Toulouse beat Wasps 16-24 to maintain perfect start

Wasps 16-24 Toulouse, Ricoh Arena
Scorecard

A better second half from Toulouse proved vital as they overcame Wasps 16-24 in their European Rugby Champions Cup clash at Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

This is Toulouse's third win from as many games as they maintain the top position in Pool 1 while Wasps languish at the bottom after losing all their games.

Lima Sopoaga kick-started the proceedings with a fifth minute penalty goal but South Africa international Cheslin Kolbe led the response from the visitors with brute speed that saw him cross over in the 14th minute for an unconverted try.

Fullback Thomas Ramos missed the conversion but kicked two penalties to give the French side an edge after Wasps captain Elliot Daly kicked a three-pointer of his own as the scoreline remained at 6-11 by the half-hour mark.

Toulouse lost momentum when prop Max van Dyk was sin-binned in the 32nd minute for a high tackle and Dai Young's men capitalised on the numerical advantage with Will Rowlands crossing over and a conversion from Sopoaga meant the home side had a 13-11 lead.

As Toulouse returned back to their full strength Ramos kicked his third penalty goal to seize back the lead which was increased to eight points after Sofiane Guitoune dived over the line in the 51st minute. Daly tried to bring Wasps back into the game with a penalty goal in the 58th minute but that was negated when Ramos responded back with a three-pointer of his own in the 64th minute.

Despite, losing Louis-Benoit Madaule to sin-bin in the 69th minute, Toulouse managed to held on to their lead as they completed a 16-24 victory.