Rugby champions Toulouse stumble on first day

Defending champions Toulouse were brought down to earth when they were beaten 18-13 at Bayonne in the first round of the new Top 14 French championship season on Friday. Every side in France is missing players but Toulouse (12) and Clermont (13) have the biggest handicap as they face the first six rounds at least without their internationals who are taking part in the World Cup Trailing 9-0 at half-time thanks to three Benjamin Boyet penalties, Toulouse showed signs of life in the second period with former All Black Luke McAlister making an immediate impact when he came on. But with both sides trading kicks, the champions still trailed 18-7 as the siren signalled the end of 80 minutes. France reject Yannick Jauzion, however, crashed through for a try which at least enabled Toulouse to claim a defensive bonus point for finishing within seven points of Bayonne. The team they beat in last season's final, Montpellier, also got off to a losing start as they went down 30-22 at Racing-Metro.It was small revenge for Racing who lost to Montpellier in the semi-finals back in May - although both sides were seriously understrength with 17 players on World Cup duty. "To beat Montpellier - a finalist last season - and not even let them take a defensive bonus point is very satisfying for this first match, even if there is plenty of work still to be done," said Racing head coach Pierre Berbizier. Alex Tulou touched down in the 17th minute to give the visitors the initiative but emerging Racing centre Henry Chevancy capitalised on Virimi Vakatawa's dancing break and the half finished 19-19. Jone Qovu's try in the 57th minute edged Racing in front while Jonathan Wisniewski's penalty ten minutes later rounded out the win and a 20-point haul for the fly-half. "I liked the spirit the team showed in the second half because it was a difficult match," said Berbizier. "The players showed real guts. It is a positive even if they cannot do that all season." Stade Francais also kicked off with a victory as they ran in five tries to beat newly-promoted Bordeaux-Begles 41-20. It was a welcome start to the season for the club which spent the summer fighting for financial survival before an 11th hour takeover package ensured they would stay in the top flight. "We saw some good things tonight but it is difficult trying to build a new solidarity in a team," said former All Black scrum-half Byron Kelleher who moved to Stade from Toulouse in the close season. "I am very happy to be here in Paris. Last season, I was thinking too much. I was afraid that I didn't really want to play rugby any more. Now, after the holiday and a little bit of relearning I am happy to be able to play a new season in the Top 14." The other newly-promoted side Lyon, who included South African World Cup winning scrum-half Ricky Januarie, also lost but their 22-13 defeat at Clermont suggests they are not necessarily heading straight back down - even if the hosts were missing the rump of their first team. The tightest match of the night came at Brive where perennial rivals Agen stole a 20-19 win thanks to an 80th minute try from Ivorian full-back Silvere Tian and a cool conversion from Valentin Courrent. The night's other game saw Perpignan full-back Jerome Porical, who won one cap last year before being junked by France coach Marc Lievremont, kicking Castres into submission. The 25-year-old banged over six penalties and a conversion for a personal haul of 20 points as Perpignan won the match 25-6, the only try of the game coming from the South African centre Rudi Coetzee eight minutes from time. The first round of matches will be completed on Saturday when Toulon host Biarritz on Saturday.