Former NRL star Sonny Bill Williams finally made his mark in French rugby with a starring role in Toulon’s 38-22 win over bottom of the table Mont-de-Marsan on Friday.
With Toulon coach and former All Black legend Tana Umaga delaying his playing comeback, Williams delivered on his much-hyped billing scoring one try and setting up another in the battle between the Top 14 relegation candidates.
Playing at left centre, Williams, who made a bitter and controversial switch to union from rugby league last year, ran half the length of the field to score his team’s third try in the 48th minute before setting-up Martin Jagr with a superb reverse pass.
Umaga, who had been widely-tipped to make a playing return after 18 months in an effort to help preserve the big-spending French team’s top flight status, stayed in the stands.
Jagr finished with a double as did New Zealand winger Sinoti Sinoti.
Toulon had trailed 19-13 at the interval against the only side below them on the ladder, and played large parts of the opening period with 14 men after Australian Matthew Henjak and then Ross Skeate had been sin-binned.
It was Toulon’s first win in the league since beating Biarritz 10-5 in November and came just four days after former French winger and current Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre was named as the club’s new sporting director for next season.
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