La Rochelle provisional leader, Clermont crushes Lyon, Toulon unlocks its away counter … What to remember from Saturday’s matches
Provisional leader, La Rochelle clinched its fourth victory in pain, jostled at home by Racing 92 on behalf of the 5th day of Top 14, Saturday, October 1. UBB for its part signed its second success of the season against Stade Français (15-10), while Toulon won in Pau (17-34) for its first away success.
On the other hand, the curse of the Marcel-Michelin stadium continues to hit LOU, corrected by ASM (43-20), while Perpignan took the best of Castres at home (14-10). Brive for his part overthrew Bayonne (25-22) which nevertheless provides the defensive bonus.
The shock: La Rochelle suffered against Racing 92
As a warning sign, the match had started with a scrum, after a forward from Bourdeau on receiving the kick-off. A foretaste of the showdown that promises to pack La Rochelle and Racing 92 in the shock of this 5th day of Top 14.
Cut off in their own half, Ronan O’Gara’s men first appeared hesitant against brawling Ile-de-France residents, who opened the match with three penalties (8th, 16th, 20th). The first on a scrum, the second on the percussion of Jules Favre on the opener without the ball, and the third on a fault on the Ile-de-France relay behind the ruck. Something to set the tone. Shortly before half-time, the gropings of La Rochelle found their most terrible illustration on a reversal at the foot of Henry Chavancy, where Teddy Thomas dropped the oval towards his in-goal, flattened opportunistically by Francis Saili (40th).
#SRR92 | #Top14 | #SRFever pic.twitter.com/voC1LBIKVL
— Stade Rochelais (@staderochelais) October 1, 2022
Back from the locker room, the Rochelais demonstrated new intentions. Leyds planted a penalty while Seuteni narrowly missed scoring a second try, just meters from Racing’s in-goal. SOn the lawn, the intensity rose a notch when Skelton found himself (again) at the center of heated debate. Tensions then enamelled the second period, sanctioned by two yellow cards on Wardi and Gomes (50th). Slowed down by unplayable scrums and white-hot spirits, the stalwarts took over from the third lines, making showdowns the true justice of the peace of the encounter.
Returned to 15-16 on a try from Teddy Thomas at the end of the line (68th), the Rochelais took the benefit after transformation. In an unbreathable atmosphere, marked by several scrum starts, Pierre Boudehent finally concluded hostilities with a third try in the in-goal (75th). La Rochelle thus imposed itself as provisional leader. The Ile-de-France residents left with the defensive bonus.
The player: Alivereti Raka, nightmare of the Lyonnais
To the shock of the suitors, advantage Clermont. WSA got the better of LOU (43-20) thanks to an offensive efficiency embodied by the triple by Alivereti Raka. the Fijian had a remarkable match (three tries, 144 meters gained) although the conquest has not always been serene in the face of the LOU. Worst defense of the championship, the Lyonnais were weighed down by their indiscipline in a Marcel-Michelin Stadium which did not succeed for them. The LOU has never won in Clermont in the entire history of the Top 14.
5️⃣0️⃣ Trials in @top14rugby to pay
Alivereti RAKA pic.twitter.com/23pTEnBz2J– ASM Rugby (@ASMOOfficiel) October 1, 2022
The test: Wainiqolo corrects Pau and gives Toulon a first away victory
A beautiful test. Toulon outclassed the Section Paloise on Saturday (17-34), in the Stade du Hameau. Solid in defense and effective in front, Mignoni’s men produced a controlled score, punctuated by no less than four tries in the first period. The feat of the day is to the credit of Jiuta Wainiqolo. Launched by Waisea Nayacalevu, the faithful winger repeatedly hooked the defenders of Pau to score Toulon’s fourth try (29th).
The backs of @RCTofficial enjoy in Pau ⚡️
What a stunning essay by Jiuta Wainiqolo #SPRCT pic.twitter.com/StLWikxxRq– CANAL + Rugby (@CanalplusRugby) October 1, 2022
This away victory offers a little air and a boost of confidence to the Toulonnais hitherto weighed down by two defeats on the road this season (28-8 in Toulouse, 19-13 in Toulon).
Statistics: Perpignan, a first since 2013
The Catalans went to get her. At the end of the match under high tension, Perpignan signed a second consecutive victory at the Aimé-Giral stadium against Castres (14-10). A first since 2013 for the Catalan club, which had to tighten its lines of defense against an explosive reaction from the Tarnais in the second period.
On the other hand, the Basques fumbled before snatching a defensive bonus point on the wire (25-22). Led 18-3 at the end of the first period, Bayonne was largely dominated by Brive before waking up at the end of the match. Undisciplined, offering a free trial to the Corréziens just before the break, the men of Palat raised their heads to reverse the trend (three tries in the second half, two of which were converted).
The shower : Bordeaux-Bègles heads out of the water against Stade Français
Under an execrable drache which slowed down bodies and minds, Bordeaux-Bègles and the Parisians suffered for a long time. Interesting in winning but showing a lot of waste in their game, the UBB was content to provide the essentials against Stade Français (15-10). Ssaved by the infallible foot of Matthieu Jalibert against the poles (15 points, 5/5), the men of Urios won their second success of the post-season a certain delay in the ignition on the championship.
However, without the rear rescue of Louis Bielle-Biarrey on a dangerous action by Sekou Macalou (55th), the result could have been severe. The Stade Français players won the defensive bonus point on the only try of the game (Melikidze, 80th + 5).