The Albany Gazette - Italy's 'blooming' Capuozzo inspires Toulouse to Racing win

Capuozzo, 23, who joined the 21-time champions from second-tier Grenoble for this season, crossed in the second half as his side responded to last weekend's defeat at Pau.

"I'm very happy, I'm blooming but it's a team sport," Capuozzo told Canal Plus.

"When the team works well, individually you manage to create things, which is what we did tonight," he added after his third Toulouse appearance.

The five-time Test three-quarter was born near Grenoble but qualifies for the Azzurri thanks to his Italian father and played for the country's under-20s side in 2019.

At Stade Ernest-Wallon he features alongside Les Bleus squad members such as Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Cyril Baille.

"I love Italy. They helped me during my early career when I didn't have much," fleet-footed Capuozzo said.

"Today, I owe them everything. I don't play for France but I play with their players at Toulouse."

Australia lock Emmanuel Meafou and France winger Matthis Lebel claimed first-half tries in a turgid affair on a poor playing surface.

Donovan Taofifenua was the visitors' only try scorer as Scotland's Finn Russell added a conversion and a penalty.

Capuozzo's contribution came by intercepting a Russell pass before galloping 80m to cross under the sticks with 13 minutes to play.

Former France centre Sofiane Guitoune claimed the bonus point with five minutes remaining to send them top of the table after four games.

- 'Open secret' -

Fiji's Olympic gold medallist Masivesi Dakuwaqa opened his account for the season as champions Montpellier beat Pau 43-17.

On Friday, Britain's Telegraph newspaper claimed Montpellier had signed England No. 8 Sam Simmonds for next season with compatriot Zach Mercer leaving for Gloucester.

"He's a good player, he's a good pick," Montpellier director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre told reporters.

"I'm maybe a bit old but we always announce new signings in April or May. But it's an open secret that we're looking for a No. 8."

Club president Mohed Altrad was present in the stands days after French prosecutors demanded a three-year prison sentence for the Syrian billionaire for corruption and influence-peddling with French rugby federation president Bernard Laporte.

The verdict of the trial will be delivered on December 13, with the defence calling the allegations "fantasy".

Georgia's 20-year-old full-back Davit Niniashvili recorded his first Top 14 double in Lyon's 33-27 victory over Stade Francais.

South African fly-half Tristan Tedder kicked 14 points as Perpignan claimed their fist win of the season with a 19-13 victory over Toulon.

The Catalans celebrated their 120th birthday during the match and had lost their three opening games of the campaign following last week's heavy defeat to La Rochelle.

"We were under quite a bit of pressure. We had to react quickly. We had to win at all costs," Perpignan back-rower Alan Brazo told reporters.

"Our match was far from perfect but we can build on it."

On Sunday, La Rochelle head to Clermont but their director of rugby, ex-Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara, will be banned from the touchline after receiving a six-week suspension for his behaviour towards a match official.

(H.Schneide--BBZ)