Monday, December 17, 2012
Toulon turn it on at home with thrashing of Sale Sharks
Toulon delivered a nine try thrashing of Sale Sharks at Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday evening, handing the visitors their heaviest defeat in the history of the Heineken Cup. Oozing with local and foreign talent, the French side won the game 62-0.
Sale defended manfully in the first half as two attempted tries weren't awarded, but once the dam broke, it was a dazzling 50 minutes of rugby as Toulon scored seven tries in the second half.
They, along with Clermont and Harlequins, have made it four from four and will now focus on domestic silverware ahead of the tournament resuming again early in 2013.
It was a lowpoint for Sale, who now have former All Blacks coach John Mitchell on board.
"We were coming here looking to build on the previous performance at home but that wasn’t achieved and we are very disappointed," said Mitchell, who joined from the Gauteng Lions.
"I've been looking at this group of players ahead of the Christmas period and I certainly know a lot more about some individuals after that performance. Some of the characters have been revealed and I don’t have a lot of choice in some positions.
"But we don’t have any regrets – we got what we deserved. Toulon were exceptional," he said.
On a sidenote, an emotional moment's silence was held at the beginning of the game for former Sale player David Tait, who tragically lost his life in Hong Kong last week. May he rest in peace.
Posted at 12:34 pm | 37 comments
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Viewing 37 comments
Fettsack December 17, 2012 2:57 pm
Wow! Every risky offload, back of the hand pass and kick was perfectly done by Toulon. To add to that I think Bakkies should have been awarded a try at the beginning.
Horrible swan dive from van Niekerk on his second try.
Horrible swan dive from van Niekerk on his second try.
stroudos December 18, 2012 10:44 am
Yep, I don't have a big problem with swan dives, but swan dives where the guy totally bottles out of it, lands on his knees and clatters into the ground like an action man doll thrown from a pram are just insufferable.
Guy December 17, 2012 3:05 pm
Looks like the entire Sale squad had tackle training from Cipriani.
Well done Toulon, based on the amount of (correctly) disallowed tries, the score could have been 20 points higher or so.
Well done Toulon, based on the amount of (correctly) disallowed tries, the score could have been 20 points higher or so.
Pretzel December 17, 2012 5:19 pm
It would have to ring alarm bells for Sale early on to have all those disallowed tries... the fact that Toulon got that close to even GET a disallowed try is worrying...then the barrage of tries later on... Must have been a tough day.
Sam7 December 17, 2012 3:36 pm
How embarrassing for Sale, all the pre-season talk about them was just that.
katman December 17, 2012 4:16 pm
Welcome John Mitchell.
He's fast running out of places to go now.
He's fast running out of places to go now.
Colombes December 17, 2012 5:02 pm
Boom! Total rugby
For the moment, i don't see much team (apart maybe clermont) who can follow the rhythm of Toulon in top14 or Hcup
For the moment, i don't see much team (apart maybe clermont) who can follow the rhythm of Toulon in top14 or Hcup
D-Matt December 17, 2012 7:08 pm
Well for the moment, the 2 teams who have beaten Toulon this year are Toulouse and Clermont.
Toulouse shouldn't be buried so fastly...
Toulouse shouldn't be buried so fastly...
4LC4TR4Z December 17, 2012 5:18 pm
Harlequins, Ulster, Clermont and Toulouse are in a high pace too.
Montpellier lie in ambush for the moment.
Winter is coming :P
Only spring will tell the truth...
A long way to go.
Bakkies Botha out for 2 months, orbital bone broken.
Montpellier lie in ambush for the moment.
Winter is coming :P
Only spring will tell the truth...
A long way to go.
Bakkies Botha out for 2 months, orbital bone broken.
RedYeti December 17, 2012 5:27 pm
Steffon Armitage is involved in practically every play in every Toulon highlight reel I see. What does the man have to do to get into the England squad?!
matt December 17, 2012 8:04 pm
Move back to England, he has been told enough times, so it seems like he has made his choice
alasdairduncan3 December 17, 2012 6:01 pm
That second disallowed try was on the line clear as day!
I'd love to see how Toulon would do playing in a Southern Hemisphere competition, they reallydo play some exciting rugby.
I'd love to see how Toulon would do playing in a Southern Hemisphere competition, they reallydo play some exciting rugby.
4LC4TR4Z December 17, 2012 6:30 pm
@ RedYeti :
according to Stuart Lancaster, he got to be fitter.
But Stuart ain't got no TV and no internet at home, only... pigeons and white birds, you know...
according to Stuart Lancaster, he got to be fitter.
But Stuart ain't got no TV and no internet at home, only... pigeons and white birds, you know...
veji1 December 17, 2012 6:45 pm
As a regular viewer of TOP14 rugby I must say it is baffling that Steffon Armitage isn't in the english squad. The guy is everywhere, not only is he the first support on offense but he just does an amazing work in the ruck. Honestly he has been so far the best player in the TOP14, for the second season in a row.
