Top 14 – Notes from Bayonne – Toulouse: Xan Mousques electric, Paul Graou and Anthony Jelonch feverish

Bayonne snatched victory against Toulouse this Sunday evening, at the end of the ninth day of Top 14. Sireli Maqala was decisive with a double, while Xan Mousques was untenable. On the Toulouse side, Paul Graou and Anthony Jelonch were missed.

The Tops

After his good performance on the Lyon pitch last weekendthe U20 world vice-champion had the possibility of continuing with this new presence in the starting XV. And the Basque once again gave satisfaction. He saved a try by making Guillaume Cramont commit a forward on a tackle, while the hooker was going for the try (12^e). He was also impeccable in his defensive duel against his opposite number Setareki Bituniyata, although he was much physically superior (100% successful tackles in the match). Comfortable under high balls, he again showed off his electric hooks when he carried the ball, like the differences he created on the action leading to the try of deliverance. He had also scored a great achievement, refused for a forward earlier in the action. In short, he’s our man of the match!

Also read:
Top 14 – The beautiful response from Xan Mousques (Bayonne)

Again and again… Without having a flamboyant match, he was able to be present in the right place at the right time twice. At the start of the match, he was opportunistic in picking up a ball that was lying near the opposing goal, after a judicious little overhand from Maxime Machenaud. It was also he who, offshore, put on the rods to conclude a beautiful glue actionactivate and deliver Jean-Dauger. The best try scorer in the Top 14 (eight goals in seven matches) has struck again!

Thanks to a try in the last minutes from Sireli Maqala, Bayonne won against Toulouse. A victory with a score of 12-8 for the Basques, who finished this ninth day in the top 6 after this fourth victory in a row.
The summary -> https://t.co/1LmezeGRw1 pic.twitter.com/QwecNCcrFx

— RUGBYRAMA (@RugbyramaFR) https://twitter.com/RugbyramaFR/status/1853198132873412908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

When he is on the field, everything changes in the ground game for Stade Toulouse. Rather in difficulty in this sector at the start of the season – in the absence of the Englishman – the Rouge et Noir regained vigor in these phases thanks to the presence of their evening captain. In the match against Bayonne, he stood out in particular with a big counter-ruck, a well-felt scratch and above all a diabolical presence which slowed down most of Bayonne's ball exits. The former Wasps man was also able to find progress with the ball in hand.

The flops

So many inaccuracies for the scrum half! With the absences of Dupont and Saito, the former Agenais was destined to play the 80 minutes of this Sunday evening duel. This was not the case, due to a concussion caused by an illegal tackle on Camille Lopez (68th). As this action showed, the Gers game was difficult. He seemed feverish on several occasions behind the rucks and is perhaps no stranger to the lack of efficiency of Toulouse in Jean-Dauger. In addition to passes that were not always well executed, he missed his transmission to the ground for Barassi due to hesitation (42nd) and committed a forward attack while rushing into the Bayonne camp (44th). Graou over-delivered on the ruck which preceded Maqala's try, and was therefore unable to cover the area. The scrum-half was also guilty of a gross foul on a ruck just before half-time. He was still to be credited with a good personal initiative by quickly playing a penalty, even if he also cut himself off from his support, without consequences. Above all, his high pass on Bituniyata's try was very well felt.

Anthony Jelonch : 3,5/10

Like some of his outings since his return to competition this season, Anthony Jelonch clearly lacked chest in Bayonne. Like his first charge, where he backed away before losing the ball, he failed to weigh on the opposing defense. Worse, he got angry with Giovanni Habel-Küffner and received a yellow card after shouldering his opposite number on the head. Definitely not in his match, the French international let the ball escape following a good inspiration from Cramont (48th). He was replaced in the 51st minute.