Superb Toulon and Ben Youngs dazzled Will Greenwood after Round 5 of the Heineken Cup.
Basking in the Toulon glory
After round five of the Heineken Cup four teams booked their place in the quarter-finals. Northampton Saints, Toulouse, Leinster and debutants Toulon are safely through. With another four spots still up for grabs the final round will be a nail-biting affair.
Leicester kept their hopes alive by subduing a feisty Scarlets side but neither Wasps or the Ospreys lived up to their own high expectations, however it was the rugby and the occasion down in Toulon that certainly caught Will Greenwood's eye...
TEAM: Toulon
Mercenaries was the name Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan called Toulon last year...well the Magnificent 15 made a mockery of the accusations that Toulon's whole could not be greater than their sum as they bested the Irish giants at every turn. Munster needed to hold their line under the barrage of the Toulon pack up front. The host's aggressive defence forced mistake after mistake from Munster giving Toulon the chance to turn the screw even further with even more scrums. They are building something special down by the Côte d'Azur - these hired guns are here to stay!
PLAYER: Joe Van Niekerk
The former Springbok No.8 was outstanding for Toulon as he led his band of brothers to their biggest win since their 2008 victory over Racing Metro that secured them promotion to the Top 14. Van Niekerk led from the front with same massive hits that repeatedly put Munster on the back foot, on top of that he was always dangerous with ball in hand. His turn of pace and sharp rugby brain had kept Munster guessing. A great performance.
VILLAINS: Wasps and Ospreys for taking excitement out of two groups
The Ospreys failed to make Pool 3 a three way battle by one again under performing in Europe. They have blamed poor decision making for their shock 24-12 defeat to London Irish. A win would have set up a winner-takes-all clash against Toulon on Saturday in Swansea, but all the Magners League champions have to play for now is pride. The same goes for Wasps who should have been playing for the top of Pool 6 against Toulouse; however a hopeless display against Glasgow put paid to that. Theoretically they could still make it however what are the chances of both Ulster and Leicester losing to Italian opposition?
TRY: Ben Youngs for Leicester
Scarlets fans may complain that Thomas Waldrom was off his feet when he forced the turnover but the try still stands. It was clever work from the Thomas the Tank Engine as Leicester had conceded their fair share of turnovers in the very competitive tackle area. Youngs took the pass from Waldrom and immediately turned on the gas to race 40 metres to dive over the corner for Leicester's second try. It put Leicester 19-13 up heading into the final quarter and took the wind right out of Scarlet's sails. Young's celebrations may have been a tad early as the video ref had a look but it certainly quietened down the home fans.
MOMENT: Sundowners in Toulon
Wearing sunglasses with Paul Wallace and Simon Lazenby in Toulon on air, listening to pilou pilou the Toulon war cry and watching owner Mourad Boudjellal stalking the field after the match like Maximus. Rousing stuff.