Ottawa Rugger December 17, 2012 7:11 pm
I am amazed at Toulon's ability to make plays out of complete disorganization. I am also amazed at how poorly Sale is doing in all competitions. I think their campaign(s) in the Premiership, Anglo-Welsh Cup, and Heineken Cup are effectively over. Relegation in the Premiership is highly likely at this point.
ollie December 17, 2012 7:44 pm
Good to see that we can finally put the Cipriani debate to bed. Chip kick through was terrible, and the lack of effort to make up for his mistake showed exactly why he should not be playing for England. Unfortunately this was symptomatic of Sale - sad to see them give up like that.
DanKnapp December 18, 2012 7:16 pm
There was in my household. I said shoot, my wife said shag.
matt December 17, 2012 8:06 pm
I would like to see more of the tackle at 5:42, the toulon player brings the ball to the line, passes and then is flattened by a late shoulder from Sale no.20, given the recent eagerness to cite players surely this should go too?
Pretzel December 18, 2012 3:26 am
Yeh me too, shoulder charges could lead to whiplash, or broken necks and therefore the death of players!
browner December 18, 2012 5:54 am
but what about back in the old days Prez..... biff bash bosh, stamp !
Jon December 18, 2012 11:34 am
Yeah that was clearly dangerous. I think 8 to 10 red cards and a ban for three years for 75% of the players on the field.
Got to stop this thuggery.
Got to stop this thuggery.
Pretzel December 18, 2012 1:02 pm
No browner, we must accept that the old days were nothing but thuggery. One must detach ones balls in order to play todays game....right? Thats what you've been saying for the last few weeks isn't it?
Reality December 17, 2012 9:42 pm
Can anyone explain to me why they have that strange ritual thing before the start of their matches? From the look of the guys, and the nature of it, I can only assume that it's some Maori thing, but in spite of the large, large number of New Zealanders they've had play for them, a Maori ritual seems a bit far for a France club. So what is it?
kadova December 17, 2012 9:54 pm
It's called the "Pilou-Pilou" and it's sung before each match at the stadium.
This was a song created by a former rugby player named Marcel Bodrero at the end of the 40s. It's used today to warm-up the crowd before the matches. This has nothing to do with Maori culture.
This was a song created by a former rugby player named Marcel Bodrero at the end of the 40s. It's used today to warm-up the crowd before the matches. This has nothing to do with Maori culture.
Reality December 17, 2012 10:52 pm
And why do they have face-paint, or tattoos, or whatever it is? That's what made me think it was a Maori thing.
Colombes December 18, 2012 12:12 pm
Good point.
As said before, the "pilou-pilou" is a popular song invented by a RCT player in the 40's, not a haka
the maori tattoos have nothing to do with the song, more with the current singer (on the left) who may appreciates the maori culture. the guy on the right is a french actor, fan of the RCT, and personally i find him a bit ridicule.
As said before, the "pilou-pilou" is a popular song invented by a RCT player in the 40's, not a haka
the maori tattoos have nothing to do with the song, more with the current singer (on the left) who may appreciates the maori culture. the guy on the right is a french actor, fan of the RCT, and personally i find him a bit ridicule.
kadova December 17, 2012 9:56 pm
I believes the try by Bakkies Botha should have been awarded. In slow motion i see the ball on the line.
katman December 17, 2012 10:01 pm
I see Bakkies has fractured his eye socket and will be out for at least two months.
browner December 18, 2012 5:52 am
Wow , the pass from Wilkinson - such power , England miss such space awareness & creativity
4LC4TR4Z December 18, 2012 9:33 am
The guy that usually shout the Pilou-Pilou (the 1st to shout) is a real tatooist and I suppose he's making a bit of commercial for his shop with the fake face tatoo on TV.
The second man who shout here is Charles Berling, a theatre comedian and Toulon native, who owns a theater in town and he's just a one shot guest by Boudjellal for the media hype. Other french "people" come to shout the Pilou.
As written before, the Pilou-Pilou was written in 1948 by fullback Marcel Bodrero during a hangover night (not a legend !), it means nothing and it was just a drunken haka fake for fun.
But Bodrero was a great sport teacher and academy coach for 50 years, and the Pilou-Pilou became the junior and youth victory anthem.
It became a fan shout in 2000 when Toulon was relegated by the LNR.
The LNR threated the club of a huge bill because it was shouted on the stands with a megaphone, and megaphones were forbidden in stadium (weirdly only in Toulon, not in Agen or Biarritz then...)
So, to piss off the LNR, the club decided to shout it with a mike. So more than one stand could shout it.
And paid 15.000€ fine for years, before the LNR finally let it shout.
