Parisse has too much class as Toulon give Bath lesson

Biggar opened the scoring with an early penalty after the outmuscled Bath scrum went to ground and from that moment Bath were fighting an unrelenting wave of pressure.

Fijian wing Naqoli Wainaqolo was the first to touch down when Jules Danglot, the latest in a long line of promising French scrum-halves, broke blind from a lineout which Bath were expecting to defend in orthodox fashion. Biggar converted from the touchline and Danglot was again to the fore for Toulon’s next try which he set up with a beautifully weighted chip over the advancing Bath defence for Mealan Rabut to sprint on to and score unopposed in front of the posts.

Bath have been consistently poor starters this season and it remained pretty much one way traffic until half-time and on the few occasions they advanced into Toulon territory they found ways of being turned over or penalised. Nor does their tactic of relying on Ben Spencer’s box kicks play to their strengths. Teams are ready and waiting and Bath fans must look in frustration with the likes of Joe Cokanasinga, Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh very much unemployed out wide.

With an air of inevitability, a third Toulon try arrived on the stroke of half-time with mobile loosehead Bruce Deavaux powering over after good approach work from openside Raphael Lakafia. 24-0 at the break and frankly lucky to get nil.

Bath definitely improved after the break, they were more ambitious when in possession and their heads didn’t drop in defence after Gerais Cordin blasted his way over for Toulon’s bonus point try. That score showcased both Parisse and Biggar with the former creating the chance with a delightful off-load and Biggar carrying it through with a pinpoint long pass.

A big score was indicated but Bath, with Piers Francis rallying the troops, dug in and began to enjoy good passages. Their reward came towards the end with replacement hooker Tom Doughty forcing his way over from a lineout rumble.