By TOM JEFFREYS
Toulouse…………………………………31
Tries: Meafou 6, Ramos 9, 77; Penalty 29, Malia 68
Conversions: Ramos 11, 78
Bath…………………………………………19
Tries: Obano 14, du Toit 23, Lawrence 39
Conversions: Spencer 15, 40+1
Late tries from Juan Cruz Malia and Thomas Ramos sealed a win for Toulouse that condemned Bath to an away round of 16 tie.
Either side needed a solitary bonus point to secure home knockout fixtures, but Toulouse had top seed status on the mind.
They led twice in the first half thanks to tries from Emmanuel Meafou, Thomas Ramos and a penalty try, but scores from Beno Obano, Thomas du Toit, and Ollie Lawrence took Bath to 19-19 at half time.
The latter, wearing 12 for the first time since last August, was excellent both sides of the ball, but his side were unable to capitalise upon 20 minutes of red-zone territory in the second half.
They were held up at one point by the standout Jack Willis who was a constant nuisance at the breakdown, which gave Toulouse the platform to score a quick second half double and seal victory.
Toulouse started at their typical breakneck speed, receiving a kick outside their own 22 on the third minute mark and instinctively looking to attack. 22 consecutive phases of immaculate rugby followed as they worked their way to Bath’s try line, with new France call up Emmanuel Meafou using his 145kg frame to eventually crash over.
An Antoine Dupont linebreak was important for the first try, but his intervention in the second was crucial. A second Jack Willis turnover was quick tapped by the mercurial Dupont, who then grubbered forward for Thomas Ramos to chase, control smoothly, and score in the corner to put Toulouse 12-0 up in front of a vibrant home crowd.
Defying a feeling that Toulouse might run away with it, Bath found themselves ten metres out with a lineout, and a feigned maul allowed Beno Obano to trundle over.
Bath continued their good work in the tight to score again, resorting to pick and goes following a well-defended maul. Few players are as prolific as Thomas du Toit in this area of the game, and it was no surprise when the South African tighthead burrowed under the Toulouse defence to equalise.
Refusing to allow momentum to sway entirely onto the Bath side, Toulouse began wreaking havoc at the Bath ruck, with three jackals in quick succession producing a ten metre lineout attack. Charlie Ewels collapsed the rampant Toulouse pack illegally, resulting in a penalty try, yellow card, and the hosts restoring their lead.
Having negotiated the sin bin period proficiently, Bath capitalised on the last act of the half in clinical fashion with Ollie Lawrence cutting a superb line and finishing powerfully to get his side back in front.
With both sides just one try away from the coveted home knockout match, defences shut up shop. It was Bath, however, in the ascendancy for the first 15 minutes of the half despite a disallowed runaway try for Juan Cruz Malia.
Several visits to the 22 were fruitless, most crucially when Jack Willis hinged himself under Beno Obano to hold up a try, before jackalling the consequent counter attack in trademark fashion to release the pressure valve.
The next attack was muted when Chris Cloete was penalised for a poor clearout, but the stray body in his path mitigated him out of a yellow card. The incident proved crucial nonetheless, as it signalled an end to Bath’s stay in Toulouse territory.
A scrum in opposition territory eventually gave Toulouse the platform to attack in the 68th minute, allowing Thomas Ramos to spread the ball wide to Malia with a magnificent pass. The Argentine was able to canter over unopposed to give his side the all important bonus point.
Ramos then turned scorer upon Toulouse’s next attack. As was the theme of the day, Toulouse were attacking off field position created by Jack Willis turnover ball – this from his fourth jackal – and Ramos latched on to a typically sneaky Dupont grubber to score.
Ramos’ try put 31-19 up and crucially, revoked Bath of their bonus point with seconds to spare. A brilliant Finn Russell 50/22 wasn’t capitalised upon, sealing victory and top seed status for Toulouse. For Bath, an away knockout tie awaits.
Toulouse: Kinghorn; Mallia, Delibes, Ahki, Lebel; Ramos, Dupont (capt); Baille, Mauvaka, Aldegheri, Arnold, Meafou, Cros, Willis, Jelonch.
Replacements: Marchand, Ainu’u, Laulala, Brennan, Placines, Retiere, Guitoune, Capuozzo.
Bath: Gallagher; Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Lawrence, Muir; Russell, Spencer (capt); Obano, Annett, Du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Bayliss, Cloete, Reid.
Replacements: Faiva, Schoeman, Stuart, Stooke, Richards, Schreuder, Bailey, Redpath
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