Top ten Michalak in control as Toulouse power past Saints
Man of the match Frederic Michalak, Cedric Heymans, Vincent Clerc and Christian Labit ran in tries as the twice Heineken Cup winners’ enterprising play brought the capacity 36,000 crowd to their feet.
France regular Yannick Jauzion helped create Toulouse’s first opening with just four minutes on the clock by releasing Clement Poitrenaud into space.
The full-back ran out of room but Jean-Baptiste Elissalde was in support to carry on the move, only for his final pass - meant for winger Clerc - to sail harmlessly into touch.
Despite being exposed so early, Saints were not overly troubled and even edged the opening 10 minutes, so it came as a bitter blow when Toulouse ran in the first try with a fine piece of opportunism.
The visitors had built a strong field position but as they probed down the left, a loose pass from Tom Smith was intercepted by Michalak, who made light work of the 65-yard race to the line.
Elissalde converted and the French outfit, scenting blood, piled on the pressure with a towering crossfield bomb from Michalak being gobbled up by John Rudd behind his own line, with Heymans waiting to pounce on any mistake.
Drahm slotted a penalty but Saints were soon back under the cosh with Michalak pulling the strings beautifully at fly-half - his rapid distribution helped set up Toulouse’s second try.
Heymans made the initial break and when openside Finau Maka carried on the move, Toulouse’s attacking machine had clicked into gear with the ball being sprayed towards the right touchline with lethal intent.
It was recycled and shipped back to Heymans via Michalak and Poitrenaud, and the left winger skipped around centre Mark Stcherbina to complete the move. Elissalde converted.
Drahm landed a penalty to slash the deficit to 14-6 but a disappointing couple of minutes from Ben Cohen, which saw him concede a turnover to set up one Toulouse raid and give away a penalty, meant Saints could not wrestle free of their opponents’ grip.
Michalak improved Toulouse’s situation moments after the restart by dabbing over a drop-goal and then, having taken over the kicking duties from misfiring Elissalde, he booted a penalty for good measure.
Saints replied with a Drahm penalty but when substitute Mark Soden was sin-binned in the 49th minute for pulling down a ruck, their hopes dealt a hammer blow.
The home side, semi-finalists in last season’s French championship, did not need a second invitation to exploit the advantage, with Michalak and Poitrenaud linking up once again to send Clerc over in the right corner.
A kind deflection off the left upright saw Elissalde kick the extras while Michalak added his second penalty.
Substitute Labit then crashed over after a quickly taken line-out in the 69th minute to leave Saints dead and buried, with Elissalde rubbing salt into the wound by adding the extras.
* Pre-match favourites Bayonne face an uphill battle to make the final of the European Shield after being held to a two-point victory 23-21 at their Stade Jean Dauger.
Auch are struggling in the French Championship and were expected to be on the end of a hiding, but the home side were left to rue some basic mistakes as Auch bravely stayed in touch ahead of the return leg in three weeks.
: Tries: Michalak, Heymans, Clerc, Labit. Cons: Elissalde 4. Pens: Michalak 2. Drop Goals: Michalak.
: Poitrenaud, Clerc, Jauzion, Fritz, Heymans, Michalak, Elissalde, Poux, Bru, Hassanein, Pelous, Millochlusky, Bouihlou, F. Maka, Lamboley.
: Medard for Fritz (71), Dubois for Elissalde (72), Human for Poux (80), Servat for Bru (42), Brennan for Pelous (67), Gerard for Millochlusky (59), Labit for F. Maka (59).
: Pens: Drahm 3.
: Reihana, Rudd, Cohen, Stcherbina, Tucker, Drahm, Howard, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Lord, Browne, Fox, Krige, Blowers.
: Vilk for Stcherbina (72), Jones for Howard (71), Emms for Morris (38), Boome for Browne (52), Soden for Blowers (10).
: N Williams (Wales).
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