Toulouse Overcome Glasgow In Dire Scotstoun Affair

Efficiency from the tee was the difference as Toulouse edges an admirable Glasgow effort to claim a 12-9 win.

The French executed an effective game plan to stifle the Warriors expansive game and pull them into an arm wrestle.

Both teams came into the game knowing that a win for either side would see them take control of the pool.

Bath’s bonus point win on Friday night meant that a loss for either side would make qualification a steep uphill battle.

Toulouse earned the first chance of the game when Glasgow made a mess of a lineout. Sébastian Bézy converted the resulting penalty for the first points of the game.

Glasgow responded quickly and an infringement at the breakdown by Toulouse in their own 22 allowed Finn Russell to level the match.

Toulouse showed a lack of discipline early on and gave the opposition another chance at three on the 15^th minute. Russell pushed the penalty wide of the upright.

The home side dominated early territory.

After sustained possession in the Glasgow 22, the pressure told and Toulouse earned a kickable penalty.

Bézy made no mistake to put the French side three in front.

Finn Russell made a mess of the resulting kick off and sent the drop off straight into touch.

A moment of sustained pressure and another penalty went Toulouse’s way. Jean-Marc Doussain was unable to convert.

The home crowd tried to add to the atmosphere but errors from both sides stifled any momentum.

Glasgow won a penalty near the half way, but the distance was too much for Stuart Hogg who couldn’t dissect the upright. 

The half time whistle was greeted with a groan from the supporters.

Little was offered by either side in attack in the first half. Both teams defended resolutely but left much to be desired with ball in hand.

Good foraging from Harley in the second half gave Glasgow possession in the Toulouse half and ill discipline from Tekori at the ruck resulted in a kickable penalty. Russell shanked the penalty wide of the posts.

Toulouse’s intensity at the breakdown meant Glasgow couldn’t maintain quality possession.

Harley went from hero to villain in the space of 3 minutes.

A driving maul set up from a line out from Toulouse was uncontested by the Warriors but Barnes adjudged Harley to have come from an offside position.

Bézy converted to make the score 9-3 in favor of Toulouse.

Glasgow upped the tempo straight from the kick off and sustained pressure in the Toulouse half. 

A stupid kick from Pyrgos at the base allowed Nyanga to call the mark and the pressure was relieved with a kick to touch.

The home side tried to keep ball in hand and attack Toulouse. 

But they had no go forward ball and fierce defending prevented any break through.

Yann David busted a tackle and got over the game line in the Glasgow half.

An offside penalty ensued and Bézy added another three to make it four from four.

Duncan Weir was called from the bench on the 58^th minute to replace Russell.

Gregor Townsend looking for Weirs experience to see them over the line.

It took only 7 minutes for Weir to get his first crack at the posts.

An infringement gave Glasgow a penalty just inside the Toulouse ten-meter line.

He struck it sweetly between the posts to narrow the deficit to six.

Glasgow was galvanized after the kick and enjoyed good possession but as was the theme of the afternoon handling errors killed the good play.

After a questionable decision by the lines man to award Glasgow a lineout the resulting driving maul forced a penalty and Weir dually added another three.

Substitutes Matawalu and Nakarawa made a real impact in the closing quarter. Injecting pace and an offload game to help Glasgow push Toulouse all the way.

The pressure wasn’t enough as Toulouse’s defense held firm to see out the game. Glasgow had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Man of the Match:

Louis Picamoles’ defensive effort was immense. He controlled well at the base of the scrum and threw himself into everything. He epitomized what the Toulouse pack stood for.

The scorers:

For Glasgow:

Pens: Russell, Weir (2)

For Toulouse:

Pens: Bézy (4)

Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Josh Strauss (c) 7 Robert Harley, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Ryan Grant.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Euan Murray, 19 Leone Nakarawa, 20 Niko Matawalu, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Sean Lamont

Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Yann David, 12 Gaël Fickou, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Sébastien Bézy, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Yannick Nyanga (c), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Joe Tekori, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Romain Millo-chluski, 20 Gregory Lamboley, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Vicent Clerc, 23 Alexis Palisson

Venue: Scotstoun, Glasgow

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)