Facing a French Stadium without solution and worryingthe LOU confirmed to be a serious contender for the final stages, winning by a wide margin. Davit Niniashvili splashed his class game just like Sireli Maqala, who allowed Bayonne to overcome the curse of Anoeta. RC Vannes, despite an encouraging match, still cannot do it. Here are the echoes of the weekend.
Niniashvili on a cloud
We will have to count on LOU this season. This Sunday evening, the Rhone residents raised their heads, after a defeat in La Rochelle the previous weekend. When hosting the Stade Français, Léo Berdeu’s partners did not hold back, winning largely (35-3), five tries in the process. Brilliant, Lyon, like its start to the season, relied on a slick attacking gamebut also on a dominating melee and above all, individuals above the rest.
Among these? Baptiste Couilloud obviously. The scrum half continues his harvest of tests, 5 in 6 days, scoring yesterday on the Gerland pitch, a double in the space of six minutes. But if we had to highlight a man, our choice would naturally fall on Davit Niniashvili. Established at the back and while he will join Stade Rochelais next June, the Georgian twirler has once again proven, that he was one of the best players on the planet in his position. It was he who was at the origin of the first try, breaking the Parisian defense before serving Monty Ioane, then Baptiste Couilloud. Always well placed in the third curtain, he never stopped creating discord as soon as he touched the ball and was good in the occupation kicking game.
In short, a full match, as his statistics indicate at the end of the match. 116 meters covered with ball in hand, 1 crossing, 8 defenders beaten, 18 races, but also 100% successful tackles. If you want to be fussy, only one essay is missing from your copy. But with a confident team and such X factors, the LOU can assert itself as a real contender for the Brennus this season. From what we have seen so far, it is one of the strongest teams with UBB, Toulouse and La Rochelle.
Bayonne breaks the curse, Maqala the virtuoso
After 10 years without a victory at Anoeta, Aviron Bayonnais has finally warded off bad luck and in a brilliant way. The Basques crushed the apathetic Rochelais, the opposite of their recent outings (37-7). Worrying at the start of the season, the Ciel et Blanc have regained momentum over the last two matches, supported by returning and confident executives. The Carrerras, Segonds, Callandret and Tuilagi shone on the San Sebastian pitch. But in the middle of a burning attack line, it is Sireli Maqala who amazed the audience of Anoeta. Coveted by the big Top 14 teams, the Fijian extended his adventure in the Bayonne city a few days ago. To the delight of the supporters.
The 24-year-old center is perhaps the best thirteen in the Top 14 at the time of writing. On Saturday, he continued to push his team forward with his brilliant inspirations, or his confusing races. A true virtuoso of this game, he is notably at the start of an action of madness which he himself will conclude with an essay. He will first play maritime defense over forty meters, before serving as a chistera for his winger. Twice in the relay, he finished this interminable sequence in the goal, resisting the return of Dillyn Leyds. If his hand appears to be in touch at the time of the touchdown, the test will ultimately be validated. In any case, by counting such a phenomenon in its ranks, surrounded by Manu Tuilagi or Santiago Carrerras, Rowing can hope for much better days, far from the sluggish start to the season that it had offered us until here.
Vannes can’t do it
How hard it must be morally for RC Vannes. Traveling to Montpellier, in a clash of poorly ranked players, the Bretons, once again, showed an attractive facelike his matches at the start of the season. However, once again, the coin fell on the wrong side. After the match in Paris, the reception of Racing or this trip to MHR, it’s another frustrating defeat. And if the content remains promising, the result is relentless and the people of Vannes are still stuck in last place in the championship. We will have to quickly glean success, otherwise we risk ending up giving up, resigned to this lack of success.
At the GGL Stadium, Jean-Noël Spitzer’s protégés have long believed they would achieve their first away success. At 23-24 and with a handful of minutes remaining, the Bretons were crucified by the impeccable boot of Léo Coly (26-24). The next trip to Clermont, in difficulty away, but solid at home, will not be easy. Positive point for the RCV? He is still not dropped in the rankingssince Stade Français is only two points ahead or clubs like Perpignan or Montpellier are only three points ahead. It will be necessary for Vannes residents are now showing themselves to be intractable at home if they want to have a chance of maintaining themselves. The copies are promising, all that remains is to confirm with the “planchot”.
At Stade Français, hinge problem
Unrecognizable, Stade Français, semi-finalist last year and play-off winner two seasons ago, achieves a cataclysmic start to the 2024/2025 financial year. The reasons are multiple. While trying to turn to a new attacking game, the Parisian club has apparently somewhat abandoned what was its strength in previous years. Hermetic defense, impeccable conquest and perfect occupation.
Gaps in conquest can be explained by the multitude of injuredespecially at the front line position. On the other hand, it is difficult to understand these defensive errors. The departure of Joris Segonds, certainly not very inventive with ball in hand, has on the other hand weakened the Stadistes in terms of camp outings. Pink soldiers now lack length and suffer repeated attacks from adversaries.
In short, the problems are numerous and we will have to react quickly. Problems are also visible at the hinge level. We are repeating ourselves, but obviously the hinge is not the only one responsible for the Parisian rout since September. But we still find it difficult to understand how the Parisian board could have left with such deficiencies in this area. In nine, Brad Weber alternates the good and the less good. The New Zealand international excels in movement rugby, fast and sometimes disorderly, but foils when it comes to setting up the game. His foot raises questions and his clearances are sometimes random. He still remains the best, by far, in this position in the squad. Behind, Jules Gimbert, despite all his good will, showed that he could not be a number 1 in a Top 14 club. His game this Sunday against Lyon was once again too weak. Unable to animate or bring speed, he was invisible. Louis Foursans, his replacement, was not much better, his ruck exits being way too slowslower even than those of Gimbert. And if the young Motassi is chomping at the bit behind, the Parisian staff still does not seem decided to launch him into the deep end.
If at the opening half position, Zack Henry and Louis Carbonel have qualities, today, they are difficult to see. We are being a bit harsh, knowing that it is very hard to play behind a retreating pack. But the players must raise their level of play, otherwise they will continue to play this season. On the evening of the sixth day, Stade Français is thirteenth and play-offfar from its initial ambitions.
For the trip to Castres, why not try Léo Barré at the opening. The young full-back wants to settle in with the number 15 on his back, we know it. But given the already urgent situation, and for the good of the club, perhaps we should try new things. Especially since his return to school and since the start of the season, Joe Jonas is much more convincing in the back of the field than the former Massicois. Whatever happens, Laurent Labit will have to find solutions and quickly, otherwise he will experience a nightmare season.
Jonathan Davies announces his retirement
Apart from our Top 14, Jonathan Davies, Welsh and world rugby legend, has just announced his retirement at 36. The Scarlets center, who played for Clermont from 2014 to 2016, notably won four 6 Nations tournaments with Wales (2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021) and was voted best player of the British and Irish Lions tour in 2017. In New Zealand, the Lions finished the series in a perfect tie (1 defeat, 1 victory, 1 draw). A page of rugby in the 2010s is turning.
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