TOPS
RCT sits temporarily on the podium
Building on their success in their Mayol lair against CA Brive (34-17), the Var have found some colors after their defeat against Lou during the previous day (27-12). Aided by the speedy double of his winger Daniel Ikpefan (18th, 24th) in the first period, the teammates of Anthony Belleau, captain for a day, spoke of their power after returning from the locker room with a penalty try ( 48th) following a devastating balloon then a solo achievement by world champion Eben Etzebeth (65th). The only false note will remain not to have obtained the offensive bonus but the Rugby Club Toulonnais temporarily rises on the podium and now has 40 points.
Montpellier wins without its Blues
Despite the absence of five internationals, Haouas, Willemse, Vincent, Ngandebe and Bouthier, left at the disposal of the XV of France to prepare the shock of the Tournament against Wales, the Montplliérains ensured the essential face promoted Bayonnais to return to the race for the final stages. After a hat-trick by Nemani Nadolo (11th, 22nd, 52nd), including two tries registered thanks to millimeter kicks from Benoît Paillaugue in the back of the Basque defense, and a try by Yvan Reilhac against (48th) MHR has brought down the promoted Bayonne who has not deserved. This victory allows the Hérault to stay in contact with the front peloton, at the gates of the final stages (7th, 36th).
ASM remains attached to the top of the table
Drafts, imprecise, unruly. Despite their numerous defaults in the land of Pau, the Clermontois offered themselves an unexpected victory which allows them not to be left behind in the race for the final stages. Inconsistent, the Auvergnats know how to show the most beautiful face as evidenced by the magnificent essay by Arthur Itturia, author of a breakthrough of high fly (49th). Relying too often on its individualities, the ASM (6th, 36 points) has nevertheless shown that it should be counted on in the final sprint, as so often in recent years. She will nevertheless have to take advantage more of the period of the Tournament, where she has only two players called to the Blues.
FLOPS
The catastrophic management of the Section
Long undecided, the match between the Paloise Section and ASM Clermont gave birth to a cruel scenario. At the 70th minute, and while the score remains zero (13-13), the Section believes it is doing the hardest by registering a try between the posts via the scrum half replacing Le Bail, at the conclusion of a large-scale collective movement. With the transformation of Hastoy, the locals even counted a trial transformed in advance. Their indiscipline will first allow Parra to bring his own in the nails of the defensive bonus. Before the sky fell on the heads of Hamlet supporters. On a shocking breakthrough from Uhila (a hooker!), The defense of the Section is overwhelmed and Raka comes to crucify them by flattening between the posts. With this new defeat on the gong (20-23), Nicolas Godillon's men plunge a little deeper into the crisis, they who have not won a single game since November 9.
The black series continues for a poorly paid rowing
That the Basques' exciting start to the season seems far away. For the men of Yannick Bru, who have not won on the national scene since October 12, the trip to Montpellier can feed them regrets. And for good reason, Rowing has registered three tries, which are the work of Collet (27th), Delonca (60th) then Muscarditz (63rd), more than in their last 7 games. Despite a largely modified starting XV, the promoted showed what he was capable of and the defensive bonus obtained, very important in the fight for maintenance, could launch a new dynamic.
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