Top 14 round-up: Stuart Hogg scores on debut, Blair Kinghorn magic and Bordeaux lay down marker
The Top 14 is back underway, and the opening weekend delivered some spectacular moments.
Toulouse got their title defence off to a perfect start in Brittany, Clermont and Bordeaux laid down some serious markers with big victories and plenty of fresh faces made their debuts following summer moves.
Here is a full round-up of the action from the Top 14.
Top 14 opening day
There were five games on the opening day in the Top 14, with the pick of the bunch coming in Bordeaux.
Yannick Bru’s side came into the season a wounded beast following their dismantling in the final against Toulouse, but they showed no signs of licking their wounds as they dispatched fellow final hopefuls Stade Francais.
A brace from fledging star Nicolas Depoortère, alongside other scores from Damian Penaud, Maxime Lucu, Romain Buros and Yann Lesgourgues, proved crucial in guiding Bordeaux to an impressive 46-26 victory.
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There was also a crucial meeting between Castres and Racing 92 on the opening day, with Castres keen to prove a point after the Parisians pipped them into the play-offs on points difference last season. This was also the first chance to see new recruit Owen Farrell in action following his switch from Saracens this summer.
He capped his debut with an eight-point haul from the tee, but it wasn’t all happy for the English icon, though, as Castres claimed a 31-28 victory on the day following some heroics from Christian Ambadiang.
#TOP14 – Le héros de la J1
Héroïque 🦸♂️
Comment gagner le respect de ses coéquipiers et conquérir tout un stade en une action ? 👇
Réponse de Christian Ambadiang avec ce sauvetage miraculeux du nouvel ailier du @CastresRugby 😤 pic.twitter.com/2plbpj70Jy— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) September 8, 2024
Another British star making their debut in the French top-flight was Stuart Hogg, who made a shock retirement U-turn this summer to join Montpellier. Things got off to a good start for the Scottish fullback as he crossed the whitewash in the first-half, but his side ultimately went down 26-22 to Lyon.
Stuart Hogg ramène Montpellier après un bon travail des arriérés dont l’autre recrue Madosh Tambwe 🚀 #MHRLOU #Top14 #Rugby #MHRvLOU #MHR #Montpellier #LOU #Lyon pic.twitter.com/9Oqem7Tmi2
— Le Top14 Pas Officiel 2.0 (@Top14OffBis) September 7, 2024
Elsewhere on Saturday, Clermont secured a huge 39-7 win over Pau and Bayonne edged Perpignan 21-19.
Toulouse get title defence off to perfect start
There were two thrilling games on Sunday as well, and title favourites Toulouse and La Rochelle were in action this time around.
Owen Farrell denied debut Top 14 victory after epic ‘tackle of the season’ robs Racing 92
Defending champions Toulouse, who will start the season without talisman Antoine Dupont, ventured to Brittany to take on newly promoted Vannes, and they put on a dazzling performance.
Tries from Thomas Ramos, Alexandre Roumat, Romain Ntamack, Pita Akhi and David Ainuʻu guided Les Rouge et Noir to an impressive 43-18 win over the Breton opponents, with Ramos’ try the pick of the bunch following an exceptional assist from Blair Kinghorn.
Look at that pass from Blair Kinghorn! 😍
Thomas Ramos scores Toulouse’s opening try 👏 pic.twitter.com/xWOIt2INbZ
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 8, 2024
La Rochelle faced a much harder challenge as they took on Toulon, but Ronan O’Gara’s side ground out a 19-15 win over the three-time European champions.
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