Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Cockerill kicks off with victory, Racing back in the mix

By Alex Fisher
Ma'a Nonu

Richard Cockerill’s tenure as interim Toulon head coach got off to a winning start as they beat Toulouse 33-23 to keep their Top 14 play-off hopes in tact.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cockerill replaced Mike Ford in the dugout for the visit of Toulouse and he got the reaction he wanted as the hosts ran in three tries to hold onto fourth place in the table.

Ma’a Nonu grabbed Toulon’s third score after Guilhem Guirado and a penalty try after Maxime Medard’s yellow card had given them a first-half advantage.

It was the boot of Leigh Halfpenny that proved vital, though, as the Wales full-back kept the scoreboard ticking over with three penalties and three successful conversions.

Census Johnston crossed late on for the visitors but it was too little, too late as Toulon kept in touch with third-placed Montpellier.

Reigning champions Racing 92 are also in the hunt for a top-six finish after surviving a late scare to beat Pau 34-32, the Paris club nearly throwing away a 26-point lead in the second half.

First-half tries from Joe Rokocoko, Juan Imhoff and Ben Tameifuna seemed to have given them total control of proceedings, with Dan Carter kicking 12 points as they went into the break 27-8 ahead.

That lead was stretched to 34-8 through Henry Chavancy after the restart, but Pau came storming back to earn a losing bonus point and would have won had Brandon Fajardo been more accurate from the tee.

ADVERTISEMENT

Taniela Moa began their revival on the hour with Watisoni Votu, Romain Buros and Daniel Ramsay all touching down to give Racing a scare.

However, Fajardo could only convert two of the four tries and that proved costly as Racing moved up to seventh, level with fifth-placed Pau and Castres.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Roc Nation ahead of his Kansas visit Louis Rees-Zammit signs for Roc Nation ahead of his Kansas visit
Search