PARIS - Three-time European champions Toulon slumped to a shock 27-13 Top 14 defeat to Lyon on Sunday with Frederic Michalak, Delon Armitage and Mickael Ivaldi scoring 22 points against their former employers.
Lyon players celebrate after winning on November 6, 2016
It was Toulon's first loss in the tournament since mid-September and also marked a day to forget for Japan's star full-back Ayumu Goromaru who made his long-awaited debut as a second-half replacement.
"I am disappointed by our performance. We knew that Lyon, with all of their former Toulon players, would play with a lot of emotion," said Toulon coach Mike Ford.
"Lyon had more desire than us to win. To win trophies, to reach finals, we have to be better away from home."
Lyon built the foundation for victory in the first half where they were 22-6 ahead by the interval.
After Armitage and Michalak had kicked Lyon into a 12-3 lead, former Toulon hooker Ivaldi extended the advantage with the first try of the afternoon on 31 minutes.
Fly-half Michalak, who along with full-back Armitage left Toulon in the summer, converted before the former French international added another penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Pierre Bernard's two penalties were all Toulon had to show for their first-half efforts.
Fiji winger Napolioni Nalaga added a second try for Lyon after 47 minutes for a 27-6 lead when Toulon were down to 14 men following a yellow card for lock forward Jocelino Suta.
Sebastien Tillous-Borde scored a late consolation converted try for Toulon.
Even the 56th minute introduction of Japan World Cup star Goromaru in place of James O'Connor was not enough to revive the fortunes of the French giants who are fourth in the table, nine points behind leaders Clermont.
"For the intensity of the players in the scrum and in the tackles, the victory was deserved. To also claim a bonus point is fabulous," said Lyon coach Pierre Mignon, a former Toulon player and born in the French city.
- Leaders struggle -
La Rochelle went second, six points off the lead, with a bonus point 27-6 win at home to Pau with three tries coming from front row bruisers -- prop Mohamed Boughanmi (12 minutes) and hooker Jeremie Maurouard (49, 77).
On Saturday, Clermont narrowly avoided a humiliating defeat at relegation-threatened Grenoble with a 21-20 win secured with a late penalty from replacement fly-half Patricio Fernandez.
The victory gave Clermont a healthy lead at the top but until Fernandez hit the winning penalty 10 minutes from time, they were staring at defeat against a Grenoble side who have the league's worst defensive record.
Prop Alexandre Dardet had scored Grenoble's second try of the game which was converted by Jonathan Wisniewski for a 20-18 lead.
But Argentine fly-half Fernandez, who last week contributed 30 points in the 40-16 rout of Brive, kept his nerve with his first kick of the game after replacing Camille Lopez.
Earlier Morgan Parra and Otar Giorgadze had crossed for Clermont for a 15-7 lead at half-time with South African winger Gio Aplon keeping second-from-bottom Grenoble in touch.
Defending champions Racing 92 scored two tries in the last eight minutes to beat fellow title hopefuls Montpellier 21-9 in a drab affair in Paris.
Playing without injured All Blacks legend Dan Carter, Racing were locked at 9-9 until the 72nd minute with Johannes Goosen and Ben Botica exchanging three penalties apiece.
But Henri Chavancy, who has been at Racing since he was 11, blasted through three tackles to score with fellow academy graduate Xavier Chauveau adding a second try three minutes from time.
Toulouse also left it late to secure a 16-15 win over Castres at their Stade Ernest-Wallon home.
Missing six of their first-choice squad who are away on international duty with France, Toulouse needed a penalty two minutes from time by Samuel Marques to steal the win.
Bordeaux ran in four tries in an impressive 37-19 win over 2015 champions Stade Francais.