Clermont lose top spot to Toulon

Clermont Auvergne have been knocked off the summit of the Top 14 ahead of their two Champions Cup clashes with Munster after they went down 27-19 away to champions Toulon on Saturday night.

Toulon switched the game to the Allianz Rivieria in Nice and the French and European champions seemed set for victory in an intense encounter when they led 17-8 at the break thanks to tries from David Smith and Maxime Mermoz.

But Clermont, who travel to Thomond Park next Saturday, hit back in the second half, with skipper Aurelien Rougerie adding to Fritz Lee’s opening half try. However, they left the south of France without a point and fell to their fourth defeat of the campaign as Smith got his second try to send Toulon top of the league ahead of their Champions Cup dates with Leicester in Ulster’s pool.