This season is going from bad to worse for Toulouse, who had hopes of finding an away win at Stade Jean Dauger but for an early red card to Corey Flynn. The former All Black hooker was caught stamping on the leg of a prone Bayonne forward and unceremoniously dismissed. While it was unquestionably a deliberate act, whether it was worthy of more than a yellow card is very much up for debate.

Yoann Maestri had only just returned to the field himself from a harsh sin-binning, meaning Toulouse were forced to play a man down for 70 minutes. Any team would struggle under those circumstances, but for much of it Toulouse were their own worst enemies. Poor kicks from Jean-Marc Doussain and Maxime Médard gave away possession and resulted in points. Missed tackles and balls lost in contact cost them more. It was a disheartening performance from the storied club.

Injuries have taken their toll, no doubt. Schalk Ferreira, Vasil Kakovin, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Louis Picamoles, Hugo Bonneval… just a few of the names on the sidelines, and now joined by battleship hooker Christopher Tolofua, who damaged a shoulder in a scrum near full time. Flynn’s pending suspension means the club will be without a senior hooker for at least a couple weeks. Cyril Baille will have to fill in, though that in itself is problematic given that the loosehead stocks are just as depleted.

It’s not just the injuries that have plagued the side, it’s indifferent form. Thierry Dusautoir has been able to conjure only fleeting moments of inspiration, so too aging Imanol Harinordoquy. Maestri has been living on reputation for a couple seasons and Toby Flood has struggled to find his feet, not even earning a spot on the bench for this match. It doesn’t look like happy days are in the near future for Guy Novès.

The game itself had some moments of class, but often dragged on. Sébastien Minery called for TMO intervention far too often and suffocated any flow from the game. Toulouse were forced to play conservatively with their handicap, and Bayonne were content to take advantage at the scrum and maul, rarely looking wide except on counter attack. When they did move the ball they looked dangerous, with Joe Rokocoko in fine form and new French media darling Charles Ollivon impressing with his running and linking skills.

Aretz Iguiniz was strong in the scrum, and Tongan fans will have enjoyed second row Lisiate Fa’aoso repeatedly offering himself as a battering ram. Scott Spedding was more than useful at fullback, using his strength well and finding impressive distance with his boot. Centre Matthieu Ugalde displayed good footballing skills and seems to be enjoying the midfield, though surely his future is at no10.

It’s difficult to watch the Top 14 at times, and this match might have been a perfect example of why. There is so much talent on the pitch, and such ability to play expansive rugby, and yet teams still resort to petulant skullduggery and tedious trench warfare. Philippe Saint-Andre might lament a lack of French players to choose from, but a change of attitudes seems to be the most pressing issue.

BAYONNE 35 vs 19 TOULOUSE
Friday, September 26, 19:45 GMT, Bayonne

SCORING
02 mins – A. Palisson try 0-5
03 mins – L. McAlister con 0-7
08 mins – L. McAlister pen 0-10
10 mins – B. Stewart pen 3-10
19 mins – J. Rokocoko try 8-10
24 mins – A. Etrillard try 13-10
25 mins – B. Stewart con 15-10
28 mins – L. McAlister pen 15-13
33 mins – C. Ollivon try 20-13
34 mins – B. Stewart con 22-13
40 mins – B. Stewart pen 25-13
48 mins – L. McAlister pen 25-16
51 mins – B. Stewart pen 28-16
54 mins – L. McAlister pen 28-19
75 mins – Penalty try (scrum) 33-19
76 mins – B. Stewart con 35-19

CARDS
09 mins – Y. Maestri yellow (foul play)
22 mins – C. Flynn red (foul play)

BAYONNE
S. Spedding; M. Bustos Moyano, J. Rokocoko, M. Ugalde, M. O’Connor (S. Fernandez 68); B. Stewart, G. Rouet (C. Loustalot 77); A. Iguiniz (J.C. Janse van Rensburg 63), A. Etrillard (G. Arganese 77), G. Muller (F. Lapeyrade 77); D. Senekal (P. Taele-Pavihi 55), L. Fa’aoso (O. Fonua 74); M. Chisholm (capt.), D. Haare (J. Monribot 52) , C. Ollivon.

TOULOUSE
A. Palisson (F. Fritz 69); V. Clerc (F. Fritz 61-28), Y. David, G. Fickou, M. Médard; L. McAlister, J.M. Doussain (S. Bezy 77); C. Baille (R. Neti 43), C. Flynn, N. Tialata (K. Pulu 61-74); Y. Maestri, P. Albacete (J. Tekori 61); T. Dusautoir (capt.) (Y. Camara 69), I. Harinordoquy (E. Maka 77), G. Galan (C. Tolofua 26 {C. Baille 75}).

Referee: S. Minery (FFR)
Assistants: N. Datas (FFR) & P. Beuriot (FFR)
TMO: E. Gauzins (FFR)