Toulouse sinks Clermont in a historic success
Toulouse consolidated its position at the top of the Rugby Top 14 by logically winning on the field of Clermont (32-13), Sunday in the closing match of the 14th day with an improved success thanks to its four tries against one for Toulouse. ‘ASM.
Stade Toulousain, already a clear winner in the first leg, on October 8 (46-10), had not won at the Marcel-Michelin stadium in the French championship since May 2002. It ended this long drought and signed with the passage his tenth victory of the season, the fourth away, for a draw and three defeats. In the standings, Ugo Mola’s men are seven points ahead of Stade Français (2nd) and twelve over La Rochelle and Racing, which separate from third place.
ASM, which appeared for the first time in front of its public since the announcement of the departure next summer of its winger Damian Penaud, lost for the eighth time this season (against for five successes and a draw), remains in a difficult situation.
Omnipresent Jaminet
The Auvergnats, beaten for the second consecutive time, are eleventh in the standings, eight points behind Bayonne and Bordeaux who occupy the last 5th and 6th qualifying places for the play-offs. Looking back, they are only six points ahead of Brive (13th), who beat them on December 23 and won in Lyon on Saturday. The Clermontois, who presented a rejuvenated squad on Sunday evening, did not weigh heavily on this meeting.
Two tries by Juan Cruz Mallia (7th) and Sofiane Guitoune (24th), asked Melvyn Jaminet to add a conversion and two penalties (31st, 39th), allowing Toulouse to take the lead at half-time (18- 6).
In the second half, Stade Toulousain confirmed its broad domination over this meeting with two new tries from Jaminet and Paul Graou, both converted by Jaminet (45th, 51st, 32-6). ASM, however, managed to reduce the mark with a converted try, by Anthony Belleau, awarded to Tomas Lavanini following work from the forward package and a long video viewing (32-13, 68th).
Clermont also finished the match better, taking advantage of the faults of the Toulouse who finished in double numerical inferiority after the temporary exclusions of Rynhardt Elstadt (71st) and Arthur Retière (74th). But Toulouse, where Antoine Dupont helped out at the opening, managed to keep the benefit of the offensive bonus.