Montpellier more and more in a rut. Despite the arrival of Bernard Laporte and a new staff, the MHR lost again in the Top 14, conceding this Saturday on the Bayonne pitch (34-12) its eighth defeat of the season in nine days. The Hérault club therefore remains bottom of the Top 14. At the same time, the 13th in the ranking, Perpignan, did not manage to widen the gap since Usap lost to La Rochelle (35-6), who breathes a little by picking up his fourth success of the season, an offensive bonus to boot. The Maritimes are getting back on track before starting their Champions Cup campaign against Leinster next weekend. For a remake of the last two finals won by Ronan O’Gara’s players.
On the snow-covered Oyonnax synthetic pitch, Union Bordeaux-Bègles performed well this Saturday by signing, in Haut-Bugey (23-29), its first away victory of the season. Yannick Bru’s players managed to score four tries, including a double from their star recruit, French XV winger Damian Penaud. At the very end of the match, Louis Bielle-Biarrey gave his team the try to win (79th), receiving a missed penalty from Maxime Lucu, screwed up by the last Oyonnax defenders. A cap test for the “Oyomen” who remained on two successes (Lyon, Montpellier).
Finally, Castres Olympique did not tremble in its lair, bringing down Lyon (29-14) with four tries and an offensive bonus point. After its defeat in Toulon, the CO reacts and consolidates its place in the top six, returning to the level of Rugby Club Toulonnais and Racing 92 (which plays this Saturday evening in Clermont) at the top of the ranking, with 28 points. LOU, on the other hand, remains stuck at the bottom of the ranking (12th, 16 points).
