Toulon stunned Stade Français 33-30, while there were also wins for Castres, Bordeaux, Pau, La Rochelle, Lyon and Toulouse in the French Top 14.
Toulon are a team under immense pressure after a set of unsatisfactory results for a club of its stature. But despite a lack of control in this match, they did well to stay within range of Stade on the scoreboard before striking a telling blow in the dying seconds of the match to seal an exciting victory.
Stade dominated the opening half, and while they created several scoring opportunities, they only scored one try through Hendre Stassen. The other wasted chances proved costly in the end.
Toulon responded with a converted try and a penalty of their own as the sides went into the break level at 10-10.
Toulon made a fast start to the second half, scoring 10 points in the opening 10 minutes to take the lead, but Nicolas Sanchez kept Stade in the contest with a self-converted try and a penalty to lock the scores up again, before Stassen’s second try put them in front. Another three-pointer either way left Stade leading 30-23 with three minutes remaining.
But then Louis Carbonel dotted down in the 77th minute to make it a two-point game before Filipo Nakosi, brother of Josua Tuisova, turned the match on its head with a try in the last minute to hand Toulon victory.
In other results, Castres upset the ill-disciplined Clermont 24-16, Bordeaux edged Agen 25-17, former All Black Colin Slade kicked 20 points to inspire Pau to a 30-24 away win over Perpignan, La Rochelle inflicted an agonising 27-25 defeat on Montpellier, Lyon lashed Racing 32-11, and Toulouse were too good for Grenoble as they claimed a 29-16 triumph.
Round 15 results:
Toulon 33 Stade Français 30
Castres 24 Clermont 16
Bordeaux 25 Agen 17
Perpignan 24 Pau 30
La Rochelle 27 Montpellier 25
Lyon 32 Racing 11
Toulouse 29 Grenoble 16
