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RugbyU: Toulon dethrone champs to stay on course for double

Toulon ended Toulouse's reign as French Top 14 champions with a 24-9 semi-final success on Friday to remain on course to complete a double. The newly-crowned European champions took their time to hit their stride following last weekend's historic 16-15 win over Clermont in Dublin, but once they did, they streaked clear in the second half. "The first half was really difficult but we came out ion the second half with ambition," said Toulon fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked 14 points.

RugbyU: Michalak on Toulon bench for European Cup final

Mercurial French half-back Frederic Michalak will start on the bench for Toulon against Clermont in the European Cup final on Saturday. Toulon coach Bernard Laporte stuck with the same starting XV that beat Saracens 24-12 in the semi-final. South African Danie Rossouw has overcome a twisted knee to retain his place in the backrow, with erstwhile captain and compatriot Joe Van Niekerk named among the replacements.

RugbyU: Wilkinson extends Toulon stay by a year - club

World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has signed a one-year contract extension with Toulon, the French Top 14 club said on their internet site on Tuesday. The news was widely expected after the 33-year-old former England No.10 told The Times newspaper last month that he would do so. In that interview he admitted he had considered retiring as he suffered from a long-standing groin problem.

RugbyU: Teammates' support helped me continue - Wilkinson

Jonny Wilkinson says he sought the advice of Toulon teammates Matt Giteau and Frederik Michalak before targeting a further season at the French Top 14 club. The 33-year-old England World Cup winner was seriously considering bringing an end to his playing career when his contract with the French club ran out at the end of this campaign due to a long standing groin problem. But Wilkinson told The Times on Saturday that encouragement from Giteau and Michalak and following a successful operation has tipped the balance in favour of signing a new contract.

RugbyU: No golden dawn in sight for wooden spoon French

Normally a Six Nations wooden spoon two years ahead of the World Cup would not augur well for a country's chances but when it's France all bets are off. The last time France landed the unwanted prize in 1999 -- when it was the Five Nations -- they went on to beat the favourites the All Blacks in the World Cup semi-finals before losing to Australia in the final.

RugbyU: Michalak ruled out for at least 3 weeks

France and Toulon half-back Frederic Michalak faces at least three weeks on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder, his national team boss Philippe Saint-Andre said Sunday. Michalak was forced off nine minutes from time with the injury to his left shoulder as France ended their miserable Six Nations campaign with a 23-16 success over Scotland, which nonetheless failed to prevent them finishing up with the wooden spoon. The 30-year-old had his arm in a sling on Sunday at France's Parisien hotel.

RugbyU:French team has soul, says defiant Saint-Andre

The French team has soul and spirit despite a disastrous Six Nations campaign that saw them land the wooden spoon for the first time since 1999, claimed a defiant France coach Philippe Saint-Andre. The French took the unwanted prize despite beating Scotland 23-16 here at the Stade de France on Saturday, their first win of the campaign, to end the tournament with three points. They finished bottom of the table, equal on points with Ireland but with a worse points difference.

RugbyU: French land wooden spoon despite beating Scotland

France landed the dreaded wooden spoon for the first time since 1999 despite beating Scotland 23-16 at the Stade de France on Saturday in their final Six Nations match. Second-half tries by Wesley Fofana and Maxime Medard saw them to their first win of the tournament, but a late try by Tim Visser reduced the margin and that left them rock bottom because of a worse points difference to Ireland. "We were controlling the game well but couldn't get points on the board," said Fofana.

RugbyU: French land wooden spoon despite beating Scotland

France landed the dreaded wooden spoon for the first time since 1999 despite beating Scotland 23-16 at the Stade de France on Saturday in their final Six Nations match. Second-half tries by Wesley Fofana and Maxime Medard saw them to their first win of the tournament, but a late try by Tim Visser reduced the margin and that left them rock bottom because of a worse points difference to Ireland. Scotland opened the scoring when Greg Laidlaw slotted over a penalty in the eighth minute.

RugbyU: France v Scotland Six Nations result

Result of France v Scotland final Six Nations match at the Stade de France on Saturday (kick-off 2000 GMT): France 23 Scotland 16 H-t: 0-6 Scorers France: Tries - Fofana (66), Medard (71), Conversions - Michalak (66), Machenaud (71), Penalties - Michalak (45, 49, 54) Scotland: Try - Visser (76), Conversion - Jackson (76), Penalties - Laidlaw (8, 17, 59) Teams (15-1) France
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