Nathan Hughes' last minute try secures draw for Wasps against Toulouse

Toulouse 20-20 Wasps, Stade Ernest Wallon
Scorecard

A last minute try from Nathan Hughes followed by a conversion from Jimmy Gopperth ensured Wasps were able to draw the European Champions Cup game against Toulouse 20-20 at Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday.

The draw meant Toulouse are yet to win a game in this season of the Champions Cup and are placed third in Pool 2 while Wasps are now at second position behind Connacht.

The first half saw Wasps' Jimmy Gopperth and Toulouse's Sebastien Bezy exchange two penalties apiece and the score was levelled at 6-6. Fly-half Danny Cipriani also produced a try-saving tackle at the stroke of half time.

In the 50th minute of the game, replacement Census Johnston charged down after Cipriani's kick and strolled over the post to score the first try of the game for Toulouse. Bezy's conversion helped the French team gain a seven-point lead which was soon negated by wing Josh Bassett's try followed by a conversion from Gopperth.

Replacement Semi Kunatani's off load to centre Gael Fickou allowed Toulouse to once again get a lead but it was only short lived as Hughes with support from Kyle Eastmond and Matt Simpson rumbled over the post to bring down the gap to two points.

Gopperth held his nerve in the final minute to add the conversion and level the scores 20-20.

Wasps rugby director Dai Young lauded Gopperth for his kicking abilities and also credited Hughes for the decisive try.

"In tight games - and these are always going to be tight games - you need a kicker of quality and my money's on Jimmy when it comes to those big kicks.

"I thought that was Nathan's best game. He's suffering a little bit of second-season syndrome and is being marked far more heavily than last season and he's not in the form he has been. But it happens.

"In fairness to him, he's worked hard and I thought he was excellent."