Toulon get off mark as Bath stun Wasps late on

Reigning champions Toulon gave themselves a European Champions Cup lifeline with a 24-9 win over Leinster on Sunday.
Having lost heavily 32-6 to Wasps in their opening Pool 5 clash, Toulon needed a win at home to keep themselves in the hunt against fellow three-time former winners Leinster, whose third defeat in a row now effectively all but ends their interest in the competition this year.

Wasps stayed top of the pool but George Ford kicked a last-gasp conversion to Anthony Watson's try to give the visitors a 25-23 victory at their English Premiership rivals.

English flanker Steffon Armitage scored two tries as Toulon scrum-half Eric Escande kicked 14 points compared to just nine from the boot of Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton.

"It was a tough first half. We had something to prove after the first game, we just wanted to show we've got what it takes to go far," Armitage told BT Sport.

Leinster started in determined fashion with Sexton kicking two penalties in the first five minutes.
Toulon were quick to respond, though, when Matt Giteau chose to kick a penalty to the corner and the powerful French pack did the rest, winning their line-out and then driving Armitage over for a try that Escande converted.

But after Escande and Sexton exchanged penalties, Toulon could not make anything of a numerical advantage after Ireland prop Cian Healy was sin-binned, as a drab half of rugby ended 10-9 to the hosts.

Ireland lock Devin Toner was also yellow-carded early in the second period and this time Escande kicked two penalties to punish the ill-disciplined visitors.

Escande notched another penalty before Tom Denton stupidly picked up a third yellow card for Leinster with 30 seconds left.

Toulon kicked to the corner and Armitage drove through a ragged Irish defence for his second try.
- Broken hearts -

Watson scored four minutes beyond the final hooter as Bath broke Wasps hearts in Coventry, with the hosts down to 13 men at the time.

Bath struck twice in the first half through Jonathan Joseph's opportunism and clever dummy before Matt Banahan exchanged passes with Nikola Matawalu to race clear down the left.

Wasps stayed in touch through the boot of Ruaridh Jackson to trail just 15-12 at the break.

Ford and Jackson traded penalties before the game swung Wasps' way on 59 minutes after a sweeping team move from left to right saw full-back Rob Miller slide over in the corner to give Wasps the lead.
 penalty from Jimmy Gopperth five minutes from time seemed to have sealed the win but Watson and Ford had the last laugh.

Saracens continued their perfect start to the season with a thumping 45-10 defeat of French minnows Oyonnax.

The English champions maintained their stranglehold of Pool A with a bonus-point victory after scoring six tries that left them nine points clear of Ulster, who thrashed record four-time champions Toulouse 38-0 on Friday night and have a game in hand.

It was a ninth straight win in all competitions for Sarries who also lead the English Premiership after a perfect six from six start in domestic competition.

But the game finished on a slightly sour note for Saracens, who revealed after the match that their forwards coach Paul Gustard has been offered a coaching role with England under new Australian boss Eddie Jones.

First-half tries from Alex Goode and Chris Wyles, as well as a penalty try, saw Saracens turn around leading 24-3 at the break.

Maro Itoje landed the bonus point fourth try before Richard Wigglesworth added number five.

Oyonnax replacement scrum-half Arthur Aziza claimed a well-deserved try late on for the persistent hosts, although Sarries still had the last word when South African Schalk Brits burrowed over.

On Saturday, New Zealand legend Dan Carter made his Racing 92 debut as the French side brushed aside Northampton 33-3 in Pool 3.

French champions Stade Francais thrashed Treviso 50-17, Leicester won 31-19 at Munster while Exeter produced the performance of the day, though, in beating last season's finalists Clermont 31-14.
Source: AFP