Antoine Dupont scores nine tries and wins Top 14 title with a double: Planet Rugby

Toulouse pulled off a famous one-two when they crushed a surprised Bordeaux-Begles in the Top 14 final, winning by nine tries 59-3 at the Stade Vélodrome on Friday.

Inspired by the irrepressible Antoine Dupont, who scored two tries in the first half, Les Rouge et Noir were in relentless spirit as they defended their recent Champions Cup title.

Peato Mauvaka, Thomas Ramos (2), Julien Marchand, Blair Kinghorn, David Ainu’u and Ange Capuozzo scored Toulouse’s other tries of the evening in a merciless performance.

Click here for the scorers

Toulouse started the break in Marseille at full steam and were leading 22-3 thanks to an impressive double from star scrum-half Dupont and a cross from Hakler Mauvaka.

The unpredictable French international, who will soon be playing Sevens at the Paris Olympics, crossed the line in the sixth minute when he fired over the bar after a close-range shot.

This attempt by Bordeaux-Begles was made even more difficult by the fact that No. 8, Tevita Tatafu, was sent to the penalty box for a high tackle shortly before Dupont’s seven-point shot.

Toulouse did not let up in the early stages and a penalty goal by Ramos, thanks to Dupont’s quick reaction in the scrum, increased the deficit to 10:3 in the 14th minute.

And there was more: By passing quickly, Mauvaka was able to hit the ball from close range far to the right, assisted by Pumas winger Juan Cruz Mallia.

Bordeaux-Begles was in shock and when Dupont scored his second try with a chip and chase after a set move, the 22-3 lead seemed unassailable.

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The only consolation for Bordeaux-Begles was that Mauvaka had a goal disallowed just before half-time, while Toulouse jogged in with one hand on the silverware.

Ramos extended the lead to 25-3 with a converted penalty in the 44th minute, while Bordeaux-Begles now looked like a beaten team as they soon made their substitutions.

Toulouse showed no mercy, however, and when Dupont linked up with Romain Ntamack, who skilfully fired forward, Ramos scored the fourth goal.

It was now a procession as the heads of the Bordeaux players were finally gone when substitute hooker Marchand jumped over the net after a solid driving maul to give them a 35-3 lead.

Things got even worse for UBB in the final phase, when an intercepted pass from Maxime Lucu on halfway led to Paul Costes finding the Scotsman Kinghorn, who was able to easily slot the ball in.

It’s hard to believe, but Toulouse kept going until the final whistle. In the 74th minute, Ramos converted his second pass before substitute mainstay Ainu’i scored from close range to make it 54-3. Dupont and others now watched from the sidelines and a visibly delighted head coach Ugo Mola purred with pride.

And it was fitting that there was one final wave of attack from Mola’s side, as their insistence on playing on led to Capuozzo scoring a wonderful try to seal a famous Top 14 success.

The teams

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Juan Cruz Mallia, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Substitute: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Clement Vergé, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Paul Graou, 21 Ange Capuozzo, 22 Paul Costes, 23 Joel Merkler

Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Tevita Tatafu, 7 Mahamadou Diaby, 6 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Cyril Cazeaux, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Substitute: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Pierre Bochaton, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Paul Abadie, 22 Pablo Uberti, 23 Toma Taufa

Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas, Adrien Marbot
TMO: Eric Gauzins

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