Wilkinson to extend contract with high-flying Toulon

TOULON moved top of Pool 3 with a convincing bonus-point victory over London Irish on Saturday.

Philippe Saint-Andre’s side followed up last weekend’s triumph in Reading with a clinical five-try display.

The hosts had raced into a 17-0 lead by the interval courtesy of a strong first half display. Olivier Missoup and Mickael Ivaldi both touched down, with Felipe Contepomi adding a further seven points with the boot.

The Exiles were reduced to fourteen men just four minutes into the second half when Sailosi Tagicakibau was shown his second yellow card.

The winger’s dismissal galvanised London Irish though, who upped their intensity, and fly-half Chris Malone and Alex Corbisiero both crossed as Irish levelled the scores.

Toulon responded immediately - first Contepomi side stepped his way to line to regain the lead, before Tom May scored a brilliant solo effort. Christian Loamanu then touched down to secure victory.

The French side welcome Munster to their home in January before travelling to the Ospreys for their final Pool game.

Meanwhile, England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is set to give Toulon an early Christmas present by extending his contract by a year until 2013, club president Mourad Boudjellal confirmed on Saturday.

“We have had good talks, made good progress. If all goes according to plan it should be in Santa’s sack,” he said.

“It’s magic because Jonny is perhaps the best player in the Top 14 and he’s the one who gives us the least stress. It seems only natural that he should stay here and it feels as if he’s always been here.”

Scorers for Toulon: Tries: Missoup, Ivaldi, Contepomi, May, Loamanu. Cons: Contepomi 5. Pens: Contepomi.

Scorers for London Irish: Tries: Malone, Corbisiero. Cons: Malone 2. Pens: Malone.

TOULON:B Lapyeyre; R Lamont, G Messina, T May, R Wulf; F Contepomi, P Mignoni; L Emmanuelli, M Ivaldi, D Kubriashvili; J Suta, D Schofield; O Missoup, G Smith, J van Niekerk.

Replacements: P Sackey for Lapyeyre (60), C Loamanu for May (74), L Magnaval for Mignoni (74), S Taumoepeau for Emmanuelli (49), J Orioli for Ivaldi (56), M Merabet for Kubriashvili (66), K Chesney for Schofield (60), J El Abd for van Niekerk (33).

LONDON IRISH: D. Armitage; J Joseph, S Mapusua, D Bowden, S Tagicakibau; C Malone, P Hodgson; C Dermody, J Buckland, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, B Casey; R Thorpe, S. Armitage, C Hala’ufia.

Replacements: T Ojo for Joseph (69), D Allinson for Hodgson (76), A Corbisiero for Dermody (50), P Ion for Rautenbach (50), K Roche for Kennedy (62), B Blaney for Casey (77), G Stowers for Hala’ufia (49).

Sent Off: Tagicakibau (44).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).