(Paris, FRA) - Champions Toulouse ended Racing-Metro's perfect start to the Top 14 season on Saturday with a 41-36 win whose highlights were two tries from Yannick Jauzion that helped lift them into the top five.
Jauzion's contribution went some way in compensating his failure to land a World Cup berth, but ultimately made the difference in the match.
His brace added to efforts from Yannick Nyanga and Clement Poitrenaud, while Kiwi Luke McAlister kicked five penalties -- one from 60 metres late on to help clinch the win -- and three conversions.
It was Racing's first loss in three matches, after they let slip an early 7-0 lead courtesy of a fourth-minute try by Fijian veteran Sideli Bobo, although they did at least go home with a bonus point.
Despite the win, Toulouse coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde was concerned about the points they conceded.
"Scoring tries is good - but conceding them just as easily is less good. We had a few difficulties in defence," he said.
Racing counterpart Pierre Berbizier highlighted the need to "iron out a few errors" and had harsh words for scrum half Jonathan Wisniewski, mooted as a potential successor to David Skrela for the national side.
Wisniewski went off with a knock after the break but asked if that had been a blow, Berbizier said: "What really hurt us was his knock-on for the first Toulouse try and then his failure to land touch for the third.
"It wasn't his going off that hurt us but rather (what happened) when he was on the pitch."
Berbizier also lamented a disappointing crowd which he felt was linked to fans preferring to limit their weekend entertainment to watching France's earlier match with Japan at the World Cup on television.
"I regret that we are in competition with the France team - this match deserved a full house."
Toulouse flanker Yannick Nyanga said the win would be a major boost but "we have to remember we weren't far from losing it either.
"We will savour it but we have to continue to work," especially given that "our friends" in the national side are unlikely to be back in club action for the best part of two months owing to their New Zealand odyssey, depriving Toulouse of half a dozen stars including flanker and France skipper Thierry Dusautoir.
Racing now trail leaders Clermont by three points after the latter on Friday made it three wins out of three, the 2010 champions hammering new boys Bordeaux-Begles 34-6.
Last season's surprise Top 14 finalists Montpellier produced a battling showing on Friday to bag a 19-19 draw at Stade Francais and lift themselves off the foot of the table.
Elsewhere, 2009 title winners Perpignan edged Brive 12-9, Castres won 23-18 at winless Biarritz to go fourth and Bayonne and Toulon ended in a 12-12 draw.
Lyon slumped to a third straight defeat, 24-18 at Agen, joint second with Racing a point clear of Castres and Toulouse.
