Toulouse slipped to their first home loss of the Top 14 season on Sunday when Montpellier grabbed a 31-29 win, although they were left to rue a last-minute missed conversion, which would have salvaged a draw.
The result left Toulouse in fifth place on 44 points, seven behind leaders Toulon, while Montpellier are in the sixth and final playoff spot on 41 points.
They almost snatched a share of the spoils when Timoci Matanavou scored a try in the eighth minute of stoppage-time, but Jean-Marc Doussain was unable to make the conversion.
Photo: AFP
The result was also a second successive defeat for Toulouse, who were again weakened by the absence of key players — Gael Fickou, Maxime Medard, Yoann Maestri and Sebastien Bezy were on Six Nations duty, while skipper Thierry Dusautoir is suspended.
Toulouse’s miserable afternoon was completed by the sight of hooker Julien Marchand playing the closing stages without a shirt.
“Cruel is the word I would use when you fight back in the match and nothing goes your way, but we need to become a team which is a little like a four-wheel drive vehicle, capable of playing in all conditions,” Toulouse coach Ugo Mola said.
Jake White’s Montpellier scored two early tries for a 15-3 lead after 15 minutes, with Timoci Nagusa claiming both.
Florian Fritz was then yellow-carded, which allowed Paul Willemse to add a third try for the visitors early in the second half.
Toulouse fought back with Paul Perez and Luke McAlister crossing for scores in the space of five minutes, but despite Matanavou’s late effort, Doussain was unable to hold his nerve with the conversion.
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