A double still well controlled for Ugo Mola's men, who got off to a promising start with an express try from one-day captain Jack Willis, but who had to wait until the 50th minute to finally unfold against the Catalans who were quickly reduced to 14 men. following the definitive exclusion of Akato Fakatika.
Of the six tries scored by the red and black, the usual replacement Clément Vergé stood out with a double. Returning from injury, opener Romain Ntamack scored 11 points on his foot.
While waiting for the trip of their runner-up Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday evening to promoted Vannes, bottom red, the reigning champions now have a seven-point lead over Toulon and La Rochelle.
The RCT delights
The Varois, who opened the ball at the start of the afternoon against Bayonne, seduced Mayol in the wake of a dazzling Gaël Dréan, author of a hat-trick – a 4th try was refused for a forward pass – and a feline breakthrough leading to the one signed Baptiste Serin.
Absent during the first 20 minutes (17-0), with a faltering touch, the Basques, who remained on four victories in a row, showed character to almost pick up the score before cracking around the hour mark and leaving the RCT flies towards a second improved success.
For its part, La Rochelle played Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde on the Castres pitch. A topsy-turvy half -28-6 for the CO with a double from Geoffrey Palis – followed by another much more encouraging despite the red card addressed to Aleksandre Kuntelia (18-0) for an improved final defeat (28 -24).
A lesser evil for Ronan O'Gara's men who presented themselves without their four main pillars invited to France-Argentina on Friday evening and a new-look 3rd line including Jonathan Danty aligned on a wing.
The Tarnais, in view of their successful first act, will be able to nourish the double regret of having let slip the offensive bonus that they had in possession and seeing the Maritimes snatch one on the wire, which allows them to beat them by 'one point in the standings.
A derby to finish
Empty until then far from the Michelin Stadium, Clermont finally unlocked its away counter with a realistic victory in Lyon (30-22) where nothing is going well.
The ASM, which opened the hostilities thanks to its barometer in the center George Moala (30) fought hard to resist the Rhodaniens of a Baptiste Couilloud once again gala with a double, a decisive foot pass but also a card YELLOW.
Frustrated for a good part of the match by the decisions of Mr. Vivien Praderie, LOU surely lost big this Saturday in the race for qualification.
In search of confidence, Montpellier may have finally found it by offering itself a pale Pau team, very diminished and therefore worrying (30-3), with an offensive bonus won more than four minutes after the siren by Tyler Duguid.
Enough to breathe a little easier in the ranking where the Héraultais, who were tied on points with the Béarnais at kick-off, are now in 9th place.
This 10th day will end on Sunday evening with a Parisian derby full of dangers for the Stade Français, host to Jean-Bouin of a Racing 92 which has not lost there for seven years.
France
