French champions Toulouse opened the defence of their title with an unforecast 16-11 defeat at Montpellier on the first day of the new Top 14 championship yesterday.

Elsewhere, last season's runners-up Clermont went down 16-22 to Toulon, back in the top flight after a two-year absence.

Ambitious Toulon scored three tries, one from their new signing, former Australian rugby league backrower Sonny Bill Williams.

Williams, 23, sparked a media storm in Australia when he decided to switch codes in midseason to play in Europe, despite being only one year into a five-year contract with the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Toulouse were unable to capitalise on their first half domination with Didier Nourault's Montpellier coming out after the break to take and hold on to the lead.

The fledgling table is headed by Montauban and Stade Francais, who saw off newly promoted Mont-de-Marsan 37-19 and Dax 31-9 respectively.

The Parisians' lopsided win with two of the tries coming from Italian Sergio Parisse was the best possible start for Stade Francais's new Australian coach Ewen McKenzie.

AFP

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