Toulon 22 (13) Stade Francais 22 (10)

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson marked his Top 14 debut with an impressive 17-point haul, but his Toulon side had to settle for a share of the spoils after they were held 22-22 at home to Stade Francais.

The injury-plagued 30-year-old kicked four penalties and a trademark drop-goal, but had to share the limelight with Noel Oelschig as the Stade player matched Wilkinson’s points tally to earn his side a valuable away draw.

Top 14 Table 2008/9 / Top 14 Transfers / ProD2 Transfers / Top 14 Fixtures 2009/10 / Pre-season friendlies

There was, however, much to admire as Wilkinson played the entire 80 minutes on his return to competitive rugby, even if tired limbs almost proved costly right at the death. The former Newcastle No 10 knocked-on a regulation pass just outside his own 22 in the game’s final minute, but Stade were unable to create the drop-goal opportunity they craved and the whole of Toulon breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Defeat would have been cruel on the home side – who had led for much of the game – but Wilkinson was typically self-effacing when facing the media (in French and English) after the final whistle.

“It’s good to have played a whole match but I would have preferred a win,” he said, before adding: “I missed a couple of kicks as well which could have seen us win the match.”

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If that was pure Wilkinson much of the balmy night must have been an eye-opener for the England World Cup Winner. Playing 105 minutes’ of pre-season friendlies may have whetted his appetite but nothing could have prepared him for the extraordinary atmosphere at Toulon’s packed out Stade Felix Mayol.

The intimate harbour-side ground was vibrating with anticipation well before the kick-off, with the club’s renowned supporters whipping themselves into a frenzy with a rousing rending of club song ‘Pilou, Pilou”. They had come to anoint their new King, buoyed on by the stadium announcer’s exhortations for “Jo-nee-Wil-Kin-Son”. A crescendo of noise greeted his entrance and Wilkinson wasted no time making his impact on a scorching evening down on the Cote d’Azur.

A third-minute penalty opened both his and Top 14’s 2009/10 account, although the international record points-scorer confirmed his mortality when he pushed a seventh-minute drop-goal wide.

His first tackle was also emphatic and throughout the initial skirmishes it was like watching Wilkinson of old as he hurled himself into the fray. Passes when to hand, up-and-unders were dispatched of both feet and back moves were reassuringly barked to his teammates.

Juan Miguel Leguizamon’s ninth-minute try briefly subdued the home crowd, especially with Oelschig adding the conversion and a subsequent penalty, but Wilkinson played a major hand in helping his new team-mates claw themselves back to parity. A regulation high ball set up Thomas Sourice for Toulon’s only try – following a superb charge down – and inevitable extras were added with aplomb.

It remained 10-10 until a minute shy of half-time when Stade Francais debutant James Haskell – one of six British players making their Top 14 bow on the night – was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul just short of his own try line.

Wilkinson’s boot exacted full punishment as the former London Wasps’ flanker trudged to the bench, leaving the Mayolistas in good voice as the interval allowed all to draw breath.

Oelschig’s second successful penalty levelled the scores once more shortly after play resumed but Wilkinson upped the ante by landing two more of his own within four minutes, the latter of which sailed over from inside his own half. It set the tone for another 40 minutes of pulsating rugby, with both sides displaying understandable rustiness as the game wore on.

A 54^th-minute knock-on, when under no pressure, confirmed Wilkinson was not immune to mistakes but the home crowd were easily forgiving – or was that shock? They certainly roused themselves again when Stade’s Mathieu Bastareaud entered the fray soon after, greeting the hulking centre with a crescendo of boos as he made his own playing comeback after a troubled summer.

Wilkinson entered new territory – for Toulon at least – as the hour mark ticked by, and a 62^nd-minute penalty miss ultimately proved costly. He did land his sixth successful kick (out of nine on the night) when he connected sweetly with a 70^th-minute drop-goal, but Oelschig ensured their was parity as he was on target with two of his own – in the 67^th and 76^th minutes.

If that left a feeling of frustration Wilkinson refused to show it at the final whistle, compliantly staying on the pitch to conduct a post-match television interview in fluent French before walking over to 30-wheelchair bound supporters and shaking hands with each and every one of them.

After that it was off to the official press conference, although British reporters might struggle to recognise it as such as a scrum of journalists encased Wilkinson with an ardour only the French would allow.

Still he kept his cool, answering each question in turn as he explained how delighted he was to have played the whole match and how he needed to improve and learn. Typical Johnny really, except he didn’t appear to be injured, and for that we must all give thanks. Next up is newly promoted Racing-Metro 92 a week today (Sunday 22^nd), when Sebastien Chabal should be on show as Toulon play host to Paris’ other glamour side.