Toulouse extended their unbeaten run to 14 games with a 53-21 win over Lyon, while there were also Top 14 victories for Montpellier, Castres, Racing 92, Agen, Bordeaux and Clermont.
Despite missing a host of their French internationals, the Top 14 log-leaders were in fine form at home on Sunday, blitzing playoff hopefuls Lyon with a six-try first-half performance before adding a seventh in the second half to seal the bonus point.
Toulouse were boosted by a hat-trick from 29-year-old wing Sofiane Guitone, while Cheslin Kolbe again showed why he is considered one of the most dangerous attacking players in the league.
In a frenetic first half, Lyon opened the scoring in the fifth minute through a try from Xavier Mignot, before Toulouse responded through Guitone’s first try.
Lyon again went ahead when left wing Noa Nakaitici scored, but Guitone then completed his hat-trick either side of a try from Toulouse scrumhalf Sebastian Bezy. Inside centre Pita Ahki and wing Lucas Tauzin added tries to see Toulouse go 46-14 up at half-time.
The pace of the game slowed down in the second half as Toulouse looked to control proceedings, comfortable that they had done enough in the first half.
Lyon raised their hopes of a potential comeback when replacement back Jonathan Wisniewski dotted down for their third try of the match. However, their aspirations were quickly dashed as fine work from Ahki released flank Louis-Benoit Madaule for a try.
Earlier in the round, hooker Bismarck du Plessis got on the scoresheet as Montpellier came from behind to beat Toulon 21-18.
Toulon had taken a 15-7 lead at half-time thanks to tries from prop Marcel van der Merwe and scrumhalf Rhys Webb.
However, Du Plessis went over in the 52nd minute to get the visitors back into the match. Montpellier then immediately punished a yellow card to No 8 Charles Ollivon when outside centre Yvan Reilhac scored what turned out to be the match-winning try.
In other results, Clermont stayed in touch with Toulouse on the log by claiming a 27-14 win against Pau, despite playing most of the match with 14 men after losing lock Flip van der Merwe to a red card.
Castres centre Robert Ebersohn scored one of their six tries to help them beat strugglers Perpignan 36-17 and climb into third place.
Racing stayed in the top six with a 34-14 victory over Grenoble, 12th-placed Agen stunned playoff hopefuls La Rochelle with a 19-7 win and Bordeaux went into the top four by beating Stade Français 26-12.
Round 19 results:
Toulon 18 Montpellier 21
Castres 36 Perpignan 17
Grenoble 16 Racing 34
Agen 19 La Rochelle 7
Bordeaux 26 Stade Français 12
Clermont 27 Pau 14
Toulouse 53 Lyon 21
Photo: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
