Tops
After a start to the season falling short of its status as double European champion and Top 14 finalist, Stade Rochelais crushed Perpignan and obtained the first offensive bonus of its season at home (35-6). But the success of the Maritimes happened in two stages. Messy and imprecise during the first 40 minutes, Ronan O’Gara’s men only led by one point at the break (7-6), thanks to a try from Jules Favre (28th). Before stepping on the accelerator and planting four tries with Pierre Bourgarit (56th, see video below), Judicaël Cancoriet (62nd) and Reda Wardi (71st) to which must be added a penalty try (52nd). All without conceding a single point after returning from the locker room.
It’s a success that could be a landmark in Yannick Bru’s men’s season. In the freezing cold of the snow-covered Charles-Mathon stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Girondins managed to gain the upper hand over Oyonnax (23-29), despite glaring indiscipline for 80 minutes, marked by the two yellow cards of Tevita Tatafu ( 51st) and Ben Tameifuna (60th). But the Bordeaux-Bègles Union was able to rely on the talent of its internationals, as evidenced by the tries scored by Mathieu Jalibert (18th), the top scorer in the Top 14 Damian Penaud (39th, 44th) and Louis Bielle-Biarrey ( 77th). Add to that Maxime Lucu’s accuracy against the poles and you obtain a first success away from home this season.
Castres continues its flawless performance at home. Dominant throughout the match despite an indiscipline which allowed Lou to stay in the game for a long time, the Tarnais gleaned a new improved success (29-14) which allowed them to catch up with Rugby Club Toulonnais and Racing 92 (28 points) at the top of the ranking. Best attack in the championship before this day, the CO enforced its status by scoring four tries through Julien Dumoria (12th), Nathanaël Hulleu (32nd), Santiago Arata, author of a festival in the Lyon defense (52nd). ) and the replacement pillar Loîs Guérois-Galisson (59th). A full match before heading to the Champions Cup.
Flops
The change of staff and the arrival of Bernard Laporte have not changed the worrying dynamic of the MHR. Overtaken in all areas of play in Bayonne (34-19), the Héraultais suffered an eighth consecutive defeat in nine days and remain stuck in last place in the standings (7 points). Sovereign at home, Aviron Bayonnais continues its invincibility and moves away from the bottom of the ranking (10th, 19 points).
The promoted Oyonnax held its own against last season’s semi-finalist and long believed he could win. Before scuttling in the last moments. While they were leading by a small point (23-22), the “Oyomens” saw Maxime Lucu miss a penalty attempt three minutes from time (77th) but Justin Bouraux committed a forward on reception and while Domingo Miotti does not want to flatten to avoid the penalty with a ball taken in front, Louis Bielle-Biarrey tumbles like a ball and flattens at their feet, under the whistles of the public. After the successful transformation by Maxime Lucu, Oyonnax’s hopes of obtaining a defensive bonus had also just passed.
After a tight first act at the end of which he was only trailing by four points (15-11), Lou seemed able to make a big move on the Castres side. But it didn’t happen. After a new penalty from Paddy Jackson (43rd), which allowed them to come back to one point, the Rhone residents subsequently missed their highlights and ultimately failed to score a single point. And undergo the law of the locals who inflicted two new tests on them. In the standings, Lou is now in 12th place (16 points) and is already behind in the race for the final stages.
