Another Champions Cup weekend, another stark reminder that the Premiership lags behind its Top 14 rivals with Harlequins falling victim to a turbo-charged Toulon. Quins have claimed some famous scalps on French soil in recent years but, just as Northampton found out 24 hours earlier, cross the Channel without the sort of physicality that is ubiquitous in the Top 14 – “a lot of powerful animals” as the head coach, Danny Wilson, put it – and you will get badly exposed.
As David Ribbans, the former England second row, who swapped Northampton for Toulon after the 2023 World Cup, explained after his side’s comfortable victory on Sunday, the biggest difference between the two leagues is physical prowessity. Wilson did not disagree and though his side can still reach the knockout stages by beating Glasgow Warriors next week, he conceded they will always come to France in hope rather than expectation.
Bristol bounce back to beat Benetton
Bristol fought back from a half-time deficit to post the first victory of their European campaign but controversy shrouded the 35-29 win over Benetton at Ashton Gate.
Benetton appeared to have run in a late try through Rhyno Smith which, if converted, would have denied the Bears, but referee Luc Ramos saw a marginal obstruction earlier in the move and ruled it out.
Ramos’s decision keeps Bristol in contention to reach the knockout phase but they must win at Clermont on Saturday to have any chance of progressing.
The Bears trailed 17-14 at the interval but took charge in the third quarter with Max Lahiff, Harry Thacker and Kieran Marmion (pictured) touching down to add to early tries from James Williams and Marmion.
Bristol had rung the changes for the game, including giving Ireland fly-half Harry Byrne his first start following his arrival on loan from Leinster, and it had taken time for them to click.
But just as they seemed to be cruising towards the finishing line and with big hitters such as Ellis Genge, Steven Luatua and Harry Randall arriving off the bench, Benetton hit back.
Italy centre Nacho Brex was becoming an increasingly influential figure through his carrying and handling and in the 68th minute he slipped a clever pass to Tommaso Menoncello, who produced a dynamic finish.
The gap was now just six points and Brex showed his class again in the 77th minute through the timing of his pass out of the back, but after repeat viewings of the move Ramos judged there was then an obstruction that prevented Kalaveti Ravouvou from making a tackle and Bristol were saved.
Leinster sealed their 12th successive win in all competitions as they beat La Rochelle 16-14 to move top of Pool 2.
Despite the hosts dominating the first half at the Stade Marcel Deflandre, Leinster went in ahead at half-time, thanks to Joe McCarthy's try.
Two penalties from Sam Prendergast extended their lead, but La Rochelle hit back through Dillyn Leyds. That sent up a tense finale, but a battling defensive effort helped Leinster hold on as they all but secured their place in the last 16. PA Media
By April, after the last eight, it is not inconceivable that the English challenge is limited to the diaspora of players such as Ribbans. At Toulon he is joined by Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlam, and if the squad does not possess as many star names as in their heyday, they pack a considerable punch. Indeed, it is 10 years since Toulon were last crowned champions of Europe but on this evidence, with the sun beating down on the Stade Mayol, the Mediterranean glistening in the distance, their fervent supporters would be forgiven for dreaming again.
“There’s definitely a difference in level of physicality,” said Ribbans. “In the Premiership they still play some really good rugby and some really good shape which maybe isn’t always the case in the Top 14, but in terms of physicality there’s definitely a step up. When you look at teams you are coming up against every week, they are filled with international players. Even ourselves, we are full of England, French internationals. When you train with that and play against that every weekend, it is a different level of physicality.”
Toulon raced into a 26-0 lead at half-time – Baptiste Serin turning in a masterclass from scrum-half – and though they took their foot off the pedal after the break, they had plenty in reserve to nip in the bud a briefly-threatened Harlequins comeback. The visitors finished with three tries, leaving Wilson clinging to the fact his side won the second half 21-7 as a reason for optimism before the visit of Glasgow.
Marcus Smith kept toiling away but found gaps in the Toulon defence hard to come by, while two other England hopefuls, Alex Dombrandt and Cadan Murley, had afternoons they’d rather forget – both players spurning try-scoring opportunities. Dombrandt was also sat on his backside by his opposite number, Facundo Isa, early in the second half – a demonstration of just how much more power Toulon could boast.
Toulon were in the ascendancy from the moment Tyrone Green’s clearance kick was charged down inside the first minute. Sixty seconds later and the hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi was over. It might have been a different story for Harlequins had Murley finished what was admittedly a tricky chance in the left-hand corner soon after, but he was adjudged to have knocked on.
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Harlequins had defended the ensuing 10 minutes manfully but Serin’s dummy from the base of a ruck fooled everybody and he scampered through to dot down. Having left Will Evans out of the starting lineup, Harlequins found the breakdown an uphill battle and when James Chisholm was sent to the sin-bin in the 35th minute for a forearm to Serin’s face, Toulon put the game to bed with another two tries.
First, the mightily impressive flanker Esteban Abadie plunged his way to the try line before Jiuta Wainiqolo profited from a fortunate bounce to rack up the bonus point before the half-time interval. Harlequins should be applauded for their second-half response. Dombrandt really should have gone for the line himself rather than attempt the offload to Murley, but Harlequins were up and running when Smith finally succeeded in creating an opening for Chisholm to gallop into – Will Porter running the supporting line to cruise through under the posts.
When a second came, minutes later, from a well-executed lineout drive, Harlequins’ tails were up, but another flex of the muscles by Toulon, with Gaël Dréan stepping inside off his wing and weaving his way over, put paid to any such ideas. Nick David’s consolation score at the death could only make the scoreline more palatable.
