Toulon made it five league wins from seven as they dispatched basement club SCA Albi 41-13 to consolidate their own top six standing.

Philippe Saint-André’s side scored four tries as they maintained their upward mobility, but still missed out on a bonus point as the visitors managed two of their own, including Benjamin Lapeyre’s seventh-minute effort to open the game’s scoring.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson then landed five penalties in 18 minutes as Albi’s ill-discipline cost them dear, before winger Christian Loamanu powered over for the hosts just before the interval. That gave Toulon a 22-8 lead, and they were soon further ahead after Argentine player of the year Juan Manuel Fernandez Lobbe crossed in the 47th minute.

Wilkinson duly converted both tries, and was on target again eight minutes from time when prop Saimone Taumoepeau grabbed Toulon’s third score of the evening. The England golden boy then waltzed off for a deserved rest after landing all eight of his attempted kicks to end with a personal match haul of 21 points. There was still time for Fotu Auelua to cross in the final minute – with Felipe Contepomi slotting the conversion this time, but it still wasn’t enough to earn the attacking bonus thanks to a 63rd-minute try from Albi’s American sub Matekitonga Moeakiola. The away side didn’t help themselves by having two players sin-binned – Frederic Manca and Thomas Vervoort – although Toulon weren’t entirely blameless in that department with Gabriele Lovobalavu also seeing yellow.

French Rugby Club