Mark Van Gisbergen kept his cool to slot an 87th minute penalty that gave London Wasps a last gasp draw against reigning champions Toulouse – and a lifeline in Pool 6.

Toulouse, who arrived seeking to make it eight wins in a row in the tournament, scored two great tries, but conceded a penalty five metres out from their own line after their scrum collapsed.


That gave Wasps an agonising decision to take. Should they go for the draw via Van Gisbergen’s boot, or shoot for a win by taking the scrum?


Alain Rolland told acting skipper John Hart that the scrum would be the last play of the match and Director of Rugby Iain McGeechan gave the signal from the side to go for goal.


“The Pool is now 7-5-4-3 and it is all to play for” said McGeechan.


“If it had been 9-5-4-1, with Toulouse out in front, there would have been nothing to play for.


“We called it from the touchline and we were happy to see the kick go over.


“It was probably our best performance upfront this season and the reason we were still in the game at the end was because of the massive effort from the forwards. 


Three Van Gisbergen penalties, the last on the stroke of half-time, meant Wasps had their noses in front at the break. A try for Gareth Thomas, diving under Alex King as he followed a Trevor Brennan kick ahead was converted by Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde to give Toulouse their only first half points.


Ellisalde missed with three penalties and a conversion in the game and wing Cedric Heymans was also wide from the half way mark, as the champions’ goal-kicking left a lot to be desired.  


Toulouse hit the front for a second time nine minutes into the second half when they conjured up a brilliant try for wing Vincent Clerc.


Fabien Pelous won the lineout Yannick Jauzion made the break and man of the match Jean Bouilou and Thomas linked to send Clerc in for the try.


Van Gisbergen levelled the scores after 53 minute with his fourth penalty, but Frederic Michalak responded immediately with a wide-angled drop goal after Toulouse had regathered from the restart


Toulouse clung on to their lead deep into injury time and looked likely to win the game – and notch a first win over Wasps in three attempts.


But a loose kick by Michalak into the home 22 allowed Wasps to break out through Paul Sackey and his long kick and chase forced Toulouse to concede that last fatal scrum.