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Reigning champions Toulon host Bath with both sides aiming to make up ground on pool five leaders Wasps. - 07/01/2016 14:41
Reigning champions Toulon host Bath with both sides aiming to make up ground on pool five leaders Wasps.
Wasps have opened up a six-point lead over both clubs thanks to a superb campaign in Europe, which included a stunning 32-6 victory over Toulon at the Ricoh Arena.
This weekend’s rescheduled fixture between Toulon and Bath has become must-win for both sides if they plan to usurp Wasps and become pool five winners to ensure the vital home quarter-final.
Toulon have yet to hit the sort of form that has seen them win European rugby’s premier cup competition for the last three seasons and are currently fourth in France’s Top 14.
They just survived a late fightback from Pau in their last outing in the league and went down 31-8 at Toulouse the week before, adding extra pressure to their star-studded squad as they welcome Bath on Sunday.
Bath are themselves in a run of stuttering form having lost two of their last three matches in all competitions but head coach Mike Ford insists he is relishing taking his side to the Stade Félix Mayol.
Ford said: “The excitement of playing the best team in Europe in a hostile environment is why you play the game.Do I believe we can win? Of course I do. I can't wait to see them play.
“Toulon are a fantastic side but that is the fixture I would want.
“One with a bit of fear and one where we have to play well, prepare well and have to play well as an individual for us to have a chance of winning.
“If we can go to Toulon and perform well and get a win, then we can quickly change the momentum we are on.”
Frederic Michalak came off the bench to mark his first game in the Champions Cup this season with the match winning penalty for reigning champions RC Toulon. - 10/01/2016 17:49
Frederic Michalak came off the bench to mark his first game in the Champions Cup this season with the match winning penalty for reigning champions RC Toulon.
The former French international’s 75 minute penalty gave the home side the lead for the first time in the match at 12-9 and allowed them to move to within two points of the Pool 5 leaders Wasps, who they meet at Stade Felix-Mayol in round five on Sunday.
The narrow triumph made it 17 successive home wins for Toulon and they have also won two European Cup semi-finals at Stade Velodrome, in Marseille. If Wasps want to stay on top of the pool then they will need to succeed where everyone else has failed this weekend.
England outside half George Ford gave Bath the lead for the first time in the second minute with a penalty and then twice more regained the lead with drop goals. He pushed a third drop goal attempt from 35 metres just wide of the mark.
Eric Escande, the home scrum half, kicked two out of three penalties to keep his side in the hunt and the game was tied at 6-6 at half-time. Escande then replied to Ford’s drop goal at the start of the second half with his third penalty.
Bath, who had been beaten in Newcastle in the Aviva Premiership the previous weekend, gave away 15 penalties in the game, the last won coming after Toulon had driven a line-out deep into their 22 to draw an offside decision from Irish referee George Clancy.
Bath now have a trip to Dublin to meet Leinster in round five before they get their chance of revenge when Toulon visit The Recreation Ground in the final round.
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