Matt Giteau kicked 16 points as Toulon got the defence of their Top 14 title underway in style with a 29-15 win at Bayonne.

The reigning French and European champions were made to work hard in the first half, going in level at the break, but Mathieu Bastareaud and David Smith went over in the second half although they missed out on a bonus point.

Flanker Gerhard Vosloo was the only South African to start for Toulon, with scrumhalf Michael Claassens on the bench.

Photo: Gaizka Iroz/AFP Photo