Melvyn Jaminet hat-trick helps Toulon defeat Pau 41-20

RC Toulon defeated Section Paloise 41–20 at Stade Mayol on Saturday during the seventh round of the Top 14 season, bouncing back from an early-season slump behind Melvyn Jaminet’s first professional hat-trick, lefigaro.fr reported.

Jaminet Secures First Career Hat-Trick

Melvyn Jaminet responded to criticism regarding his early-season form by scoring three tries and kicking 20 points out of the 38 marked in Toulon’s victory. Manager Franck Azéma noted earlier in the week that the international fullback had not been at his usual level. Despite missing two conversion attempts, Jaminet capitalized on positioning to anchor the hosts’ scoring output, with the former player of Perpignan and Toulouse always being well placed.

Ben White and Tomas Albornoz Direct Toulon Attack

With Baptiste Serin beginning the match on the bench, Scottish scrum-half Ben White directed Toulon’s attack alongside fly-half Tomas Albornoz. White utilized quick distribution around the rucks and a precise kicking game, while Albornoz contributed heavily on the attack, setting up Toulon’s fourth try. In the pack, English back-rower Zach Mercer, recognized as the best player of the Top 14 in 2022 with Montpellier and having often disappointed since his return to France at Toulon, recorded 17 tackles (3 missed) and 25 meters gained in 7 carries, showing renewed impact after recent positional shifts to the flank of the back row.

Brau-Boirie Suffers Knee Injury

Pau center Fabien Brau-Boirie left the field in tears near the hour mark after sustaining a right knee injury during a tackle from behind by prop Beka Gigashvili. The injury presents a significant setback for both Pau and the French national team ahead of upcoming autumn fixtures, with medical evaluations pending. Substitute scrum-half Baptiste Serin also had a brief outing, providing an immediate try assist to Gigashvili before failing a head injury assessment.

Pau Extends Winless Run at Stade Mayol

Section Paloise has not won an away fixture against Toulon since April 8, 2006, an era when the Green and White counted players such as Lionel Beauxis, Christophe Laussucq, Gonzalo Quesada, and Mathieu Dourthe among their ranks. Despite fielding an experienced starting XV under manager Sébastien Piqueronies, Pau struggled with a malfunctioning lineout and defensive lapses, conceding 41 points before scoring two late tries to close the deficit.

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