Top 14: Revived Toulon take five as they register crucial away win at Bourgoin

Bourgoin 12 (6) Toulon 23 (12)

Toulon confirmed their recent revival with a crucial 23-12 away win at relegation rivals Bourgoin on Friday night.

Tana Umaga's improving side not only recorded their first away win of the season, they also walked away with a vital bonus point after outscoring their hosts by three tries to nil.

Their five-point haul immediately lifted them out of the drop zone - they had started the evening on 13th position - and put them level with their hosts Bourgoin on 30 points.

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They can now look forward to a run of four home games out of five with renewed confidence, especially if player-coach Tana Umaga can continue the form he showed at the Stade Pierre Rajon.

The former All Black centre only last 22 minutes before going off injured, but in that short time he had already inspired his charges to an early lead. His presence alone clearly lifts his team and the 35-year-old could play a pivotal role in their push to stay in Top 14 as he offers knowledge and leadership - qualities that had been conspicuous by their absence for most of this season.

It was Umaga's early turnover that nearly set Sinoti Sinoti on his way for an opening minute try, but at least the veteran Kiwi had the satisfaction of seeing Saimone Taumoepeau go over for a 19th-minute score before he had to withdraw from the action. It was the Samoan's prop second try in successive matches - a handy attribute to have when your team is fighting for every point.

Fly-halves Benjamin Boyet and Sebastien Fauqué had already kicked a penalty apiece by then - although the latter had squandered two further opportunities - but in truth there was only one team out there which looked capable of breaking the try line.

Captain Joe Van Niekerk led the Toulon forwards with his usual gusto and although Fauqué missed the conversion the visitors went further ahead 10 minutes later. This time winger Sinoti did manage to score, rounding of an excellent move which started with clean line out ball from Jocelino Suta.

A 12-6 half-time advantage seemed poor reward for their on-field dominance and Fauqué's profligacy with the boot - a season-long problem for Toulon - threatened to undo the visitors again when his counterpart Boyet landed a third successful penalty two minutes after the restart.

At 12-9 the game was still, theoretically, there for the taking, but Toulon ensured it would be their night when Czech winger Martin Jagr scooted over for the visitors' third try after 54 minutes, and this time Fauqué did claim the extras.

Boyet managed one more penalty for the hosts but substitute fly-half Conrad Barnard replied in kind for Toulon, and Jagr's late try-saving tackle guaranteed they went home with all five points for the first time this season.

Incoming director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre will be delighted with the team's current form but his assessment that a lack of a quality goal-kicker had cost Toulon five to eight pints this season gained credence at the Pierre Rajon.

On this occasion Fauqué's waywardness did not prove costly, but had the fly-half not missed four penalties, two drop-goals and a conversion then Toulon would have been out of sight long before the climax to this match.