RC Toulon 38 Scarlets 12

Toulon cruised into the semi-final of the Challenge Cup with a five-try win over Scarlets, who had to rely on four penalties from fly-half Stephen Jones for all their points at Stade Felix Mayol.

The French club underlined why they were previously unbeaten at home that season with a double from right wing Clement Marienval and a try apiece from left wing Jeremy Sinzelle, New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams and flanker Olivier Missoup.

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson converted two and kicked three penalties for a tally of 13 points as Toulon stretched clear in the second half, after establishing a 16-6 interval lead.

Wilkinson opened the scoring with an immaculate penalty from the touchline, but Scarlets hit back with two from Jones, the second from long range.

However, that was the last time the Welsh region led in the match, as Toulon captain Matt Henjak put Marienval over in the corner for a try converted superbly by Wilkinson, who then added two more penalties before the break.

On the resumption, Toulon immediately added to their lead when Marienval kicked through Sean Lamont's legs, regathered the ball and grounded it over his head when tackled on his back a metre from the line.

Jones reduced the deficit to 23-12 and Scarlets must have thought they could get closer when Marienval was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on after 52 minutes.

However, they could not capitalise on the extra man and just as Marienval was about to return to the action, Scarlets had flanker Rob McCusker sin-binned for an off-the-ball shoulder charge.

The Welsh region held out until the last eight minutes, when Toulon’s strength off the bench paid off as they ran in three unconverted tries.

Brilliant handling saw full-back Luke Rooney send Sinzelle over in the corner, Williams swooped after a break from replacement Mati Kefu and man-of-the-match Missoup powered over from close in at the death.

RC Toulon: Rooney; Marienval, May, Bill Williams, Sinzelle; Wilkinson, Henjak; Taumoepeau, Fitzgerald, Lea'aetoa, Suta, Lozada, Missoup, Sourice, Auelua. Replacements: Djoudi, Basteres, Ryan, Skeate, van Niekerk, Kefu, Mignoni, Beal.

Scarlets: Priestland; Lamont, King, Davies, Fenby; Jones, Knoyle; I. Thomas, Owens, Manu, Reed, Day, McCusker, Pugh, Lyons. Replacements: Phillips, John, R. Thomas, Welch, Turnbull, Roberts, Evans, Maule.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

As RC Toulon prepare to host Scarlets in the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals, we look back at their only previous meeting at this stage of the competition, also in France, in 2010.