Section Paloise defeated Stade Toulousain 34-14 at the Stade du Hameau on Sunday in the eighth round of the Top 14, according to RMC Sport. The result leaves Toulouse top of the table but lifts Pau onto the podium, with L'Équipe reporting that the Béarnais now sit two points behind the leaders.
The match was played without a large number of internationals and was frequently stop-start, with handling errors from Toulouse repeatedly breaking up play. RMC Sport described the opening period as almost one-way traffic.
Why it matters
Toulouse arrived as league leaders and leave still in first place, but the margin at the top has narrowed. Pau's win pulls them to within two points of the summit, per L'Équipe, and confirms the Section as a genuine threat rather than a side enjoying a good run. For a Toulouse team missing key players, the defeat also raises questions about how much depth the squad can call on during the international window.
Pau's fast start sets the tone
Pau scored twice inside the first twelve minutes. Manu and Isa both crossed, and Joe Simmonds added the remaining points with the boot. RMC Sport reported that the Section were on a cloud early on, with a huge break from Capelli stopped just short of the line before Toulouse relieved the pressure through a Graou turnover.
Simmonds stretched the lead to 17-0 with a straightforward penalty after Lacombre was penalised for an illegal turnover. Pau kept throwing the ball around, finding Laporte on the wing, though his attempted pass to Despérès ended with the receiver pushed into touch.
Toulouse's difficulties were summed up by Kinghorn's kicking, which RMC Sport described as laboured throughout, including a penalty that failed to find touch. The visitors' scrum, by contrast, was a source of strength, with the pack doing heavy work and Cyril Baille driving a huge push to win a penalty.
There was controversy before the break. Montoya was shown a yellow card after video review of a head-high tackle on Graou; the referee judged that Graou's change of direction carried him into the hooker, who did not duck. Pau also had a try validated after a review into deliberate foul play by Gorgadze on Graou, with the yellow card awarded and the score allowed to stand.
On the stroke of half-time, Toulouse found a response. With a numerical advantage, Kinghorn produced a fine offload to send Lacombre over. The conversion left it 17-7 at the interval, a scoreline that flattered the visitors given the balance of play.
Toulouse rally, then Pau pull away
Toulouse came out with more purpose and, against the run of the match, closed the gap. Pressure on Pau's attacking line forced an error from Amati, who kicked ahead and used his speed to touch down. Kinghorn converted to make it 17-14, per RMC Sport.
Pau answered through Isa, who broke from the back of a driving maul near the five-metre line and grounded the ball alone. Simmonds added the extras for 24-14. A further penalty from Simmonds, won by the scrummaging impact of Bizi Biziwu and Papidze, took the lead to 27-14.
There was a worrying moment for Toulouse and for France when Anthony Jelonch left the field under concussion protocol following a heavy tackle on Bizi Biziwu. RMC Sport reported that he is due to join up with the national squad at Marcoussis on Monday.
Pau sealed the result late on. A counter-attacking ball was moved through Marta, who was hauled down near the 40-metre line, before Delhommel carried into the 22 and Gorgadze powered over. Simmonds converted for 34-14.
Toulouse's frustration showed in the closing stages, a Graou kick to touch summing up a night in which little went right. Pau, by contrast, had signalled their intent when Simmonds kicked another penalty to make it 27-14, opting for the posts rather than a kick to the corner.
Le Figaro framed the evening as a success for the Béarnais over a young Toulouse side, while Rugbyrama noted that Pau had taken the upper hand from the opening quarter of an hour.
What to watch
Attention now turns to how Toulouse cope without Jelonch and their other absent internationals in the coming weeks, and whether Pau can sustain a challenge at the top of the table.
