Top 14. Rowing can thank them all, Maqala first

Lhe Bayonne supporters really don't have any luck. The best player in the world lives three hours away from Jean-Dauger, he plays in the same championship as Rowing but they have never had the opportunity to see him play in their stadium under the colors of Toulouse. Antoine Dupont set foot on the lawn once, in December 2020. In the middle of Covid. His team won in front of empty stands.

This absence, combined with those of Mauvaka, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Roumat, Costes and Ramos, retained with the XV of France, and a host of injured people (Ntamack, Arnold, Placines, Marchand, Laulala, Baille, Chocobares) has leveled the values ​​and undoubtedly made Rowing's victory (12-8) a little easier this Sunday. The Basques have won their favorite double, the one that falls every year, both on the outward and return legs, for three seasons. And eight times in the last twelve confrontations between the two teams. They have an improbable ratio of 6 wins for 5 losses against the most successful club in French rugby. And if we simply watch the last five episodes at home in this configuration, it's a hit: five out of five.

Thank you Eric Bayle, evil tongues will say. The head of rugby on Canal+, official broadcaster of the championship, was born on the banks of Nive. Thanks to the algorithm, above all! The Ligalytics software almost randomly draws up the championship schedule for the NRL each year. And thank you Maqala. The Fijian scored twice, his 7th and 8th tries of the season. The last, in the 79th minute of a breathtaking match, offered success to his team.

Crazy rhythm

Arthur Iturria (out with a shoulder injury) and his teammates don't care about the international window and the line-up lined up opposite. They signed a fourth success in a row. This hasn't happened to them in the Top 14 since October 2019. They are 4th in the championship and owe it to constant intensity in the first period. The pace was so crazy, after ten minutes, that we wondered how the 30 actors were going to hold up. Luke Tagi put a stamp on Mallia (10th), Tuilagi exploded Barassi (11th), Jelonch almost knocked out Habel-Küffner and received a yellow (32nd). The physical impact was there, the cardio too, like this mosquito from Xan Mousquès, everywhere, all the time. The young 18-year-old winger weighed more than 30 kilos on his opposite number, the solid Bituniyata. He didn't care, finishing the first half with his head shaking, on the verge of scoring his 4th try for only his 3rd professional match.

The Bayonnais nevertheless took the lead at the break thanks to a subtle kick from Machenaud over the defense. Orabé dropped the ball. Behind him according to referee Kevin Bralley. And who was passing by? Maqala, obviously. The championship's top scorer was a little more so (7-0, 15th).

A terrible fear

Effective in the air, with Chouzenoux in the role of ball robber, the locals were less effective when concluding the first act (40th + 2). The second was necessarily less intense. Particularly for the Bayonnais. Jack Willis' men confiscated the ball. And took up their quarters in the camp opposite. Their patience was rewarded. If Mousquès caught Ahki at the end of the lace on the right wing, Bituniyata ended up finding space to score (61st). As Kinghorn missed the conversion, hope remained (7-5).

Especially since Lopez's gang was regaining ground. A little. Not long. Cotet was penalized after one of the Basques' only major actions in the second period. Bordelai, the other pillar, too. 25 meters from his line. This time, Kinghorn put Stade in the lead (7-8, 73rd). Scared of Jean-Dauger. Segonds attempted a drop. Countered (76th). He then had the match ball at the end of his shoe, on a well-placed penalty (77th). Next to. This time, it wasn't going to happen. Except… Who’s been there? Maqala, obviously. Bottom line, with extra acrobatics. Tell him thank you.

Notes

8/10 Essay
7/10 Chouzenoux, Machenaud, Habel-Küffner, Heguy, Martin, Mousques, Tuilagi
6/10 Cormenier, Orabe, Bosch
5/10 Lopez, Spring, Bruni, Moon, Paulos
4/10 Brothel, Segond

The reactions

Clément Poitrenaud (Toulouse three-quarter coach). “Over all the matches in this block, we took points everywhere. Even though we had a home defeat against Bordeaux, there was not a match where we did not take points. It proves that we are compact at the moment and that, even if everything is not perfect, we are still in the match. That’s really the positive point of this start to the season. »
“If you want to exist in Bayonne, you have to make a total commitment. If you arrive a little half-heartedly, what happens to Bayonne's opponents in recent weeks happens: you take points. Afterwards, it's true that the Bayonnais, we will play them once again in doubles in a few weeks (Editor's note, in the return match, in February). Since 2020, I don't think we've played them to the fullest. It’s going to start to show a little…. We're going to have to do something. But it was also good to send a message saying that even during periods of duplicates, we will have to be counted on. »
Yohan Orabé (back of Bayonne). “We are relieved because it was a very tense match. The decision is made at the end. In terms of intensity, it was the high level. Maqala? He’s still a huge part. We can only thank him.”