Toulouse fight back to sink Gloucester
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: The European Champions Cup returned with a bang on Friday as Toulouse turned around a 9-20 half-time deficit to eventually defeat Gloucester 25-20 at Kingsholm Stadium.
Gloucester raced into the lead after a brace of tries from scrumhalf Joe Simpson but Toulouse were able to hit back in emphatic fashion with a string of successful kicks from fullback Thomas Ramos and centre Romain Ntamack as well as a try from scrumhalf Sebastien Bezy.
The French side took the lead in the Pool Five match after just two minutes through a drop goal from flyhalf Zack Holmes, who was replaced at the interval.
However, Toulouse would be caught out twice in quick succession conceding turnover ball, reaching Simpson on both occasions and he made no mistake, darting clear and evading tackles to put Gloucester 14-3 ahead after 20 minutes, with flyhalf Danny Cipriani converting both.
The sides exchanged two penalty kicks before the interval to leave Gloucester 20-9 up at the break, but that was as good as it got for the English side.
Toulouse responded terrifically in the second period, chipping away at the lead with further penalty kicks from Ntamack and Ramos before scrumhalf Bezy dealt the decisive blow.
The French side’s forwards did most of the damage, driving close to the tryline before Bezy burrowed his way over at the posts, giving Ramos the easiest of conversions and pushing Toulouse ahead for just the second time.
It would stay that way as Ramos nudged Toulouse five ahead from the kicking tee with 12 minutes to play and despite a late Gloucester onslaught, the French side clung on for a crucial away success.
Gloucester travel to Montpellier for their Round Two clash next week in Pool Five, while Toulouse will host Connacht.
The scorers:
For Gloucester:
Tries: Simpson 2
Cons: Cipriani 2
Pens: Cipriani 2
For Toulouse:
Try: Bézy
Con: Ramos
Pens: Ramos 4, Ntamack
DG: Holmes
Teams:
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Ben Morgan (captain), 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jake Polledri, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Matt Banahan.
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Sofiane Guitoune, 12 Romain Ntamack, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Joe Tekori, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Julien Marchand (captain), 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Clément Castets, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Richie Gray, 20 Selevasio Tolofua, 21 Alban Placines, 22 Pierre Pages, 23 Lucas Tauzin.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)
TMO: Ian Davies (Wales)
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