Union Bordeaux-Bègles regained first place by outclassing Stade français on Saturday during the 14th day of the Top 14, which saw Toulouse almost play a very bad round in La Rochelle, and Toulon disgust Racing 92.
. UBB hits hard
A week after leaving first place to the Toulouse rival, the Bordelo-Béglais regained the leadership chair.
Yannick Bru’s players took time to find the fault on the Stade Français pitch (13-12 for Paris at half-time), but in the Parisian cool, they raised the temperature in the second act for the win 46 to 19.
The arrow of the Blues Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored a double during an easy end to the match for the Girondins, marked by five tries scored against the overwhelmed Soldats Roses. UBB (50 pts) now has three points more than Stade Toulousain (47 pts).
. La Rochelle says “phew”
La Rochelle third row Gregory Alldritt (C) with the ball against Toulouse, in La Rochelle, January 4, 2025 / XAVIER LEOTY / AFP
La Rochelle trembled, but the Yellow and Black beat Toulouse (22-19). Facing them, a team made up largely of very young players, some of whom had never started in the Top 14.
The young Toulouse guard, lined up to spare the executives who are flying to South Africa on Sunday, believed to snatch an unexpected draw thanks to a drop from the young opener Valentin Delpy in the last minutes. But a penalty from Antoine Hastoy after the siren allowed the Rochelais to pocket four points, a relief, avoiding humiliation against the French champions.
A little disappointed but proud of the performance of their bottle class, the Toulouse staff leaves Marcel-Deflandre with a promising defensive bonus point, not necessarily anticipated before the meeting.
. Toulon clings to the podium
Against Toulon, Racing 92 was able to believe it a few minutes from time, but this season, Mayol is impregnable. In the wake of their official scorer Gaël Dréan, again author of two tries on Saturday (ten in total this season), they crushed Ile-de-France residents who were too imprecise.
Toulon took the lead thanks to several brilliant moves from their scrum half Baptiste Serin before being worried in the second act. But Dréan emerged to offer an improved victory (36-24) to his team, synonymous with third place, with 43 points.
Toulon winger Gael Drean (L) scores a try against Racing 92, in Toulon, January 4, 2025 / MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP
The Rouge et Noir’s Saturday was, however, overshadowed by the injury exit of Charles Ollivon in the 6th minute, injured in the right knee less than a month before the start of the Six Nations Tournament.
For the Racingmen, the situation becomes even more complicated. The teammates of Nolann Le Garrec, author of two tries, have not won in the Top 14 since November 2, remaining with four defeats and a draw against Lyon last week.
. Montpellier curry Bayonne
Aviron Bayonnais, which had as many points as Toulon before this 14th day, fell to Montpellier (42-10) overwhelmed during a one-sided first half (22-0 by the Héraultais).
With this victory punctuated by the offensive bonus, the MHR has a fifth success in a row at home which allows it to come back to four points behind its opponent of the day and to enter, at least provisionally, in the top six.
. Breath of fresh air from Lyon
In a bottom-of-the-table match that smelled of sulfur, LOU managed to secure a precious victory against Perpignan (17-12).
Thanks to the defensive bonus point obtained at Gerland, the Catalans avoided falling to 13th place, which Stade Français inherits.
In a tight mid-table duel, Castres dominated the Section Paloise 24-19.
Sunday evening, Vannes, which is eight points behind the play-off, will try not to let itself be completely lost with the reception of Clermont.
