Faraj Benlahoucine, Media365, published on Saturday November 23, 2024 at 7:09 p.m.
Without many internationals, Toulouse crushed Perpignan (41-6) this Saturday to take sole lead in the Top 14. At the same time, Montpellier got a breath of fresh air at the bottom of the table.
In this double weekend, the Top 14 club most impacted with no less than eight players selected with the French XV this Friday against Argentina, Toulouse, did very well. At home, the Rouge et Noir annihilated Perpignan 41-6. Well helped by the red card from Akato Fakatika (26th), the Pink City club planted six tries, including one from Antoine Dupont's understudy, Paul Graou (48th), as well as a double from the 2nd line Clément Vergé (9th, 56th). Returning to the competition, Romain Ntamack started at the opening and he scored nine points on the foot.
This five-point victory gives Toulouse the lead in the championship (35 points) with a six-point lead over Bordeaux-Bègles. The Girondins, for their part, have one unit more than La Rochelle, 3rd to benefit from its defensive bonus won in Castres (28-24). Trailing 28-6 at half-time, the Maritimes with Jonathan Danty repositioned in the 3rd line made a good comeback after returning from the locker room thanks to the achievements of Ulupano Seuteni (42nd) and Quentin Lespiaucq (79th). The CO, 5th (27 points), has therefore placed itself back in the leading pack, like Clermont.
Montpellier breathes
The Jaunards, 6th, also have 27 points following their first away success of the season, gleaned this Saturday in Lyon (22-30). Baptiste Couilloud's double (34th, 56th) was not enough for the Rhone side. LOU, 11th, fell in the ranking because at the same time Montpellier (9th, 20 points) took the offensive bonus at GGL Stadium ahead of Pau (30-3). Coming off the bench, 2nd row Tyler Duguid offered the five points to the MHR at the end of an action well carried out by the Hérault pack after the siren (80th + 4). This result endangers the Section Paloise, 12th and first non-relegation. Stade Français and Vannes can overtake the Béarnais…
