RC Toulon showcased their tenacity and skill as they overcame early struggles to defeat La Rochelle 45-26 at Stade Mayol on Sunday, January 26, 2025. This victory not only secured another win at home but also reinforced Toulon's position among the top teams in France’s Top 14.
The match began with La Rochelle asserting their dominance, taking advantage of RC Toulon's slow start. Despite being without several top players, including Gregory Alldritt and Paul Boudehent due to injuries, La Rochelle stormed to an early lead. Antoine Hastoy's impressive performance, marked by key passes and penalties, helped the visitors secure a 17-point lead within the first quarter.
Hastoy's skill was evident even from the outset, as he opened the scoring with his precise boot, converting two early tries — one from Hoani Bosmorin and the other from Dillyn Leyds — giving La Rochelle a swift 17-0 lead. This left the Toulon crowd stunned and put immense pressure on coach Pierre Mignoni’s side to respond.
RC Toulon finally found their footing with scrum-half Baptiste Serin, who showcased his agility and quick thinking by scoring Toulon's first try following a quickly executed penalty. He also stepped up to add points from the tee, ending the first half with Toulon trailing at 10-20. "On ne pouvait pas faire pire en première mi-temps, c'était important de réagir en seconde période," remarked Toulon’s Gabriel Dréan, reflecting on the team's need for a second-half revival.
Returning to the pitch, Toulon displayed newfound aggression. Esteban Abadie ignited their resurgence with the first try of the second half, rolling through the La Rochelle defense and ensuring the momentum shifted. His success was shortly followed by Gaël Dréan, who tapped his 11th try of the season, confirming his place as the leading scorer of the Top 14.
Within minutes, Toulon turned the game on its head, smashing through La Rochelle’s defenses for four more tries, resulting in a phenomenal 35-6 scoring run throughout the second half. The home team’s forwards dominated, showing relentless power and determination. Young players like Leicester Fainga'anuku and Mattéo Le Corvec powered through, scoring key tries to secure the bonus point for Toulon.
"C'est très intéressant cette performance. Honnêtement. Je suis très satisfait de mon équipe," stated La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara, highlighting the intensity and quality of performance from his side, especially noting their ability to compete with so many young players on the pitch.
Despite their initial prowess, La Rochelle’s defense crumbled as the second half progressed, allowing Toulon to exploit gaps and create scoring opportunities. The home fans erupted with every try, celebrating their team's remarkable comeback, which was capped by Le Corvec’s final try just seconds before the final whistle.
This victory places Toulon firmly among the top contenders, now only three points behind leaders Toulouse and Bordeaux. The triumph reaffirmed Toulon's resilience and fighting spirit, especially after being down so early.
Following this match, Toulon remains the only team undefeated at home this season, solidifying their reputation at the intimidating Stade Mayol.