Castres, the team least impacted by the World Cup, produced a stellar performance by winning down to the wire on Sunday in La Rochelle (27-24), a success which allows it to join Pau and Racing 92 at the top of the Top 14.
By The editorial team with AFP – 9:35 p.m.
During the first three days of Top 14, played between August and September, there were only two away successes. There have already been three during this resumption day and the most resounding comes from Marcel-Deflandre where the European champion La Rochelle had dreamed of a better reunion with his public for the inauguration of his new stand of honor.
Unfortunately, Ronan O’Gara’s team, deprived of its globalists, did not go the distance against Castres (27-24), initially very sanctioned and permeable (3 yellow cards and 3 tries conceded in the first half hour) who managed to come back to the score before the break before delivering the blow afterwards. Thanks to this success, the Tarnais join Pau and Racing 92 at the top of the Top 14, also winners away on Sunday.
Perpignan still hasn’t won
Manhandled at the start of the match by the last, Perpignan, the Section Paloise recovered perfectly in a match that looked like an open house (39-24) with eight tries including five for the Béarnais who had not won away from the Hameau since the derby against Bayonne at the end of March at Anoeta in San Sebastián.
The Catalans, who saved the honor by their local youngsters Lucas Velarte (double) and Posolo Tuilagi (a try), are more difficult than ever after this fourth setback in a row without any points scored.
The results of the 4th day of top 14
Bayonne – Stade Français 16 – 3
Perpignan – Pau 24 – 39
Lyon (BO) – Clermont 41 – 22
Montpellier (BD) – Racing 92 16 – 19
Toulon (BO) – Oyonnax 41 – 7
La Rochelle (BD) – Castres 24 – 27
(9:05 p.m.) Toulouse – Bordeaux-Bègles
Ninashivili, LOU detonator
Racing 92, led by Stuart Lancaster, expected by Montpellier, showed great realism to logically win in the wake of a strong Donovan Taofifenua (19-16). The only downside was that the Ile-de-France residents missed the offensive bonus at the last second which could have allowed them to take the lead in the standings on their own.
Undefeated leader before this post-World Cup resumption, Stade Français, imprecise in touch and too quickly orphaned by Joris Segonds who was knocked out after three minutes of play, lost its invincibility on Sunday in Bayonne (16-3), carried by the effective foot of Camille Lopez.
The other two matches this Sunday afternoon saw two offensive bonuses distributed in Toulon and Lyon. In Mayol, the RCT of Charles Ollivon and Gabin Villière (one try) did not provide details to defeat Oyonnax (41-7), promoted too undisciplined (two penalty tries conceded) to compete.
At Gerland, the LOU, with a complicated start in front of Clermont (0-13, 16th), reacted superbly to win (41-22) with the Georgian Davit Ninashvili, performing well during the 2023 World Cup, as a detonator with a doubled and very sharp races. Returning from the World Cup, Baptiste Couilloud also participated in the Rhone festival (a test).
#Rugby #Top #winner #Rochelle #Castres #joins #Pau #Racing #lead
