The China Mail - Toulouse seal top spot and Top 14 semi-final berth

The three-time defending champions have 87 points and can no longer be caught and must now await their opponent for the semi-finals, to be played on June 19 in Marseille.

Toulouse are in contention for a fourth consecutive Brennus Shield but their performance at their Ernest-Wallon Stadium was far from assured.

Disorganised and sometimes clumsy in attack, often caught out in their defensive line, Ugo Mola's men did little to reassure themselves in their final home game of the season despite scoring six tries against a Lyon side that had nothing left to play for and touched down four tries.

Winger Matthis Lebel gave Toulouse an ideal start, scoring his 14th try of the season after just three minutes, but Lyon responded, capitalising on Toulouse's lapses through Bartholome Sanson and then Esteban Gonzalez to lead 14-5 after quarter of an hour.

Patiently, and despite some errors, Toulouse closed the gap thanks to prop Joel Merkler and then took the lead through Peato Mauvaka for 19-14 after 32 minutes.

Capitalising on Lyon's indiscipline and yellow cards for Beka Shvangiradze and Leo Berdeu in the second half, Toulouse pulled away thanks to tries from Pierre-Louis Barassi, David Ainu'u, and Julien Marchand.

But Lyon kept up the pressure with Josiah Maraku scoring a try on the counter-attack after 50 minutes and then by the ever-present Jiuta Wainiqolo on the final whistle with his 18th try of the season in the league.

A positive note for the champions was the return of Italian international Ange Capuozzo, who had been absent for over three months.

K.Lam--ThChM