Top 14 round-up: Antoine Dupont strikes gold, Manu Tuilagi controversy and battle of the Vunipolas
Here is the latest Top 14 round-up!
Another weekend of sensational rugby has been and gone in the Top 14, and once again it packed all the usual brilliance we’ve come to expect of the French league.
Antoine Dupont made his comeback after Olympic glory, Manu Tuilagi made his long-awaited debut for Bayonne and elsewhere heavyweights Bordeaux Begles and Racing 92 were the big winners in round six.
Here is a round-up of all the latest happenings from the Top 14.
Antoine Dupont marks return with sensational 13-minute hat-trick
Everything Antoine Dupont touches seems to turn to gold at the moment – literally – and he was back to his best on his Toulouse return this weekend. Coming off the bench in the second-half, the French magician notched a sensational 13-minute hat-trick in Les Rouge et Noir’s emphatic 48-14 win over Clermont Auvergne
Antoine Dupont’s 13 MINUTE hat-trick in his TOP 14 season debut last night.
Shouldn’t really be surprised by now but still… #TOP14 pic.twitter.com/184UaymuAH
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) October 13, 2024
A haul of six conversions, two penalties and a try for Thomas Ramos, alongside other scores from Ange Cappuozzo and Peato Mauvaka also proved crucial in the win, ending a run of two-straight defeats for the reigning French and European champions.
Antoine Dupont scores 13 MINUTE hat-trick off the bench in sensational return for Toulouse
Manu Tuilagi debut marred by controversial tackle
England international Manu Tuilagi was one of the highest-profile arrivals in the Top 14 this season, and he finally made his long-awaited debut this weekend in their clash with La Rochelle; however, he was at the centre of a controversial incident with Gregory Alldritt.
The former Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers man appeared to make direct head-on-head contact with the French number eight in the first-half, but the tackle was deemed legal by the referee.
🎙️ “C’est un plaquage pour faire mal”
L’avis de Richard Dourthe à propos du plaquage de Tuilagi sur Alldritt 💥 pic.twitter.com/vvZHY17e5X
— CANAL+ Rugby (@CanalplusRugby) October 12, 2024
The incident might have dominated the talk around Tuilagi’s debut, but he ultimately ended the day happy as Bayonne recorded a resounding 37-7 win over the two-time European champions.
La Rochelle’s defeat gave fellow title-chasers Bordeaux a chance to put some distance at the top of the table; and boy did they do that as they clinched a staggering 66-12 win over Perpignan.
Matthieu Jalibert was the hero of the hour in the win, with two tries and three conversions to his name, but these were just two of a whopping 10 tries in the piece for the hosts!
Elsewhere at the top of the table, Lyon continued their fantastic start to the season with a stellar 35-3 win over struggling Stade Francais, Pau were on song once more as they beat Castres 33-26 and Racing 92 climbed into the top eight with a 22-6 win over Toulon.
Battle of the Vunipolas
The Anglo-centric focus on the Top 14 this weekend came in Saturday’s game between Montpellier and Vannes, with the Vunipola brothers coming face-to-face for the first time since their respective moves across the Channel.
It was Billy who ultimately won their first game against one another since 2013, as the boot of Leo Coly clinched a 26-24 win for the hosts, who secured their second victory of the season in the process.
