the tops and flops after the first third of the championship

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On break for two weekends to make way for the fall tour of the XV of France, the Top 14 has just completed its 9^e day and therefore its 1^is third party. The opportunity for At the time of Rugby to distribute good and bad grades: here are the tops and flops of the Top 14 after 9 days.

The best of the Top 14: the Bayonne fire tests

The three-quarter line of Aviron Bayonnais was enough to make one salivate on paper, but it was still necessary to confirm on the ground the promises that the pair of Tuilagi – Maqala centers suggested, for example.

After 9 days, we can already consider that the Basques have found the formula, scoring crazy tries from the four corners of the pitch almost every weekend. We remember, for example, that of Sireli Maqala against La Rochelle.

And it's impossible not to mention the 100 meter test concluded by Xan Mousques in Lyon!

The best of the Top 14: the Bordeaux-Bègles game

If Bayonne splashed the first third of the championship thanks to its panache, Union Bordeaux-Bègles was not to be outdone, carried by its international three-quarter line and Matthieu Jalibert in resplendent form.

No surprise then to find Yannick Bru's team prancing at the top of a good number of the championship's offensive statistics: best attack, most tries scored, most passes after contact, most meters covered, most crossings…

The tops of the Top 14: Toulouse is full

First in the Top 14 after 9 days, Stade Toulousain is not yet at full speed and even conceded an extremely rare defeat on its own lawn against UBB. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of reasons for satisfaction in Haute-Garonne.

The Rouge et Noir can, for example, be proud of being the only team to have managed to take a point on each day since they recovered a defensive bonus during each of their three defeats.

A statistic which finds its foundations in solid defensive performances: the French champions quite simply have the best defense in the Top 14 after 9 days with 145 points conceded, far ahead of Montpellier (194).

The tops of the Top 14: Vannes seduces

It was written that the season would be difficult for the promoted player who actually occupies the last place in the Top 14 after 9 days. However, Vannes is very far from having done poorly during this first third of the year.

Certainly, the gross record of 2 victories for 7 defeats is harsh, but the Bretons still gleaned three defensive bonus points proving that they were regularly in the game until the end of their matches.

In addition, the RCV made its arrival in the Top 14 a great celebration, filling the Rabine stadium during its home matches played in an overheated atmosphere on each occasion.

The flops of the Top 14: Stade Français in distress

Runner-up to Toulouse last season, Stade Français has not managed to continue the same dynamic this season. And that’s an understatement to say. After 9 days, the Parisians are penultimate in the Top 14 with 3 steps ahead of the red lantern.

In the game, the pink soldiers appear uninspired. More alarming, they can no longer rely on the virtues of the previous season and have tended to crack during their missteps, conceding 46 points to UBB and 35 to Lyon, Castres and La Rochelle.

The flops of the Top 14: the indiscipline of Racing 92

Regarding the ranking, Racing 92 is quite significantly better off than its Parisian neighbor with a passable 7^e place in the Top 14 and an approximately balanced record of 5 victories for 4 defeats.

If it is difficult to be satisfied with such a progress chart in view of the means put in place by the Sky and White, the latter know some of the causes of their current difficulties.

At the forefront of which is glaring indiscipline: also 7^e in the number of penalties conceded (48), the Ile-de-France club is first in the number of yellow cards received, 13 in 9 matches.

The flops of the Top 14: Lyon and Pau have stalled

Le Lou had a good start to the 2024-2025 Top 14 season, regularly climbing into the first six places in the rankings (2^e after 2^e day, 4^e after 6^e day), in the wake of a sparkling turn at the start of the season.

Unfortunately for the Rhone residents, they have just suffered three defeats which sent them down to 10^e place in the championship and must quickly get back on track so as not to experience another season looking in the rearview mirrors.

To a lesser extent, the Paloise Section had also had a good start to the year, ranking 6^e after 6^e sleeve. But just like the Lyonnais, Sébastien Piqueronies and his team fell for the third time in a row last weekend and are now in 12th place^e place, a point in front of the red zone.

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