Stade Français Paris has given itself some air at the bottom of the rankings. By winning with the offensive bonusthe pink soldiers moved up to tenth place and above all warded off bad luck against the rival racingman. Harmless away, Clermont put out a top performance to win at Lyon which is definitely plunging into crisis. Finally, RC Vannes lost on home soil against Union Bordeaux Bègles after leading 29-0. A defeat can already be crippling in the fight for survival. In a complicated period, Matthieu Jalibert injured his thigh during his training. Here is the important information from this Top 14 weekend.
Clermont is expatriating, Lyon is in crisis
What a major performance from AS Clermont! In great difficulty since the start of the away championship, the Jaunards had not collected the slightest point from their trips. This Saturday, the task promised to be difficult when going to the Gerland pitch to challenge LOU. The Lyonnais, convincing at the start of the season but who were going through a difficult time, with three consecutive defeats, also had to react. It was nothing and Baptiste Couilloud’s teammates plunged even further into the crisis. The fault lies with the enthusiastic Auvergnats, uninhibited as we had not seen them outside their bases since September. Christophe Urios' players, more effective on their many highlightsscored three tries by Moala, Fourcade and Tauzin.
With this victory, Clermont sixth, confirms to be a great customer in the final stages. If they continue their momentum at home, then the season for the Michelin side could look bright. On the other hand, the LOU is sinking into a big crisis. The Rhone residents have just suffered a fourth defeat in a row, the second at home. However, in the leading quartet until recently, the Lyonnais are now twelfth only three points ahead of Pau, thirteenth and play-off. There is urgency and the next trip against these same Béarnais could prove to be a turning point of the season. Especially since the residents of the Hamlet are also on a series of endless defeats. Woe to the vanquished.
Stade Français wards off bad luck
Finally ! After seven years of drought and eight home defeats against Racing 92, Stade Français broke the curse. Opposed to timid Ile-de-France residents for an hour of play, Laurent Labit's men achieved a deserved success which revived them. While they were languishing in a dangerous thirteenth place, the Parisians are now tenth. A success that cannot be contested so much so that the locals were superior to visitors without solutions.
Return, Lester Etien notably scored a double and the three Parisian quarters were decisive. Despite a red card addressed to JJ Van der Mescht during the last minutes of the game and a relaxation, Paris was able to maintain its five points. Can the capital club now aim higher than simple maintenance? We will have to ride on this great dynamic, confirm the good things we have seen in order to achieve success away from home. Because on the trip, Stade Français was not too dangerous, most of the time suffering scathing defeats. The next part to Jean Dauger against a vengeful Bayonnais Rowing is akin to a test of greatness nature.
Vannes, an already crippling defeat?
But what match did we attend this Saturday evening on the pitch of La Rabine in Vannes? For 39 minutes, the locals did everything to perfection, reducing Bordeaux's offensive intentions to nothing. The Union Bordeaux Bègles, dominated in all sectors, had to, in addition to that, do without the services of Matthieu Jalibertinjured in a thigh following a crutch with Mako Vunipola.
Enterprising offensively, formidable in all aspects of the game, Jean Noël Spitzer's gang logically led 29-0 a few seconds before the break. Before Ben Tapuai revived the Girondins with a try (29-7, 40e). The beginning an absolutely fantastic comeback. Hold on tight, UBB slammed a scathing 37-0 in 41 minutes to win after a nightmarish first act (29-37). Cyril Cazeaux notably scored his double. And while the locals could have won the defensive bonus in the final moments, Lafage missed his kick. With a potential offensive bonus and a five-point victory, the Vannes came out of the game with 0 units on the clock. A defeat which endorses their hopes of remaining at the highest level of French rugby? Maybe unfortunately. So of course, we are only on the tenth day and Vannes is not definitively dropped. But in the minds, this defeat could mark a turning point in the wrong direction. Going from a potential big victory to a defeat can irreparably leave an impression. And the RCV finds itself seven points behind Lyonfirst non-relegation. There is an emergency among the Bretons.
Jalibert, the bad guy
While he had decided to return to Bordeaux, following his non-selection for the match against the All Blacks, fate seems to be attacking Matthieu Jalibert. Not called to play against Argentina, the Gironde fly-half injured his thigh following contact with Mako Vunipola in the second minute. A few seconds later, a new shock with Francis Saili got the better of Jalibert who left his partners for good.
Not polished in recent weeks, number 10 is going through a complicated period. But knowing his character, there is no doubt that the player will be able to quickly return to his level.
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