Veteran winger Vincent Clerc closed in on the French try-scoring record on Sunday as Toulouse routed old rivals Stade Francais 36-3 to stay on course for the Top 14 play-offs.
Clerc, 34, scored twice to take his club career try total to 97, just three behind the all-time record of 100 held by Laurent Arbo.
In all, Toulouse ran in five tries for a bonus-point win which allowed them to open up an eight-point gap on seventh-placed Castres and well-placed for the end of season play-offs.
Earlier Sunday, Clermont went five points clear at the summit by coming from 19-0 down to defeat Bordeaux 24-19.
Toulouse had been co-leaders of the Top 14 at the end of January but with a host of stars away on Six Nations duty, they suffered a five-game run without a victory to fall badly off the pace.
In stark contrast, defending champions Stade remain third from bottom although they do have the attraction of a European Cup quarter-final against Leicester on the horizon.
Their chances on Sunday were not helped by having 15 players sidelined through injury.
“After a complicated period, five points against the champions—albeit they were under strength and have priorities elsewhere—it was a successful evening,” said Toulouse coach Ugo Mola. “We had been in crisis but our enthusiasm has returned.”
Stade back-rower Rafael Lakafia was blunt in his assessment.
“We have to be conscious of our reality today—reaching sixth place and a play-off place is mission impossible.”
Springboks fly-half Morne Steyn gave Stade an early lead with a penalty which was quickly cancelled out by Luke McAlister.
Steyn was then yellow-carded on the half-hour mark as Stade buckled in front of their posts with the referee awarding a penalty try as the home forwards hammered away.
Sebastien Bezy added the extras before Clerc slalomed to a second try of the first half after being smartly set up by forwards Louis Picamoles and Imanol Harinordoquy carving out the opening.
It was Clerc’s 96th career club try, taking him just four away from the all-time record held by former Montpellier and Castres star Arbo.
Bezy again hit the conversion as Toulouse led 17-3 at the break although their joy would have been curtailed by seeing Picamoles—just back after suffering a groin injury in France’s Six Nations opener against Italy—limp off.
Toulouse grabbed a third try 10 minutes into the second half.