Top 14: traffic jam at the top of the ranking, Toulouse backs to the wall
Traffic jam for the semis: La Rochelle, Castres and Racing 92, all victorious at home on Saturday during the 23rd day of the Top 14, put pressure on Bordeaux-Bègles before its perilous trip to Montpellier on Sunday, and on Toulouse, back to the wall after his defeat against Toulon.
Traffic jam for the semis: La Rochelle, Castres and Racing 92, all victorious at home on Saturday during the 23rd day of the Top 14, put pressure on Bordeaux-Bègles before its perilous trip to Montpellier on Sunday, and on Toulouse, back to the wall after his defeat against Toulon.
In the event of defeat at the Hérault leader, the UBB, already beaten eight times in nine games in all competitions, would see their second place, directly qualifying for the last four, very threatened.
A hungry trio returned to the greenhouses of the Girondin club. Starting with his best enemy La Rochelle, who has just beaten him three times in the space of three weeks between the championship and the European Cup.
With several executives left to rest, including the “Chelemards” Uini Atonio, Grégory Alldritt and Jonathan Danty, the Maritimes ensured the essential against a valiant team from Perpignan (32-16), without managing to win the bonus point. offensive.
“We fell against a good team from Perpignan, strong, who made us drop the balls. We may also have fallen too easily. We will have to rectify that for the future”, warned the halfback. ‘Opening Rochelais Jules Plisson.
La Rochelle is temporarily only a length behind second place, as is Castres, still as intractable in its fortress of Pierre-Fabre.
Clermont hooker Yohan Beheregaray is tackled by the Uruguayan center of Castres Santiago Arata, under the gaze of the Argentine opening half Benjami Urdapilleta, during the 23rd day of the Top 14, April 23, 2022 at the Stade Pierre-Fabre
Fred SCHEIBER – AFP
Very just tactically, the CO chained there against Clermont (12-0), in terrible weather conditions, a twentieth match without defeat, a first in the history of the club.
“It was not a match for passing game, but for foot, pressure, conquest and defense,” summed up Castres coach Pierre-Henry Broncan. “Rugby is a sport that is played in all weathers and on all terrains, and you have to adapt strategically and collectively”.
– Racing with two faces –
No rain, no wind under the roof of its Arena, but Racing 92 took time to get into its match against the bottom side, Biarritz, yet already almost condemned to relegation.
![Racing 92 winger Teddy Thomas scores one of the two tries against Biarritz, during the 23rd day of the Top 14, on April 23, 2022 at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre](https://www.sudradio.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ac029e21e99ac24417a4d508a5d48296262f31d2.jpg)
Racing 92 winger Teddy Thomas scores one of the two tries against Biarritz, during the 23rd day of the Top 14, on April 23, 2022 at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre
Emmanuel DUNAND – AFP
Led at half-time (7-6), the Hauts-de-Seine club, much more attractive after the break, with some superb offensive movements and a double from Teddy Thomas, managed to reverse the trend to win. with the bonus (40-7).
He is two points behind UBB, which will still be deprived of its international opener Matthieu Jalibert on Sunday, preserved by his staff as a precaution after several relapses in recent weeks.
Opposed in the evening to Toulon for a gala match in a sold-out Vélodrome stadium in Marseille, Toulouse, without its international hinge Dupont-Ntamack, did not manage to keep pace with its direct competitors.
The defending champion, diminished by numerous injuries, has long been in the lead thanks to the foot of Thomas Ramos. But a try by international winger Gabin Villière at the end of the match offered the victory of hope to the RCT (19-15) and will not leave the room for error to Toulouse next week in their Stadium against La Rochelle .
![Lyon opener Léo Berdeu, author of 26 points against Brive, beaten 31-17 at home, during the 23rd day of the Top 14, April 23, 2022 at the Stade Amédée-Domenech](https://www.sudradio.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/04b5eecaedbb202d45120b642472ce88574b312e.jpg)
Lyon opener Léo Berdeu, author of 26 points against Brive, beaten 31-17 at home, during the 23rd day of the Top 14, April 23, 2022 at the Stade Amédée-Domenech
DIARMID COURREGES – AFP
Their defensive bonus point still allows them to return to the height of Lyon in sixth place after the victory earlier in the day of the men of Pierre Mignoni in the rain in Brive (31-17), thanks in particular to the young opener Léo Berdeu, author of 26 points alone.
This success leaves the Brivistes under threat from Perpignan, penultimate, and reduces the chances of Clermont a little more, now eight points from sixth place.
The last hopes of Pau evaporated on the lawn of the French Stadium (21-18) despite a burst of pride at the end of the match in the wake of Antoine Hastoy, who went on trial twice.
AFP / Toulouse (AFP) / © 2022 AFP