Former All Black Byron Kelleher celebrated being named last season’s best player in the Top 14 by spurring his Toulouse side to a convincing 30-20 win over Perpignan in the French championship on Saturday.
Perpignan, who will have their own Kiwi star — Dan Carter — playing for them from December, battled gamely early on but ultimately failed to cope with the home side’s pace and incredible strength in depth around the park.
Toulouse move up to third in the Top 14 behind unbeaten Stade Francais and Bayonne, 19-15 winners over Toulon.
PHOTO: AFP
David Skrela knocked over two penalties in answer to a Perpignan try from Julien Candelon in the 14th minute.
Gavin Hume hit a penalty to edge the visitors ahead but Kelleher reinforced his growing star credentials in Toulouse when he finished off a break by flanker Jean Bouilhou, sent searing through the blindside by a smart inside pass from Skrela.
For a while it looked as if Toulouse might run away with the game, but Perpignan hung in there and after some good work by scrum-half Nicolas Durand, No 8 Henry Tuilagi barged his way over for an unconverted try that tied the sides at 13 points apiece.
Toulouse got the second half off to a storming start, Yannick Jauzion crossing for a try after a fine offload by straight-running co-center Florian Fritz. Skrela converted to hand the home side a 20-13 lead.
Skrela then dropped a goal which Perpignan failed to nullify when replacement Jerome Porical’s attempted penalty came back off the upright.
Kelleher was then on hand to set up Cedric Heymans, running laterally from the base of a 5m scrum to drop the replacement full-back off beautifully for a free run in for a try Skrela converted.
Gerrie Britz scored a late consolation try for Perpignan after a great break from Chris Cusiter.
But Kelleher had the final word, sprinting across the pitch as final defender to tap tackle Candelon into touch with the line at his mercy.
“I love playing in the Top 14 and at Toulouse,” the 31-year-old New Zealander said. “The season started earlier and the rest period [between seasons] has been short.”
“Come the weekend and our thoughts will be turned towards the European Cup, which is important for our team,” he said.
In other matches, Bayonne consolidated their good start to the season with a hard-fought 19-15 win over Toulon, a result that will not ease the pressure on the latter’s coach Tana Umaga but saw the Basque side move into second in the table. Bayonne scored an opportunistic try through influential scrum-half Cedric Garcia, with the rest of the points coming from the boot of Manny Edmonds.
Toulon, largely outpowered up front, saw Damien Vidal kick two drop-goals and two penalties, Ramiro Pez also nailing a late penalty. Clermont stormed to a 32-6 win over Biarritz, scoring four tries in a purple 20 minutes in the first half to seal an impressive victory.
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