Toulouse and Racing both win in the battle for second
Toulouse and Racing 92 both secured victories in the race for the semi-finals but it is the Parisians who hold the advantage going into Round 26.
Bordeaux-Bègles 15-39 Racing 92
Stade Chaban-Delmas
Racing 92 pounced on Bordeaux-Bègles’ errors and improved their prospects of finishing in the top-two after a 39-15 triumph at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.
With nothing to play for, Bordeaux looked to chance their arm but conditions initially made it difficult for free-flowing rugby. Mistakes were therefore prevalent, particularly from the hosts, and the away side duly controlled proceedings in the opening period.
The Parisians dominated territory and Dan Carter – currently the team’s second choice fly-half behind Pat Lambie – took the visitors ahead from the tee.
Opportunities were limited, however, and Racing had to settle for another Carter three-pointer as the title challengers went 6-0 in front just shy of the half-hour mark.
Bordeaux did attempt to break their try-scoring deadlock at the end of the first period, going for the lineout instead of the posts, but they wasted that chance and went into the interval six points down.
Rory Teague’s men did finally get on the board through Baptiste Serin’s penalty early in the second period, but Louis Dupichot’s try put the visitors in command.
UBB attempted to get back into the contest but Juan Imhoff intercepted a stray pass when the home team were in a promising position and duly crossed the whitewash.
Racing could now open up and Teddy Thomas and Imhoff effectively secured the victory with tries in the final quarter.
Teague’s outfit thought they had denied their opponents a bonus-point with late Jean-Baptiste Dubie and Florian Dufour efforts, but Leone Nakarawa made sure of the full five in the last minute.
The scorers:
For Bordeaux:
Tries: Dubie, Dufour
Con: Serin
Pen: Serin
For Racing:
Tries: Dupichot, Imhoff 2, Thomas, Nakarawa
Cons: Carter 4
Pens: Carter 2
Bordeaux: 15 Nans Ducuing, 14 Ed Fidow, 13 Jean-Baptiste Dubie, 12 Apisai Naqalevu, 11 Blair Connor, 10 Tiaan Schoeman, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Mahamadou Diaby, 5 Jandre Marais, 4 Loann Goujon, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Adrien Pelissie, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Florian Dufour, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Johan Aliouat, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Jules Gimbert, 21 Julien Rey, 22 Iban Etcheverry, 23 Jean-Baptiste Poux
Racing: 15 Louis Dupichot, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Teddy Iribaren, 8 Antonie Claassen, 7 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Bernard Le Roux, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Eddy Ben Arous
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Manuel Carizza, 19 So'otala Fa'aso'o, 20 Maxime Machenaud, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 Anthony Tuitavake, 23 Cedate Gomes Sa
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant referees: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylette, Laurent Breil
TMO: Eric Gonthier
Toulouse 19-14 La Rochelle
Stade Ernest-Wallon
Toulouse’s play-off ambitions received a blow, despite emerging 19-14 victorious over La Rochelle at the Stade Ernest-Wallon on Sunday.
With Racing claiming the bonus-point and Les Rouge et Noir failing to match the Parisians’ feat versus Patrice Collazo’s men, they are in third position with just one more game remaining. Ugo Mola’s side went into the weekend in second but, following Sunday's results, they have fallen behind in the battle for a semi-final place.
Their main rival for automatic last-four qualification also have an easier encounter in the final round, with them taking on strugglers Agen at home, while Toulouse have to visit Clermont Auvergne.
The hosts simply struggled to garner enough momentum against La Rochelle and relied on the accurate kicking of Thomas Ramos throughout. Although Piula Fa’asalele touched down, it was left for Ramos to accrue the rest of their points from the tee.
Alexi Bales provided the visitors’ response before the interval via a brace a three-pointers and Victor Vito’s try after the break reduced the arrears with 14 minutes remaining.
However, Toulouse held on for the win, even though La Rochelle replacement Arthur Retiere kicked a late penalty after Gillian Galan had been red carded for a dangerous tackle.
The scorers:
For Toulouse:
Try: Fa’asalele
Con: Ramos
Pens: Ramos 4
Red Card: Galan
For La Rochelle:
Try: Vito
Pens: Bales 2, Retiere
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 8 Selevasio Tolofua, 7 Piula Fa’asalele, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 David Roumieu, 17 Lucas Pointud, 18 Gillian Galan, 19 Louis-Benoit Madaule, 20 Joe Tekori, 21 Jean-Marc Doussain, 22 Wandile Mjekevu, 23 Dorian Aldegheri
La Rochelle: 15 Arthur Retiere, 14 Vincent Rattez, 13 Jeremy Sinzelle, 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Pierre Boudehent, 10 Benjamin Noble, 9 Alexi Bales, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Afa Amosa, 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 4 William Demotte, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Hikairo Forbes, 1 Lekso Kaulashvili
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Dany Priso, 18 Gregory Lamboley, 19 Gregory Alldritt, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Kini Murimurivalu, 22 Eliott Roudil, 23 Mohamed Boughanmi
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes, Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Mourad Zitouni