Antoine Dupont double fires NINE-TRY Toulouse to Top 14 title as famous double completed

Toulouse claimed a famous double as they hammered a stunned Bordeaux-Begles in the Top 14 final, winning 59-3 in a nine-try showing at Stade Velodrome on Friday.

Inspired by the irrepressible Antoine Dupont, who scored two first-half tries, Les Rouge et Noir were in a relentless mood as they backed up their recent Champions Cup title.

Peato Mauvaka, Thomas Ramos (2), Julien Marchand, Blair Kinghorn, David Ainu’u and Ange Capuozzo scored Toulouse’s other tries on the night in a ruthless performance.

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Toulouse raced out of the blocks in Marseille and went into the break leading 22-3 thanks to star scrum-half Dupont impressive brace and hooker Mauvaka’s crossing.

The mercurial France international, who will soon be on Sevens duty at the Olympic Games in Paris, crossed on six minutes as he powered over after a close-range snipe.

Compounding that try for Bordeaux-Begles was the sight of number eight Tevita Tatafu being ordered to the sin-bin for a high tackle moments before Dupont’s seven-pointer.

Toulouse were unrelenting in the opening stages and a penalty goal from Ramos, won by Dupont’s quick thinking at the ruck, extended the arrears to 10-3 on 14 minutes.

There was more to come as quickly recycled ball from strong carries led to Mauvaka scoring from close range wide on the right, helped by Pumas wing Juan Cruz Mallia.

Bordeaux-Begles were shell-shocked and when Dupont grabbed his second try from a chip and chase after a set move, the 22-3 buffer looked like an unassailable cushion.

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The only consolation for Bordeaux-Begles was that Mauvaka had a score chalked off on the stroke of half-time, with Toulouse jogging in with one hand on the silverware.

Ramos would further extend the lead on 44 minutes with a penalty that made it 25-3, as Bordeaux-Begles now looked very much a beaten outfit as they soon rang the changes.

However, Toulouse would show no mercy and when Dupont combined with Romain Ntamack, who kicked smartly ahead, Ramos would dot down for their fourth score.

It was now a procession as Bordeaux heads had well and truly gone when replacement hooker Marchand dived over off the back of a solid driving maul to make it a 35-3 lead.

Worse was to come for UBB in the closing stages when Maxime Lucu’s intercepted pass on halfway led to Paul Costes finding Scotland’s Kinghorn for a simple walk-in.

Incredibly, Toulouse continued to put their foot to the floor until the final whistle as Ramos grabbed his second crossing on 74 minutes before replacement prop Ainu’i powered over from close range to make it 54-3, with Dupont and others now watching on from the sidelines with a clearly delighted head coach Ugo Mola purring with pride.

And it was fitting there was to be one final flurry from Mola’s side as their insistence on playing on saw Capuozzo cross for a wonderful try to seal a famous Top 14 success.

The teams

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Juan Cruz Mallia, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Clement Vergé, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Paul Graou, 21 Ange Capuozzo, 22 Paul Costes, 23 Joel Merkler

Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Tevita Tatafu, 7 Mahamadou Diaby, 6 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Cyril Cazeaux, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Pierre Bochaton, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Paul Abadie, 22 Pablo Uberti, 23 Toma Taufa

Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant Referees: Thomas Charabas, Adrien Marbot
TMO: Eric Gauzins

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