Another bonus puts Toulouse back in the mix for quarters

TOULOUSE did not have to get out of second gear for the second week running but they completed the usual back-to-back bonus-point wins over Zebre and are back in the mix for the quarter-finals.

A bonus-point defeat at Connacht in round one followed by a home draw against Wasps had them on only three points, but the full ten match points against the Italians mean they are in the race for the knock-out stages.

Topping the pool might be a step too far, but another victory from their remaining two games could see them make it through as one of the best runners-up.

With the game stopped after 63 minutes last week due to fog in Parma, Toulouse could score only five tries – but yesterday they had six in the first half alone.

Zebre grabbed the first try through Tommaso D’Apice but Toulouse hit their stride and Gillian Galan, Paul Perez, Yoann Huget, Arthur Bonneval secured the bonus inside half an hour while Toby Flood, enjoying a fine game at No.12, and Gurthro Steenkamp made it 40-10 at the break.

Zebre hit first again in the second half through Johan Meyer, but Toulouse, despite errors creeping in, controlled the end of the game with Perez grabbing his second and Yann David rounding off the scoring.

“Putting the game to bed as quickly as we could was our target,” said head coach Udo Mola. “We’re not dead yet and we’ll have to look at the numbers until the very end after two crucial games in January.”

Zebre hooker D’Apice went over for the opening try of the game six minutes in but they burst into song soon after with No.8 Gallan getting over the line.

Carlo Canna kicked a penalty to edge the Italians in front but it was all Toulouse after that.

From a turnover in their own 22, Flood launched the counter attack with a fine turn of pace and, after neat hands from Florian Fritz, it was Perez who touched down.

Huget scored the third and set up Bonneval for the bonus-point try.

Flood collected a chip over the top from Luke McAlister for try No.5 before Steenkamp rounded off a fine first half.

Meyer scored Zebre’s second early in the second half and it took Toulouse a while before they scored again – but they did so with Perez getting his second of the game just before the hour.

Ther was still time for one last one and it came from David.