Jonny Wilkinson came out on top during Saturday’s mouth-watering battle with Lions team-mate Stephen Jones as Toulon knocked the Scarlets out of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
England’s World Cup winning hero marshalled an impressive display from Philippe Saint Andre’s men, with the Scarlets well beaten 38-12 at the Stade Felix-Mayol.
Wilkinson, who was a Test Lion in 2001 and again in 2005 when he linked up with Jones in the 10-12 axis, enjoyed the clear advantage of a pack going forward but his own individual display was certainly impressive.
In addition to a typically strong defence and equally solid distribution, Wilkinson was back to his best with the boot.
A missed touchline conversion was the only blemish on an imperious kicking display in which none of his six attempts were any where near straightforward.
In fairness to Jones, the Lions’ 2009 Test fly-half was hardly out of sorts. The double tourist contributed all 12 of his side’s points courtesy of four penalties and was generally at the heart of the Scarlets’ best passages of play.
But Wilkinson’s Toulon were by far the better outfit. Three late scores may have given a flatterring look to the final scoreline but the home side were well worthy of their victory.
The big-spending French team outscored their Welsh opponents by five tries to nil, with Jeremy Sinzelle, Sonny Bill Williams and Olivier Missoup crossing in the final seven minutes after Clement Marienval had claimed a brace.
