Title-holders Toulouse turned on the power in the second half to thrash Sale Sharks on Sunday and advance to the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals.
The closing match of the round-of-16 in Toulouse was delayed 40 minutes when a French paratrooper, commissioned to land on the pitch with the match ball, was caught on the roof of the stadium.
When the game finally kicked off, it took the defending champions 40 minutes to find their feet, and they kept Sale scoreless in the second half to win 38-15 victory. Toulouse visit Top 14 rivals Toulon in the last eight next week.
The hosts started strongly as English flanker Jack Willis went over in the first minute. Sale fullback Luke James replied with a try after four minutes.
Flanker Jonny Hill put Sale ahead and they could have bolstered their lead but Tom Roebuck’s foot brushed the touchline and Tom Ford was narrowly wide with two drop-goal attempts.
“In the first half we had trouble living with them. They’re a big team with big backs and a very aggressive defence. We’re very happy with the second half,” said Toulouse fullback Thomas Ramos.
The home team muscled into the lead early in the second half. Flanker Francois Cros rumbled over from a lineout five minutes after the restart and Ramos booted Toulouse into the lead with the conversion. Hooker Julien Marchand powered in from close range at the end of the third quarter.
With Toulouse in total control, Ange Capuozzo and Guillaume Gramont touched down in the final quarter and Ramos finished up with a tally of 13 points from the boot.
“The first half was a little complicated. The second half was better,” said Willis. “We won. We’re happy.”
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
