Two first-half tries from South African Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe set Toulouse on the road to a 39-23 win over French Top 14 title rivals La Rochelle on Saturday.
Toulouse bounce back
Thomas Ramos kicked 24 points as the home side bounced back in style after their opening defeat at Clermont last week ahead of facing Ulster in the Champions Cup quarter-finals next Sunday.
“We score pretty much 40 points but we concede too many. Last week we conceded 33, it’s too much,” Ramos said in reference to his side’s 33-30 loss to Clermont. “It’s important that we won today, we can prepare to host Ulster with a bit more confidence,” he added.
Inspired by Cheslin Kolbe
Kolbe’s opener came after eight minutes when France full-back Ramos found him in space to allow the Springbok an easy run-in to the line.
Kolbe’s performance was in stark contrast to that of fellow Bok Handre Pollard who was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury during Montpellier’s defeat at Racing 92 on Friday.
La Rochelle hit back after 20 minutes when hooker Pierre Bourgarit scurried through for a try and the conversion by Ihaia West, plus a penalty, brought the scores level at 10-10.
Kolbe, though, put his stamp on the match with his second try just after the half-hour, stepping in off the right touchline to burst through a series of limp tackles and touch down beside the posts.
Leading 20-10 at the break, Toulouse added another penalty before La Rochelle came again with a try from South African full-back Dillyn Leyds.
But the boot of Ramos, who kicked three conversions and six penalties, was remorseless and Sofiane Guitone’s try two minutes from time added the gloss to Toulouse’s first win of the season.
© Agence France-Presse
