Lyon scored a seventh consecutive victory at home against Bordeaux (27-10), Saturday during the 20th day of Top 14, which allows the Rhone residents to move a little away from the relegation zone. The Lyonnais also took advantage of the home defeat of Montpellier (13th and play-off) against Stade français (12-10) to take a four-point lead over the Héraultais. For its part, Bordeaux slipped to 5th place, overtaken by Racing and La Rochelle.
Baptiste Couilloud’s teammates left their mark on the match during a one-sided first half. Dominant in scrum, touch and impact, they were rewarded with two tries from English 3rd row Joel Kpoku (10-0, 22nd) and scrum half Baptiste Couilloud (17-0, 26th). They could have killed the match before the break but the 2nd row Félix Lambey saw his try refused for an irregular clearance of the New Zealand hooker Liam Coltman, sanctioned with a temporary exclusion for the action.
In the second half, Bordeaux, with numerical superiority, regained hope thanks to a try from 3rd line Australian center Peter Samu (10-17, 46th). But the visitors did not manage to force the decision, notably with two tries refused after video refereeing (65th, 67th), and came up against a well-established opposing defense. At the very end of the game, after a successful penalty by Léo Berdeu (56th), a try from Davit Niniashvili transformed by Paddy Jackson allowed Lyon to bring the score to 27-10 (80th 1).
Decisive, with a superb pass after contact on Henry Arundell’s lightning try in the 27th second of play, scrum half Nolann Le Garrec left immediately, victim of a concussion. His friend Antoine Gibert left the field injured in the second half, visibly injured in the right ankle.
A double blow for Racing before its trip to Toulouse next week in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup. For its last of the season at the Arena – monopolized in the coming months by a concert and preparations for the 2024 Olympics – the Hauts-de-Seine club still got the better of Clermont (26-10) and climbs to third place in the ranking. ASM, after two matches without defeat (one draw, one victory), relapsed and fell to 12th place.
Double defending champion in the Champions Cup, Stade Rochelais has not really been full of confidence before its perilous eighth coming up against the South African Stormers. Ronan O’Gara’s men seemed to have killed the match at the break against Oyonnax (28-0). But they stopped playing after returning from the locker room and let the red lantern make them doubt until the end (40-21). Another reason for concern: the leg injury of right pillar and new French international Georges-Henri Colombe.
Much more successful at home (nine consecutive victories in all competitions), Lyon won the “Europeans” duel against Bordeaux-Bègles (27-10). A setback for the Girondins after their prestigious success over Toulouse last weekend (31-28) and before welcoming Saracens in the Champions Cup.
Under the eyes of Blues coach Fabien Galthié, who came to enjoy the warm atmosphere of Aimé-Giral, Perpignan carried out the beautiful accounting operation of the day in front of Castres (43-12), beaten for the fourth time in a row. His improved success (seven tries scored) allows him to temporarily rise to 9th place while waiting for the gala match between Bayonne and Toulon on Sunday evening (9:05 p.m.) in San Sebastián.
