Stade Francais Paris won a pulsating Heineken Cup final "dress rehearsal" when they stormed to a 40-19 Top 16 victory over Toulouse at a packed to capacity Parc des Princes.
The two French giants, who will next collide in the climax to the 10th Anniversary season in Edinburgh on 22 May, produced a scintillating contest of top quality rugby to keep the 45,000 fans of the edge of their seats.
Toulouse edged the first half but the Parisians dominated the second period to score 32 points without reply and give themselves a huge boost ahead the Scottish showdown.
Wales Grand Slam-winning captain Gareth Thomas scored Toulouse's third and final try in his first start since injuring a thumb against France in Paris in the Championship, but it was five-try Stade Francais' day.
