a fifth time by Ramos. 

Despite Harlequins pressing for bonus points they were hit again by their French visitors with replacement loose-head prop Rodrigue Neti scoring and Ramos kicking his sixth conversion. 

Fly-half Ramos dotted down his side’s seventh try moments later as the visitors’ attack proved too strong for their hosts. 

Stade Toulousain head to Ulster Rugby in round three in January, while Harlequins have an away game at Cardiff Rugby.