Buzzing Wasps are swatted by French panache
TOULOUSE edged closer to the Heineken Champions Cup quarter finals with a stunning bonus point victory at the Stade Ernest-Wallon to knock Wasps out of contention.
The four-time European champions haven’t made the knockout stages since 2015 and last season suffered the ignominy of competing in the second tier Challenge Cup.
But European rugby’s sleeping giants have awoken with some of their rugby reminiscent of their halcyon days. And with a trip to Leinster and a home fixture against Bath to come in January, Ugo Mola’s side will at the very least be confident of securing one of the three best runners-up spots.
Tries from Yoann Huget, Joe Tekori, Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont, plus 17 points from the boot of Thomas Ramos, swamped Wasps.
The English side scored three tries of their own through Josh Bassett, Willie Le Roux and Ross Neal with Billy Searle kicking 12 points.
Wasps made a nightmare start with Le Roux throwing a reckless no-look pass in his own 22 which was intercepted by Huget who crossed in the corner.
But the French side didn’t have it all their own way with Searle slotting over a simple three points.
Thomas Young sparked his side into life with a 30 metre break down the touchline before being brought down. The ball was recycled with Le Roux and Young showing terrific handling to put Basset over for their first try.
Toulouse hit straight back with the softest of offloads from Sofiane Guitoune releasing Tekori who sidestepped Le Roux.
Toulouse continued to lay siege to the Wasps try line, but after failing to batter their way over they recycled the ball to Jerome Kaino who executed the softest of offloads for Ntamack to cross.
Wasps kept coming back with Elliot Daly breaking clear from his own 22. He ran all the way to the Toulouse 22 before finding Le Roux on his shoulder and the Springbok ran in unopposed.
Huget spilt the ball forward over the line after a neat pass from Ramos before Ramos and Searle exchanged penalties for the hosts to turn 22-20 up.
Three minutes into the second-half Huget hit the perfect angle to pierce the Wasps defence. At the 22 his inside pass allowed found Dupont to seal the bonus point try.
Wasps came back when Searle ghosted past Guitone before releasing Le Roux who put Neal over. Toulouse began to flex their muscles for their scrum to batter Wasps, allowing Ramos to extend their lead.
Huget was denied by the TMO when he hacked forward a loose ball but touched down on the dead ball line.
The home side finally pulled clear when an offload from Zak Holmes sent Ramos racing 30 metres before the full back put Dupont over for one of the tries of the season. Ramos capped a fine performance with a late penalty.