Clermont relishes victory
The Perpignanais, winners in the first leg (26-24), and who have the penultimate defense of the championship by reaching the milestone of fifty tries conceded, only outstripped in this area by Biarritz, were without solution against the Auvergnats.
The Clermontois, deprived in particular of Camille Lopez, Sébastien Bézy and Gabin Michet, have aligned their tenth different hinge this season. It was composed this time of Morgan Parra and Kevin Viallard.
ASM led 24-0 after a double from Thomas Rozière (16, 32) and an achievement from George Moala (35), tries all transformed by Parra who also passed a penalty (6).
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For its part, USAP, with a largely modified team after its defeat in Toulon (29-18), reduced the mark shortly before half-time with a try from Damien Chouly (24-7, 38) before Parra offers the offensive bonus to his team with his own try which he converted (31-7) soon followed by that of Cheikh Tiberghien (38-7, 65).
At the end of the game, Jean-Pascal Barraque scored in turn followed by a successful conversion by Parra, author of a 100% on foot (45-7, 69) and Edward Sawailau scored a second try for Perpignan after viewing video (45-12, 72).
In additional time, Moala added a seventh try, synonymous with a double for him too (52-12, 80 + 3).
And six for Racing!
Racing 92 chained a sixth victory in a row in the championship by winning against Castres (45-25), after a spectacular meeting with 9 tries registered, Saturday in Nanterre, during the 19th day of Top 14.
That the four losses in a row in December seem far away for the Ile-de-France, who continue their very good series and their rise in the standings to 4th place, overtaking their evening opponents.
The Castres, for their part, although authors of four tries, showed too much indiscipline and clumsiness at the foot to win.
The Racingmen, ideally launched in this meeting, thanks to a first penalty from Maxime Machenaud, once again very precise on the foot (6/6) then a converted try from Wenceslas Lauret (10th), then fell on a daring team from Castres, who picked up the score after a fine attack concluded by Antoine Zeghdar (20th).
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As soon as they returned from the locker room, the visitors took advantage of their numerical superiority, after a yellow card from Bernard Le Roux at the end of the first period, to score a second try through Julien Dumora, well launched by a superb kick pass by Ben Botica (42nd).
Ten minutes later, Geoffroy Palis even offered his team the opportunity to pass by scoring a third try (52nd), but another failed transformation from Botica, clumsy on Saturday (1/4 on the foot), left the Ile-de-France residents a point lead at 19-18.
Without panicking, Racing 92 then managed to fold the match, thanks to converted tries from Virimi Vakatawa (54th, 74th), Teddy Baubigny (63rd), at the conclusion of a great collective action, and Henry Chavancy (80th).
Still as fragile in defense, the locals still conceded a fourth try scored by Zeghdar (80 + 1st), and are more than ever the worst defense in the championship at home.
With this success, Racing achieved its best series of victories since the title season in 2016.
La Rochelle is replacing
La Rochelle, although imprecise at the foot, achieved a good operation in the race for the final stages by winning in Pau (22-16), its second success of the season away from home, Saturday during the 19th day of Top 14.
The Parisians scored the first try of the game thanks to Wenceslas Lauret
A well-managed end to the game with a penalty from Ihaia West (73) and a try from Wiaan Liebenberg (76) allowed Ronan O’Gara’s men to enter the Top 6 at the expense of Toulouse, who will receive the Girondin leader on Sunday evening.
For the Section, this setback without a bonus hurts with a view to the final stages of Top 14. The teammates of Jordan Joseph, in the oven and at the mill and author of the only test from Bearn of the day (56), showed good attitudes in the rucks but sea power ended up making the difference.
In this shock this mid-table which saw the Rochelais drop 13 points on the way, the fight on the ground was the initial key word, with some clumsiness and a shared indiscipline which changed the score (6-9, 34).
The highlight of Pau before the break, with three successive penalties, made the Hameau shiver but was not rewarded.
After the break, the visitors put a little more pressure and after a long streak of shelling, Pierre Popelin concluded in corner (49).
The Section reacted immediately by putting their opponent at fault – yellow card for Pierre Boudehent (55) – then sending Joseph behind the line after a finally convincing penalty.
Antoine Hastoy, future Rochelais, put the men of Sébastien Piqueronies in front (16-14, 65) well on penalty but the caravel club finished better to obtain a precious success in the wake of his flanker Liebenberg, who will stop rugby at the end of the season at 29 years old.
Lyon did not tremble
A week after a short defeat at Castres (19-17), and before two difficult trips to Clermont and Toulouse, Lyon, carried by Toby Arnold, reacted well by winning (34-15) against the red lantern, Biarritz , Saturday at the Gerland stadium, on behalf of the 19th day of Top 14.
Thanks to this fourth improved success at home this season, Lyon (54 points) takes second place in the standings, ahead of Montpellier, opposed to Stade Français on Sunday (5:30 p.m.).
New Zealand LOU Rugby fullback Toby Arnold, who scored twice (15th, 42nd) and involved in two of the other three Lyon tries, stole the show from international winger Noa Nakaitaci, back ten months after a rupture of the anterior ligament of the left knee.
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One of Arnold’s raises resulted in Lyon’s second try, scored by hooker Yanis Charcosset (17-0, 23rd).
The New Zealander finally delivered the decisive pass to his scrum half, Jonathan Pélissié, on the fifth try from Rhone (34-15, 62nd), that of the offensive bonus point.
Lyon could have made the bill a little more difficult, but made too many handling errors to achieve this.
Humiliated at Stade Français (19-65) a week earlier, Biarritz sold his skin dearly, thanks in particular to his pack which competed in conquest with his counterpart.
The Basques were rewarded with two tries scored by the hooker, Bastien Soury (28th) and the winger, Yohann Artru (55th), but they failed, at the end of the match, to deprive their host of the offensive bonus.
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