Top 14 – Lyon and Toulouse do not decide between themselves and end in a draw

Lyon and Stade Toulouse share the points (17-17) in their home Matmut Stadium for the last meeting of the twelfth day of the Top 14.

The Top 14 offered one last interesting duel before the holidays between Lyonnais in search of points to escape from a red zone become cumbersome, and Toulouse residents eager to regain the leadership position left to the UBB during yesterday, with a significant but frequent rotation among the French champions depending on the time of the season. Berdeu opened the Lyon counter from the start, rewarding collective work to start (3-0, 8th). The Toulouse response did not take long. Bituniyata accelerated in his lane and fixed the last defender to send Graou to the promised land (3-7, 10th). Nothing to destabilize the premises. While the occupation game was often won by the Rhone residents, Berdeu reduced the gap following a foul from Merkler from 22 meters (6-7, 17th).

Karim Ghezal's troops insisted. Serious and diligent, the locals proposed an effective plan, and Berdeu scored three additional units to restore the advantage to his team (9-7, 20th). Toulouse was getting closer to the opponent's goal line, while the outside was taking shape, Saito temporarily returned, making an odd mistake with the ball in hand. A wasted ammunition quickly digested by the Rhodanians. On a play at the foot of Berdeu, the capricious rebound fooled the vigilance of Capuozzo isolated near his line. The Italian was under defensive pressure from Niniashvili and Ioane took advantage of the opportunity to score in a corner (14-7, 40th). The Matmut Stadium Gerland was exultant and the Lyonnais could be satisfied with a well-supported first act against the Stadistes.

Also read:
Top 14 – Lyon-Toulouse scores: Davit Niniashvili and Setareki Bituniyata untenable

Festival of opportunities left behind

Berdeu adjusted a 50-meter penalty (17-7, 51st), giving the impression of attitudes corresponding to a possible positive result. Alas, the Toulouse bench brought its benefits and revitalized the possessions. Despite a sector of the alignment close to a fiasco, the visitors scraped points. Kinghorn first, on a welcome penalty and a yellow card for Blanc-Mappaz following (17-10, 61st). The hold of the Stadistes increased, and Théo Ntamack slipped behind the line, after a well-organized maul on which the third line took advantage of the power (17-17, 65th). The last quarter of an hour will give rise to numerous opportunities to gain the upper hand on the scoreboard. Without success, Léo Berdeu twice at the foot and also the Haut-Garonnais lacking concrete results on the use of the ball near the lines.

Lyon in the tough! If the result was imperative before the meeting, the opponent never gave in to these aspirations in the end. Yet in the right spirit, with a multitude of opportunities to their credit, Karim Ghezal's men, the returning one, were unable to take control of the debates, due to a lack of realism at the end. A still delicate situation for an entire club, which is still leaving the place of play-off, and which will have to sublimate itself during the next trip to Racing 92 to avoid damaging headaches.

Eternal Toulouse! Despite the absence of several internationals and a good share of youth that could be described as triumphant, Ugo Mola's men have proven once again their ability to adapt to the context as well as the elements. Established know-how, constant consistency, after a thunderous start to the European campaign. Toulouse certainly does not regain its leadership position, but grabs two points after having been behind for a long time, and will aim for continuity when it hosts the Stade Français, in one of the great classics of French rugby.