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Julian Savea in action for RC Toulon against Newcastle Falcons
RC Toulon will be looking to keep a run of four European matches against Montpellier won by the home side intact on Saturday when they clash at Stade Felix-Mayol. The match gets underway at 15:15 GMT and is live on BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.
- Three-time champions, RC Toulon, have lost their last four games in the tournament, and they had never previously lost more than two games in a row in Europe’s top flight.
- Montpellier have lost each of their previous four away games against TOP 14 opposition in the European Cup.
- No player has made more tackles than Montpellier’s Louis Picamoles to date (47/51), however his teammate Wian Liebenberg has made the most of any player yet to miss one (34/34).
- Toulon have already picked up three yellow cards this season, more than any other side.
🎥 Retrouvez le résumé de la conférence de presse d'avant-match @RCTofficiel – @MHR_officiel avec des images de la semaine d'entraînement de nos Rouge et Noir. 🏉 #RCTMHR #ChampionsCup https://t.co/tpPA5Dh7jE
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) December 6, 2018
Anthony Belleau, RC Toulon's leading points-scorer in the European Rugby Challenge Cup this term with 40
Both RC Toulon and Montpellier took try-scoring bonus points from their Heineken Champions Cup Pool 5 clash on Saturday, but it was the home side who came out on top in a 38-28 win at Stade Felix-Mayol.
Toulon made the better start and won a penalty in kicking range, with fly-half Anthony Belleau slotting between the posts to the roars of the vociferous home crowd.
The home side continued to dominate proceedings, playing quicker ball and as a result, forced the infringement from Montpellier. Belleau from long-range again made no mistake from the kicking tee.
A high tackle from Timoci Nagusa then prevented Toulon from going over for a simple try in the corner. As a result, Luke Pearce awarded a penalty try, and sent Nagusa to the sin bin.
FT in France 🏁
A solid win for @RCTofficiel against French rivals @MHR_officiel 🤝#ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/IdfM2X1Q74
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 8, 2018
Just before the interval, the away side won a dangerous scrum inside the Toulon 22, and Ruan Pienaar took the ball down the blind side, bypassing Pietersen and finding Henry Immelman who dived over in the corner. Pienaar, who created the try, slotted over the conversion from an acute angle.
Like the first half though, Toulon started on the front foot and Belleau booted over a penalty kick after advantage was being played by Luke Pearce.
A thoroughly bizarre try for Toulon then followed, after the home side nearly made a mess of an enormous overlap out wide. Eventually the offload – that was confirmed backward by the TMO – reached Raphael Lakafia who dived over the try line.
#RCTMHR pic.twitter.com/puHPHPJRz4
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) December 8, 2018
Montpellier then hit back after a turn over and from nowhere, Francois Steyn sprinted clear from inside his own half, stepped past the sole Toulon defender and sauntered over the try line.
A power-packed driving maul then resulted in Jean Monribot inching his way over the try line, and they crossed again minutes later.
Toulon got their bonus point through Julian Savea who weaved his way past two Montpellier defenders, before firing a pinpoint pass out wide to Filipo Nakosi who dived over in the corner.
Two late tries from Nagusa gave Montpellier a bonus point, but they proved to be nothing more than consolation scores as Toulon cruised to success.
The French sides will meet again next Sunday at 15:15 GMT at GGL Stadium.
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