Rock bottom Falcons rue one that got away
SEVEN successive defeats and counting for Newcastle, who can at least now focus on the small matter of retaining their Premiership status.
The Falcons enjoyed their best league finish for 20 years last season and began their European campaign this term with famous victories in Toulon and at home to Montpellier.
But they have now lost every European game since and, as well as lying at the foot of the Premierall ship, they claimed the wooden spoon in Pool 5 after Toulon edged this dead rubber in a dramatic finale.
England boss Eddie Jones was in the stands at Kingston Park, although Falcons flanker Mark Wilson missed out through injury having been included in the Six Nations squad earlier this week.
Newcastle were on course for victory before Bastien Soury’s late score secured the win for Toulon.
Frustrated Falcons boss Dean Richards said: “That was a game that got away, without a doubt.
“We created pretty much the opportunities in the second half and then gifted them a really easy try towards the end, having butchered I don’t know how many chances.
“The fact is we’re creating a huge amount of opportunities – we’ve just got to nail them. The boys played with a lot of heart but you’ve got to have that accuracy as well.”
With former England playmaker Toby Flood cleverly orchestrating affairs at fly-half, Falcons swiftly set about putting their recent troubles behind them during a vibrant start.
Sure enough, they led in the third minute when a deft offload from hooker George McGuigan found Tom Arscott advancing at pace. The full-back drove at the heart of the defence and showed intelligence to send the supporting Josh Matavesi under the posts.
Flood’s conversion made it 7-0 but Toulon steadied themselves and replied two minutes later when wing Daniel Ikpefan sauntered through a gap in Newcastle’s rearguard.
The try was given, despite home protestations of an obstruction in the build-up, and Louis Carbonel’s boot levelled at 7-7.
Still Newcastle continued to probe with Flood prepared, and indeed primed, to find willing runners with a succession of clever passes.
Toulon could have easily buckled in the face of such pressure, which should really have harvested more than a Flood penalty which put Newcastle 10-7 ahead. Instead, the French visitors held firm and went to produce an exhilarating second try through imposing wing Filipo Nakosi.
Josua Tuisova broke from midfield inside the left channel and found Nakosi with a neat pass which sent the Fijian wideman past an outpaced Newcastle defence on a diagonal run into the left corner.
For Toulon it was the classic scam – stay calm under pressure and hit the enemy when they are least expecting it.
Full-back Mathieu Smaili was denied a try shortly before half-time when he knocked on just as he looked to ground the ball in the right corner.
But Newcastle kept within range and two tries in quick succession in the closing stages – Nemani Nagusa touched down and Michael Young scarpered over moments later – put them on course for a memorable win.
But Toulon were not to be denied as they advanced upfield and claimed a winning try from replacement hooker Soury’s close-range effort with Anthony Belleau converting.