SUNDAY WRAP: Defending champions Stade Toulousain overcame a slow start to power into the Champions Cup quarterfinals and send a statement about their European intent.

Despite trailing 15-10 at half-time, the French juggernaut produced a 28-point second-half rout to record a commanding 38-15 win at Stadium de Toulouse on Sunday.

But it’ll be a bitter-sweet win for Stade Toulousain.

The images of Capuozzo leaving the field on a stretcher are sure to haunt quarterfinal preparations, but the French side will have the confidence to take the heat on their visit to oulon next week.

Stade Toulousain fans would’ve soon forgotten that talisman Antoine Dupont was absent when Jack Willis bullied his way through just a minute after the start.

The English star continued his stellar form of late by taking the ball out the back of the ruck to power it over a metre from home.

But anything Stade Toulousain could do, Sale could match – Luke James hit straight back to let the hosts know not everything was going to go their way.

It was a fast start that soon settled down, with both sides having waves in the opposing 22.

Disciplined and well-organised all over the park, Sale were impressive off the ball as much as they were on it.

And their nifty hands soon came in useful on the half-hour mark – Jonny Hill’s outstretched arm was long enough to reach onto the in-goal line and have the Mancunian side in front (15-10) for when the first 40 minutes were up.

Ugo Mola’s half-time speech must have riled up some emtion as the reigning champions came back out for the second-half on the front foot.

Just five minutes had gone by in the second period before François Cros bulldozed his way over, restoring the Toulousain lead.

Sale continued to initially remain solid at the back despite the setback, but it was clear the home side were starting to purr nicely.

Julien Marchand got the chance to add his name to the scoresheet when he fended off oncoming Sharks to leap home.

Stade Toulousain tried their hardest to find a fifth gear, but the Sale defence remained firm for the most part.

However, good things come to those who wait, and was only a matter of time before the six-time champions extended their advantage.

Injuring himself in the process, spritely winger Ange Capuozzo’s defence-splitting charge saw him pierce the Sale line to cross under the posts.

A later Guillaume Cramont touchdown confirmed what was a hard-fought win for the hosts.

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* In the earlier match Bordeaux-Begles booked their place in the quarterfinals with a 43-31 win over Ulster.

With the Bordeaux sun beating down on a sold-out Stade Chaban-Delmas, Damian Penaud was on hand to go over with just six minutes on the clock.

He already had 10 tries under his belt from the pool stages, and Christ Ashton saw his record of 11 equalled when Penaud weaved in and out of the Ulster defenders to break through and soar home for the tie’s opener.

The crowd were hungry for more though, and the UBB men were more than happy to oblige.

Ben Tameifuna bullied his way over from close distance on 15 minutes before Adam Coleman reached over at full stretch to join the festivities. Three tries in 20 minutes and Ulster were already under the cosh that they would’ve been dreading coming into it.

But the Irish side managed to stem their defensive bleeds by going forward back before the half-hour mark through Tom O’Toole when the prop powered over to end a drawn-out move.

It was a similar story for the visitors’ second – Dave McCann edged it over which, with Carbery’s conversion, brought them to within seven.

Bordeaux weren’t done though and Buros grabbed one before the break to keep the visitors at arms length.

The flurry of tries in the final third of the first-half didn’t set the tone for the restart as both sides settled into turnover exchanges as they found their feet.

An even first 10 minutes did culminate in an another cross for the hosts courtesy of Maxime Lamothe, but Ulster hit right back five minutes later through Nick Timoney to restore the deficit.

Ulster thought they had another when Zac Ward chased down a pinpoint kicked through-ball to touch down in the final inches of the in-goal. False alarm though as a knock-on in the build-up ruled it out – however it acted as a timely reminder of the Irish side’s threats.

Camped inside the UBB 22, Ulster made the next five minutes count to go over in the corner and mute the home fans’ once audible confidence.

Rohan Janse van Rensburg was on hand to restore the noise inside Chaban-Delmas though with 10 minutes from time. The South African’s 109kg strength proved too much for the Ulster defence and he wriggled over to put breathing space between the two.

Ulster did get a consolation back five minutes from time for what was Ward’s brace, but it was too little, too late for the Ireland side.

Their second win in as many outings against Ulster, UBB seal their ticket for the quarters when they will come up against Munster Rugby.

All Sunday’s scorers and scorers are below …

Bordeaux-Begles 43-31 Ulster

The scorers

For Bordeaux-Begles
Tries: Penaud, Tameifuna, Coleman, Buros, Lamothe, Janse van Rensburg
Cons: Carbery 4, Jalibert
Pen: Lucu

For Ulster
Tries: O’Toole, McCann, Timoney, Ward 2
Cons: Cooney 2, Doak

Teams

Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Yoram Moefana, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Pablo Uberti, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Pete Samu, 7 Guido Petti, 6 Mahamadou Diaby, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Cyril Cazeaux, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Romain Latterrade, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Pierre Bochaton, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Matthieu Jalibert.

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Zac Ward, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 John Cooney, 8 Dave McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 James McNabney, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O’Connor (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Andrew Warwick.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Matt Dalton, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Aidan Morgan, 23 Stewart Moore.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Adam Leal (England), Joe James (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

Toulouse 38-15 Sale Sharks

The scorers

For Toulouse
Tries: Willis, Cros, Marchand, Capuozzo, Cramont
Cons: Ramos 8
Pen: Ramos

For Sale Sharks
Tries: James, Hill
Con: Ford
Pen: Ford

Teams

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Paul Graou, 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand (captain), 1 David Ainu’u.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Clement Verge, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Mathis Castro-Ferreira, 22 Juan-Cruz Mallia, 23 Paul Costes.

Sale Sharks: 15 Luke James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Robert du Preez, 12 Rekeiti Maasi-White, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Ben Curry (captain), 6 Tom Curry, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Si McIntyre.
Replacements: 16 Tadgh McElroy, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Willgriff John, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Ben Bamber, 21 Sam Dugdale, 22 Nye Thomas, 23 Tom O’Flaherty.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Dave Sutherland (Scotland), Ruairdh Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Sources: AFP & EPCR