Giteau's Toulon jeered despite win

European champions Toulon recorded a 15-9 home win over Perpignan, but locals were unhappy the likes of Matt Giteau could not snaffle a bonus point.

Toulon's Jocelino Suta vies with Perpignan's Bertrand Gury

European rugby champions Toulon were jeered off the pitch despite a 15-9 win at home to Perpignan. (AAP)

European champions Toulon were jeered off the pitch despite extending their French Top 14 lead with a 15-9 win at home to Perpignan on Friday.

England legend Jonny Wilkinson kicked all the home side's points while Tom Ecochard knocked over three penalties for the Catalans.

But local fans were not happy with the likes of former Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau.

The result meant Perpignan picked up a losing bonus while Toulon came nowhere near reaping an attacking bonus and could lose top spot by the end of the weekend.

At the start of play they had four pursuers within a point and all four could overtake them with a bonus-point victory on Saturday.

Despite his side being booed at the final whistle, manager Bernard Laporte was not disappointed.

"I'm satisfied by the attitude we showed but we didn't manage to finish off chances," he said.

"We should have scored five or six tries. It's like having 15 chances in football and not managing to put one in the net.

"We weren't good in the last 10 metres because we couldn't find the final pass.

"We mustn't forget that this team is in a building phase with a lot of players who haven't been here very long."

The game itself was a dire affair, not helped by the number of first choice players on international duty.

Even so, with the likes of Wilkinson, Giteau and Maxime Mermoz in the hosts' line-up, there was enough talent on the field to expect more from the European champions.


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Source: AAP


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