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EMBRA BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED

Toulouse: 34 Edinburgh: 10



With Toulouse needing a win today to be sure of qualification for the Heineken knock out stages this was always going to be a tough ask for Embra.   And the Frenchmen put in a superb display of running rugby in the first half, in particular, to come away with a comfortable victory.

The visitors battled throughout, however, and their determination was rewarded with the last score of the game - a fine try by Ben Gissing.   A visit to Toulouse always holds plenty of lessons - both on and off the field.  This young Embra squad will have come away with a fair few of those today.  You have to be able to cope with teams of this class, and atmospheres of this hostility, if you are to be successful at this level.

But unlike some previous editions, these guys look like they will build on the positives and address the negatives of a defeat in Toulouse in order to come back stronger.  Much as they did after their 39-0 loss at Welford Road earlier in the season.  Next year's tournament should see Andy Robinson's men translate this year's promise into tangible achievement.

In giving Edinburgh credit for their recent renaissance, Sky's Stuart Barnes pointed out one downside: Toulouse would not be complacent coming into the game.  And so it proved.

Florian Fritz set up Toulouse's first try on 9 minutes.  His break and kick ahead opening up space in the Edinburgh defence that saw Clerc cross. Although Godman clawed back three points for the visitors with a long range penalty, Clerc notched his second with four minutes left in the half.

Poor Edinburgh decision making saw Fritz snaffle a loose offload in his own half to score a fine individual try, leaving the half time score 22-3 Toulouse.  

In the second half, Toulouse secured the bonus point that made qualification for the quarters certain, as Donguy touched down for their fourth. 

After Perugini had scored from close range, Gissing finished off a move that began deep in Edinburgh's own half for a well-taken consolation try, converted by David Blair.

Toulouse: Heymans; Clerc, Fritz, Poitrenaud, Donguy; Du Toit, Elissalde; Human, Servat, Perugini, Pelous, Millochlusky, Bouihlou, Dusatoir, Sowerby. Replacements: Vernet Basualdo, Poux, Lamboley, Maka, Nyanga, Kelleher, Courrent.

Edinburgh: Hugo; Cairns, MacRae, Houston, Webster; Godman, Meyer; Allori, Kelly, Kerr, Mustchin, Gissing, MacDonald, Rennie, Hogg. Replacements: Lawrie, Smith, Hamilton, Reid, Laidlaw, D Blair, Dey.