The second man who shout here is Charles Berling, a theatre comedian and Toulon native, who owns a theater in town and he's just a one shot guest by Boudjellal for the media hype. Other french "people" come to shout the Pilou.
As written before, the Pilou-Pilou was written in 1948 by fullback Marcel Bodrero during a hangover night (not a legend !), it means nothing and it was just a drunken haka fake for fun.
But Bodrero was a great sport teacher and academy coach for 50 years, and the Pilou-Pilou became the junior and youth victory anthem.
It became a fan shout in 2000 when Toulon was relegated by the LNR.
The LNR threated the club of a huge bill because it was shouted on the stands with a megaphone, and megaphones were forbidden in stadium (weirdly only in Toulon, not in Agen or Biarritz then...)
So, to piss off the LNR, the club decided to shout it with a mike. So more than one stand could shout it.
And paid 15.000€ fine for years, before the LNR finally let it shout.
stroudos December 18, 2012 10:25 am
Nice one. Some brilliant background info there.
Just thought I'd add the words here for the uninitiated - quite easy to imagine this being written by someone on a big drink-up and taking the piss out of the Haka!!
Ah ! Nous les terribles guerriers du Pilou-Pilou
Qui descendons de la Montagne vers la Mer
(Pilou-Pilou !)
Avec nos femmes échevelées allaitant nos enfants
Sous l'ombre des grands cocotiers blancs
(Pilou-Pilou !)
Nous les terribles guerriers poussons notre terrible cri de guerre
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !)
J'ai dit NOTRE TERRIBLE CRI DE GUERRE !
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !)
Parce que TOULON
(ROUGE !)
Parce que TOULON
(NOIR !)
Parce que TOULON
(ROUGE ET NOIR!)
English translation:
Ah! We are the ruthless Pilou-Pilou warriors
Coming down from the mountain to the sea
(Pilou-Pilou!)
With our dishevelled women breastfeeding our children
Under the shade of the great white coconut trees
(Pilou-Pilou!)
We the ruthless warriors sing our ruthless war cry
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH!)
I said our our RUTHLESS WAR CRY!
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH!)
Because Tou-lon
(RED!)
Because Tou-lon
(BLACK!)
Because Tou-lon
(RED AND BLACK!)
Just thought I'd add the words here for the uninitiated - quite easy to imagine this being written by someone on a big drink-up and taking the piss out of the Haka!!
Ah ! Nous les terribles guerriers du Pilou-Pilou
Qui descendons de la Montagne vers la Mer
(Pilou-Pilou !)
Avec nos femmes échevelées allaitant nos enfants
Sous l'ombre des grands cocotiers blancs
(Pilou-Pilou !)
Nous les terribles guerriers poussons notre terrible cri de guerre
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !)
J'ai dit NOTRE TERRIBLE CRI DE GUERRE !
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !)
Parce que TOULON
(ROUGE !)
Parce que TOULON
(NOIR !)
Parce que TOULON
(ROUGE ET NOIR!)
English translation:
Ah! We are the ruthless Pilou-Pilou warriors
Coming down from the mountain to the sea
(Pilou-Pilou!)
With our dishevelled women breastfeeding our children
Under the shade of the great white coconut trees
(Pilou-Pilou!)
We the ruthless warriors sing our ruthless war cry
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH!)
I said our our RUTHLESS WAR CRY!
(AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH!)
Because Tou-lon
(RED!)
Because Tou-lon
(BLACK!)
Because Tou-lon
(RED AND BLACK!)
4LC4TR4Z December 18, 2012 9:43 am
About the newspaper throwing in Toulon,
It's another thing with the war with LNR and Serge Blanco.
In 2009, Serge Blanco liked to hate Toulon in newspapers, "Toulon never won anything", "Money for nothing", "rugby values", etc... etc...
You got to remember than Blanco played only 1 french domestic final with Biarritz in 1992, it was his farewell and last game, and... Toulon won it. Since then, the great player became a fat and frustrated rugby CEO...
So, in 2009, when Biarritz came in Toulon, with a good old referee choosen by ... Blanco, they were leading the score but finally lose because Toulon scored 2 tries in the last minutes.
And since that day, newspapers flew...
It's another thing with the war with LNR and Serge Blanco.
In 2009, Serge Blanco liked to hate Toulon in newspapers, "Toulon never won anything", "Money for nothing", "rugby values", etc... etc...
You got to remember than Blanco played only 1 french domestic final with Biarritz in 1992, it was his farewell and last game, and... Toulon won it. Since then, the great player became a fat and frustrated rugby CEO...
So, in 2009, when Biarritz came in Toulon, with a good old referee choosen by ... Blanco, they were leading the score but finally lose because Toulon scored 2 tries in the last minutes.
And since that day, newspapers flew...
4LC4TR4Z December 18, 2012 10:48 am
That was that game : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph6eFiyRo5Y
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