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Toulouse and Saracens stay perfect in Champions Cup
Toulouse stretched their winning run to nine matches with a 42-27 victory over Wasps and Saracens also maintained their 100 per cent European Rugby Champions Cup record on Saturday.
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Top 14 high-fliers Toulouse were made to work for a bonus-point triumph in the rain at Stade Ernest Wallon, but Antoine Dupont scored two of their five tries in an entertaining encounter.
What a performance by Antoine Dupont!
He's bagged his second try, and it's more sensational running rugby from Toulouse ?
This game has been a joy to watch ? pic.twitter.com/bnFBN05sUZ
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 15, 2018
Toulouse hold a two-point advantage over defending champions Leinster at the top of Pool 1 ahead of what could be a decisive encounter between the two in Dublin next month.
Wasps are without a win and heading out of the competition, but they only trailed 22-20 at half-time, Josh Bassett and Willie le Roux going over, with Yoann Huget, Joe Tekori and Romain Ntamack crossing at the other end.
France scrum-half Dupont claimed a second-half double either side of a Ross Neal score, while Thomas Ramos finished with 17 points in another impressive display from Toulouse.
Two tries and some lovely assists for @Dupont9A as @StadeToulousain ran out victors ?
Was the No. 9 unplayable today? #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/A4Kx8atHbZ
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 15, 2018
Imperious Leinster kept the pressure on Toulouse with a 42-15 thrashing of Bath at the Aviva Stadium.
Tries from Jack Conan, Rory O’Loughlin, James Lowes and Adam Byrne ensured the bonus point was in the bag at the break, then Dan Leavy and Jamison Gibson-Park added further five-pointers with Johnny Sexton pulling the strings in Dublin.
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Johnny Sexton, that is magnificent! ?
An inch-perfect crossfield kick is collected by Adam Byrne and Leinster extend their lead!
Moments like that are why he's been named World Rugby player of the year. Brilliant ? pic.twitter.com/vjj2wHiNsZ
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 15, 2018
Sarries continued their march towards the quarter-finals and have won every Champions Cup and Premiership game this season after they saw off Cardiff Blues 26-14.
Sean Maitland and Jamie George went over for the Premiership champions and Owen Farrell scored 16 points from the tee in a hard-fought away victory.
? REACTION | @alex_goode0 reflects on a very important away win against @cardiff_blues.
The full-back believes the ? to victory was the squad's resilience ? and the win puts us in a very strong position in our @ChampionsCup pool. #TogetherSaracens pic.twitter.com/wUrWDEtQYg
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) December 15, 2018
Glasgow Warriors are four points adrift of Mark McCall’s men in Pool 3 with two games to play following a 21-10 win over bottom side Lyon, Nikola Matawalu scoring both tries for the Pro14 side.
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Pool 2 is wide open after Castres edged out Munster 13-12 to go second, just three points behind the province and one ahead of both Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester.
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