Two second-half tries by former Waratahs winger Alofa Alofa has inspired his French Top 14 side La Rochelle to a memorable 37-25 victory over four-time European champions Toulouse.

Victory, with halfback Jean Audy contributing 22 points with the boot, is La Rochelle’s first in the Top 14 this term after their promotion.

The match was turned when former All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn was sin-binned in the 56th minute – allowing Alofa to take full advantage.

The outstanding Audy created the first of Alofa’s two tries with a superbly judged kick into the try area where the 23-year-old former rugby league player caught it with an athletic leap and touched down.

Not long after Alofa, born in New Zealand but who moved to Australia aged four with his family, rounded off a move that was started by the indefatigable Fijian Sireli Bobo.

Audy converted to great roars from the home crowd and they more than held their own in the final nine minutes to record a deserved victory.

“This was a very disappointing performance,” said Toulouse captain Thierry Dusautoir.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half but we made even more in the second, especially in the scrum.

“We need to learn from this and bounce back immediately,” added the 32-year-old French skipper.