Northampton crashed out of the Heineken European Cup as Toulouse completed their expected procession into the semi-finals with a routine victory at Le Stadium.
Head coach Budge Pountney could have few complaints as the 2000 tournament champions were outclassed in every department except goal-kicking where Shane Drahm's three penalties from three attempts prevented a whitewash.
Frederic Michalak, Cedric Heymans, Vincent Clerc and Christian Labit ran in tries as the twice European Cup winners' enterprising play frequently brought the capacity 36,000 crowd to their feet.
Early in the game the visitors had built a strong field position but, as they probed down the left, a loose pass from Tom Smith was intercepted by Michalak, who made light work of the 65-yard race to the line. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde converted.
Drahm slotted a penalty but Saints were soon back under the cosh with Michalak pulling the strings beautifully at outhalf - his distribution set up Toulouse's second try.
Heymans made the initial break and when openside Finau Maka carried on the move, Toulouse's attacking machine had clicked into gear, the ball being sprayed towards the right touchline with lethal intent. It was shipped back to Heymans via Michalak and Clement Poitrenaud, and the left winger skipped around centre Mark Stcherbina to complete the move, which Elissalde converted.
Drahm landed a penalty to slash the deficit to 14-6 but Michalak improved his side's situation further moments after the restart by hitting over a drop-goal and then, having taken over the kicking duties from Elissalde, he booted a penalty for good measure.
Saints replied with a Drahm penalty but when substitute Mark Soden was sin-binned in the 49th minute for pulling down a ruck, their hopes of eating into Toulouse's lead were dealt a hammer blow.
The home side did not need a second invitation to exploit the advantage, Michalak and Poitrenaud linking up once again to send Clerc over in the right corner.
A deflection off the left upright saw Elissalde kick the extras before Michalak added his second penalty.
Substitute Labit then crashed over after a quickly taken lineout in the 69th minute to leave Saints dead and buried, with Elissalde rubbing salt into the wound by adding the extras.
SCORERS: Toulouse - Michalak, try, 2 pens, drop-goal; Heymans, try; Clerc try; Labit try. Elissalde 4 cons. Northampton - Drahm 3 pens.
TOULOUSE: Poitrenaud; Clerc, Jauzion, Fritz, Heymans; Michalak, Elissalde; Poux, Bru, Hassanein; Pelous, Millochlusky; Bouihlou, F Maka, Lamboley. Replacements: Servat for Bru (42 mins), Gerard for Millochlusky and Labit for Maka (59 mins), Brennan for Pelous (67 mins), Medard for Fritz (71 mins), Dubois for Elissalde (72 mins), Human for Poux (80 mins).
NORTHAMPTON: Reihana; Rudd, Cohen, Stcherbina, Tucker; Drahm, Howard; Smith, Thompson, Morris; Lord, Browne; Fox, Krige, Blowers. Replacements: Soden for Blowers (10 mins), Emms for Morris (38 mins), Boome for Browne (52 mins), Jones for Howard (71 mins), Vilk for Stcherbina (72 mins). Sin bin: Soden (48 mins).
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales).
