Toulouse will go into the last-16 of the Investec Champions Cup as the top seeds after they overcame a stern challenge from Bath to claim a 31-19 triumph on Sunday.
The West Country outfit were excellent for the majority of the game, but they were undone by that extra bit of class by the hosts.
, who is currently ineligible for England, was utterly outstanding, consistently stealing ball at the breakdown, while France duo Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos were typically influential.
Les Bleus’ playmakers were key as went 12-0 ahead early on through Emmanuel Meafou and Ramos tries before mounted an impressive response, levelling matters as props Beno Obano and Thomas du Toit touched down.
The teams then traded efforts through a penalty try and an Ollie Lawrence score before the visitors controlled the third quarter.
However, Johann van Graan’s men did not take their opportunities and were made to pay for that profligacy. Toulouse upped the intensity in the latter stages and sealed a bonus-point win through Juan Cruz Mallia and Ramos.
As a result, Bath failed to get the extra point required for a home last-16 clash in the , with Harlequins edging ahead of them thanks to their victory over Ulster on Saturday.
Toulouse took the lead in the sixth minute after an incredible 20 phases, Meafou bundling his way over the line despite the best efforts of Josh Bayliss.
A TMO review confirmed the grounding, but Ramos hit a post with the conversion attempt.
Toulouse moved 12 points in front three minutes later. Following a penalty, Dupont took a quick tap and kicked in behind the Bath defence, Ramos latching on to the long ball before touching down in the corner. This time he made no mistake with the conversion.
Bath struck back quickly and had a try of their own five minutes later. After winning a penalty the five-metre line-out was executed to perfection as Obano ran over the line before Ben Spencer added the extras from the left touchline.
Bath were level after 23 minutes when Du Toit proved too powerful for the defensive line and crossed the whitewash from close range following a five-metre tap penalty.
Toulouse re-established their lead via a penalty try. They worked their way to within a metre of the line from a 10-metre line-out before Charlie Ewels illegally dropped the maul and was subsequently shown a yellow card.
Ramos hit a post with a penalty and Bath made Toulouse pay just before the break when Ollie Lawrence crossed to make it 19-19 at half-time.
However, Toulouse won it late on by crossing twice in the final 12 minutes.
Mallia got on the end of Ramos’ kick and the win was sealed with three minutes to go when Dupont kicked behind the defence for Ramos to round off a 31-19 win.
Toulouse: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Juan Cruz Mallia, 13 Dimitri Delibes, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 David Ainu’u, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Alban Placines, 21 Arthur Retiere, 22 Sofiane Guitoune, 23 Ange Capuozzo
Bath: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 8 Miles Reid, 7 Chris Cloete, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Ewan Richards, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Cameron Redpath
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire)
Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy (Ire), Paul Haycock (Ire)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
