Top 14: Umaga's return unable to stop Stade Francais from reclaiming top spot

Stade Francais 22 (13) Toulon 12 (0)

Stade Francais were outscored by two tries to one but still beat Toulon 22-12 to reclaim the Top 14 leadership.

The Paris club did just enough on a night that was initially dominated by the playing return of Toulon's All Black legend Tana Umaga, nearly two years after his last competitive match.

The 35-year-old made a solid comeback as he became the league's first ever player-coach, but he was powerless to stop Stade Francais dominating the first-half as they opened up a 13-0 advantage.

Top 14 Table

Lionel Beauxis - playing after the late withdrawal of Juan Martin Hernandez - controlled the game expertly for the Parisians, and kicked them into an early 6-0 lead courtesy of a penalty and drop-goal.

Toulon's South African debutant Conrad Barnard spurned a 20th-minute chance to reply and the lead was stretched to 13 points shortly after when Mathieu Bastareaud - Umaga's opposite number - plunged over for the game's opening try.

Bastareaud (20) capped an excellent break that was initiated by Beauxis and rugby league convert Mark Gasnier, and left Umaga sprawling on the ground as he tried desperately to halt the advance.

Beauxis added the conversion but was replaced by Noel Oelschig early in the second half after picking up a pelvic injury that will have France coach Marc Lièvremont sweating ahead of Friday's home clash with Wales.

Umaga and Barnard also went off five minutes after the interval - Umaga for a well-earned break and Barnard for stitches to a head wound that curtailed his first game game since switching from the Cheetahs.

When Oelschig slotted a 53rd-minute penalty to put Stade 16-0 up it appeared the scene was set for a late surge to gain a bonus point, but it was Toulon who ended the match stronger as they rallied to score two late tries.

Umaga's Fijian replacement Gabriele Lovobalavu had a hand in both scores - first making the break for Samoan prop Saimone Taumoepeau to touch down after 63 minutes; then releasing Czech winger Martin Jagr for a fine individual try four minutes from time after he caught his own chip ahead.

By that time Toulon were down to 14 men - due to Joselito Suta's yellow card - but their late rally will at least give Umaga something to work with going into their next two matches - away to Bourgoin and at home to Bayonne.

Their performances have definitely improved of late but they now need to get the points to match their efforts if they're to avoid relegation in the summer. Not many teams go the Stade Jean Bouin and outscore their hosts in terms of tries, but Toulon left empty handed despite doing just that.

Oelschig's three second-half penalties was partly responsible for that, and Stade will be content to have re-claimed the Top 14 summit - even if it is for just 36 hours ahead of Toulouse's home clash with Clermont on Sunday.

Toulon will also have more than half an eye on Saturday's games as a Castres win at Dax will now send them back down into the relegation zone.

Stade Francais' backs coach Christophe Dominici apologised after the game for the Beauxis injury, saying the club had been forced to play him after Hernandez was ruled out with a fever.

"Lionel suffered a pelvic injury. We are sorry for the French team, he shouldn't have played but we didn't have another number 10," he said.

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal, meanwhile, said his side's performance offered hope.

"Tonight I am disappointed because the team has not made any points. I am a president who has many regrets because we showed we could compete with Stade Francais. But I also have optimism because we have now competed in our last three games," he said.