TOPS
Camille Lopez rocks this shock to the top
Substitute at kickoff, opener Camille Lopez was illustrated by a decisive entry from the 58th minute of play. Author of a drop full of coolness against the posts (68th), which allowed the his own to take the advantage for the first time in the match (13-10), the conductor of Clermont was then close to offer a test ball to his winger Damian Penaud, after a surgical transverse to the foot, finally aborted thanks to a disaster return of Romain Ntamack (70th). With three new points at the foot thanks to a penalty (72nd), he is undoubtedly the strong man of the solid second act of the Jaunards. While his departure at the end of the season seems more and more inevitable (towards Bayonne?), The French international recalled thathe had to be counted on for this second part of the season.
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Calendar and results Top 14
Ranking Top 14
The Clermont defense at the rendezvous
Remaining undefeated at home against Stade Toulousain is a sacred performance, to do so 20 years in a row is a feat.
In an arch-roofed Marcel-Michelin stadium, ASM Clermont was able to rely on an iron defense, solid in melee and starved in the areas of ruck, to continue its series of invincibility at home against the Rouge et Noir in Top 14, started in 2002. Proof of this constant struggle imposed on Ugo Mola's men, the Clermontois only conceded three small points on their return from the locker room.
The defensive bonus will console the Toulouse residents
The adage is well known, all points are good to take in Top 14 on the road to the finals. With an ultra-competitive starting XV despite the absence of Antoine Dupont, Stade Toulousain lived up to its status by leading the score at the break (7-10), thanks in particular to the early test Argentinian winger Juan Cruz Mallía (5th), at the conclusion of a marvel of collective action of more than 60 meters. Authors of many approximations in the second act and struggling to worry the opposing defense, the double reigning French champions managed to recover a defensive bonus point in the very last moments with a penalty from Thomas Ramos (76th). Despite a second consecutive defeat, Stade Toulousain consolidates its place as runner-up of theUnion Bordeaux-Bègles with 41 points.
FLOPS
Alexi Balès, an error of inattention which is costly
With the surprise absence of the playing master Antoine Dupont, for "
fatigue
", Alexi Balès took on the role of starter in the Toulouse scrum and hoped to show better than a single role lining.
Largely at fault on the Clermont test by being overtaken by the third-row Arthur Iturria despite several meters in advance at the start of the action, his disaster kick led to the cap test of Yohan Beheregaray (12th ).
Chance in several transmission choices, the scrum half delivered a poor copy on the lawn of the Michelin and never managed to mark the match of his imprint.
The Toulouse bench did not weigh
While the outcome of the meeting seemed uncertain 20 minutes from the end (10-10), the end of the match was marked by diametrically opposed trajectories concerning the respective contribution of the two benches.
If the entry into play of Camille Lopez has proved to be predominant on the Clermont side, the bench of the Stadists has never been able to answer him.
Despite the entries of Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Iosefa Tekori or Selevasio Tolofua in front, the Toulouse scrum did not manage to foil his opponent, however less experienced, and materialize the few opportunities obtained in the opposing 22 meters in the second period. .