Tops
The good operation of the ASM
Woe to the vanquished. That was the saying before the kick-off of this momentous meeting in the race for the finals. At the end of a continuous crossover where each of the two teams took the advantage over the other in turn, it was finally ASM Clermont who managed to gain the upper hand thanks to the late try of his center Apisai Naqalevu (77th), who was able to resist the return of Ma'a Nonu to free his partners. Building on this success, during which Rugby Club Toulonnais lost its defensive bonus in the last moments, the Jaunards (4th, 67 points) are now 5 points ahead of their evening opponents, 7th and first unqualified in two days of the term.
The high-flying copy of Morgan Parra
Precis in his game at the foot of occupation and imperial in his role of scorer (7/7, 20 points), the scrum-half Morgan Parra achieved one of his best performances of the season, at a position where competition is raging with Sébastien Bézy, absent this Saturday. Taulier of the Auvergne workforce for many seasons, the former French international has shown that he will still have to be counted on at this end of the season at a breathtaking pace.
The Clermont scrum at the rendezvous
The Clermont front eight hurt its Var counterpart, notably obtaining three penalties in closed scrum.
If it was a three-quarter that freed the men of Franck Azéma, the Clermont defense held firm thanks to the work of its forwards in the ruck zones, where they did more than contain the Toulon assaults, annihilated under their pressure. .
Flops
Toulon has enough to bite its fingers
Rugby Club Toulonnais did more than waver ASM Clermont in its Michelin lair and could hope for better, given the face of the match. In front of the score 10 minutes from the end (16-15), the Var did not go far to register a new try in the 68th minute after a well-maneuvered scrum exit. While Louis Carbonel is illustrated by a pass at millimeter height to Julien Hériteau, the Var center escapes and is caught only 5 meters from the opposing end ... forgetting the support of his winger Gabin Villière, who seemed able to flatten. Julien Hériteau was then penalized for having crawled on the ground and two minutes later, Morgan Parra restored the advantage to his partners (70th). Without doubt the turning point of the match.
Indiscipline costs the RCT dearly
With seven successful penalties within 40 meters for Morgan Parra, the RCT has accumulated the faults that are costly in its camp, as evidenced in particular by the yellow card received by Isaia Toeava from the 4th minute after a dangerous return to Damian Penaud.
More penalized than their evening opponents, the Toulonnais are the candidates for the final stages who perform the worst operation of this 24th day, after the victories of Racing 92 against Pau, Union Bordeaux-Bègles against Castres Olympique, du Stade Français against Montpellier and LOU against Brive.
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