Toulouse spank struggling Bayonne in French rugby
PARIS, France (AFP) — Former France fly-half Lionel Beauxis scored 30 points to take his total to 58 in the past two Top-14 matches yesterday as champions Toulouse ran out 30-15 winners over struggling Bayonne.
The 26-year-old — capped 12 times — slotted over eight penalties and two drop goals to extend Toulouse’s unbeaten home run in the domestic league to 24 matches dating back to Toulon’s 6-3 win over them in February 2010.
It also extended their lead over 2010 champions Clermont to seven points, though, the latter can reduce the margin with victory over relegation-threatened Lyon today.
Victory for second from bottom Lyon, though, would see them go level on points with Bayonne, who are experiencing a dreadful run having not won away from home in seven matches and were slipping to their fourth successive defeat.
Beauxis has seen his fortunes decline over the past few years after being prominent in France’s 2007 World Cup campaign where they reached the semi-finals.
“That makes it two successive matches that things have gone well for me,” he said.
“That makes me a happy boy. I had a difficult start to the season but I have bounced back well.
“The club has done its utmost to get me into the best condition.
“I have been succeeding with the boot but you can’t take it for granted.
“It is a team effort. As for the national side? It is a shirt that has always made me shiver with anticipation, of course,” he added with a smile.
Beauxis and Bayonne kicker Benjamin Boyet slotted over two penalties apiece in the driving rain in the opening quarter-of-an-hour to leave them all square at 6-6.
Beauxis, though, dropped a goal to give the champions a three point lead after being set up by a great run from Maxime Medard and the former Stade Francais star added another penalty in the 20th minute.
Beauxis added another penalty on the half-hour mark but the visitors hit back with two penalties in the next five minutes, one from Boyet and then a terrific effort from around 50 metres by former Toulouse standout Cedric Heymans.
The impeccable Beauxis extended the hosts lead to nine points with a penalty and a drop goal within 10 minutes of the second-half only for Boyet to land his fourth penalty with 25 minutes remaining.
The febrile atmosphere eventually claimed two victims as Toulouse centre Florian Fritz and Bayonne’s South African lock Robin Linde were sent to cool off in the sin bin while Beauxis slotted over the resulting penalty.
Beauxis added another penalty to all but wrap up the points with 16 minutes remaining and then converted another as the match drew to a close to round off a superb evening for both his team and especially himself.