Toulon’s road to the EPCR Challenge Cup final
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RC Toulon booked a fifth EPCR Challenge Cup final when they saw off Benetton Rugby last weekend. Here’s how the TOP 14 heavyweights earned another shot at what has proved an elusive title for them when they take on Glasgow Warriors in Dublin on May 19.
Round 1: Zebre Parma 21 RC Toulon 24
Toulon needed to work hard for victory in their opening Pool A game, with Zebre threatening a shock win at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi when they took the lead with 20 minutes to go.
The visitors were ahead at the break through a penalty try and a Sergio Parisse effort, but needed a Gael Drean brace in the second half to see off a plucky Zebre side.
Round 2: RC Toulon 29 Bath Rugby 7
Round 2 proved a much more straightforward affair for Toulon as they cruised to victory over Bath Rugby at the Stade Félix Mayol.
First-half tries from Jiuta Wainiqolo, Maelan Rabut and Bruce Devaux saw them race into a commanding lead before Gervais Cordin’s score after the break secured the bonus point.
Round 3: Bath Rugby 23 RC Toulon 35
Bath posed a more serious test in Round 3 – which was played at Kingsholm Stadium amid a waterlogged pitch at the Recreation Ground – but Toulon would come away with maximum points again.
Thomas Salles, Cheslin Kolbe and Adrien Warion crossed for the away team in addition to a penalty try, with a decisive 13 points coming from the boot of Dan Biggar.
Round 4: RC Toulon 14 Zebre Parma 5
Toulon secured a home tie in the Round of 16 despite Zebre again refusing to roll over at the Stade Félix Mayol.
The hosts were awarded a third penalty try in four games before Jiuta Wainiqolo dotted down just before the break, but they were unable to add to their tally following the restart.
Round of 16: RC Toulon 36 Toyota Cheetahs 21
Debuting South African outfit Toyota Cheetahs awaited in the Round of 16 but Toulon ensured there would be no fairytale win for the Bloemfontein side at the Stade Félix Mayol.
Thomas Salles, Teddy Baubigny Aymeric Luc, Facundo Isa and Jiuta Wainiqolo went over in an assured performance by the French giants.
Quarter-finals: RC Toulon 48 Lyon 23
Toulon faced their toughest assignment of the competition when Lyon, the side who beat them in last season’s final, visited the Stade Félix Mayol in the quarter-finals.
But they would avenge that defeat in Marseille with an emphatic victory, outclassing and overpowering their domestic rivals as Jiuta Wainiqolo (2), Teddy Baubigny, Dany Priso, Waisea Vuidravuwalu, Charles Ollivon and Aymeric Luc crossed.
Semi-finals: RC Toulon 23 Benetton Rugby 0
Toulon would secure a fifth EPCR Challenge Cup final as they ended Benetton Rugby’s historic campagin with a comprehensive win at the Stade Félix Mayol.
It wasn’t plain sailing for the hosts as they saw captain Charles Ollivon sent off on six minutes, but their 14-man side would boss the contest as tries from Duncan Paia’aua and Beka Gigashvili, plus 13 points from the boot of Dan Biggar, saw them ease through.
