Perpignan, winner of La Rochelle on Sunday for the 13th day of Top 14, left the place of play-off to Lyon, who managed to take two points from Racing 92 by taking advantage of the indiscipline of the Ile-de-France residents.
With the first two matches on Sunday, positions are tightening at the bottom of the rankings. This serves Vannes, now seven points from the penultimate, but also Racing 92, which is no longer advancing in the Top 14.
Since the end of the international break, the Ile-de-France residents have only taken four points in four matches with no victories. Sunday, they long believed they had success, and even the offensive bonus for the first time this season, against Lyon, but they were caught just after the siren (25-25), the fault of their indiscipline throughout the match (17 penalties, two yellow cards).
Racing 92's Fijian winger Vinaya puts his hand on the face of Lyon's Georgian full-back Davit Niniashvili while jumping into touch, Sunday in the top-14 at La Défense Arena in Paris. / Thomas SAMSON / AFP
With 26 points, Racing 92 is still ninth but sixth place is six lengths away while Lyon, thirteenth, is only four points behind. Le Lou has not won in seven matches in the Top 14 but has just drawn two matches after that against Toulouse (17-17) the previous day.
Perpignan then gave itself some breathing room by winning at home against La Rochelle (21-13) after three consecutive defeats. Beaten in the last match at Aimé-Giral against Toulon, Usap this time showed more control.
They scored a try following a combination by Tavite Veredamu and in force by Ignacio Ruiz to comfortably take the lead at half-time (18-6), and not let go afterwards.
The next match between Lyon and Perpignan, one point ahead, on the next day will be crucial in the race to maintain.
The day ends with the gala match between Toulouse and Stade français at 9:05 p.m. For Toulouse, who have fielded a strong team but will ultimately have to do without Dupont, who is ill, the stakes of the match are simple: an improved victory and the team will occupy first place at the end of the first legs.
Because on Saturday, Union Bordeaux-Bègles won but without a bonus against Toulon (21-17), which remains third in the standings.
Bayonne confirmed that it was the good surprise of the first part of the season by winning against Castres (33-12), and Montpellier that the team was getting better and better with a prestigious victory in Clermont (22-18).
The horizon, however, darkened for Vannes, which lost heavily (48-24) against Pau, which was only a barrage at kick-off.
