The National Times - Toulon hold on to beat Stormers after red card in Champions Cup

Earlier in Durban, South Africa captain Siya Kolisi scored two of his side's five tries as the Durban-based Sharks comfortably beat English side Exeter 39-21 in Pool 1.

While conditions in South Africa were warm and sunny, the wind and rain shaped the three games in Pool 3.

In the English Midlands, Northampton thrashed visiting Castres 38-8, Munster beat Stade Francais, who had two players sent off, 33-7 in Limerick, and Saracens cruised past the Bulls 27-5 in north London. All three winners collected bonus points.

In Pool 2, French side Clermont also opened with a bonus-point win as they beat Treviso 28-0.

At Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Toulon jumped into a fourth-minute lead with a try by Gabin Villiere but Warrick Gelant and Joseph Dweba replied and the hosts led 14-10 at the break.

Toulon regained the lead with a try by No. 8 Facunda Isa and padded their lead when scrum half Baptiste Serin surprised the hosts with a quick tapped penalty and bulled over after 64 minutes.

Toulon were reduced to 14 men after Yannick Youyoutte, chasing a kick, flattened Manie Libbok with a high tackle in the 71st minute.

Three minutes later, Marius Domon of the Stormers was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and Toulon hung on.

In Northampton, Juarno Augustus scored two tries for the hosts.

"We prepared for these conditions and we tried to play the game tighter and run the ball," Augustus, Northampton's No. 8, told Premier Sport.

Henry Pollock, a 19-year-old flanker, touched down after a powerful run on his European debut.

"That guy has a bright future," said Augustus. "He's unreal."

Northampton and England scrum half Alex Mitchell made his first start of the season after a neck injury.

- 'Balls kicked backwards' -

At Saracens, the Bulls took a 10th minute lead with a try from Sebastian de Klerk but Rhys Carre responded before half time.

"The first half was difficult against the wind, balls were getting kicked backwards and things like that," said Saracens captain Nick Isiekwe.

England trio Jamie George, Tom Willis and Ben Earl all touched down in the second half.

"With the wind, it was a little easier to get out of our half and get territory," said Isiekwe.

In Limerick, tries by Thaakir Abrahams and Shane Daly put Munster 14-0 up at half time but things grew worse for the visitors when lock Pierre-Henri Azagoh was red carded for catching Peter O'Mahony on the head with his arm after 49 minutes.

A minute later, Alex Kendellen went over for Munster's third try. Two minutes after that the other Parisian starting lock, Baptiste Pesenti, flipped over scrum half Craig Casey in a tackle and saw red. Tom Farrell and Gavin Coombes added tries for Munster either side of a French touchdown by Clement Castets.

In Durban, Exeter hooker Dan Frost bundled over for the first try in the 13th minute. But Phepsi Buthelezi and Springbok duo Makazole Mapimpi and Grant Williams all scored in a six-minute burst for the hosts before Kolisi gave the home side a 26-7 lead, and a bonus point, after 37 minutes.

Frost and England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso touched down for the Chiefs in the second half, either side of Kolisi's second try.

Later, Glasgow beat Sale 38-19 with George Horne claiming three of the five first-half tries for the Scottish hosts who earned a bonus point.

And French capital outfit Racing 92 eventually broke Harlequins' resistance in Paris with 11 second-half points for a 23-12 win.

P.Johnston--TNT