Top 14 wrap: Upsets galore!
Toulon came good in Perpignan on Thursday, but Clermont, Racing Metro and Stade Français all crashed to upset losses.
Toulon came good in Perpignan on Thursday, but Clermont, Racing Metro and Stade Français all crashed to upset losses.
Toulon came out on top in the heavyweight clash of Round Twelve, grabbing a rare win in Perpignan but the story of the day is about how the newcomers toppled the title contenders.
Minnows Agen and La Rochelle snatched surprise victories against former leaders Racing Metro and defending champions Clermont respectively.
Bayonne ended their losing streak in Paris, upsetting Stade Français while Castres grabbed a draw at the death in Biarritz.
Montpellier continued their remarkable run with another bonus-point win over Brive who are now caught in the relegation battle.
As expected, Toulouse remained at the top of the standings thanks to a bonus-point win over stone-last Bourgoin.
Results
Agen 21-20 Racing Métro
Perpignan 20-29 Toulon
La Rochelle 22-14 Clermont
Biarritz 17-17 Castres
Stade Français 20-24 Bayonne
Montpellier 35-9 Brive
Bourgoin 11-35 Toulouse
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USA Perpignan 20-29 RC Toulon
Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan
Toulon finally halted their slide with a surprised win at the normally impernetrable Stade Aimé Giral.
Three successive defeats, including a 44-5 hammering by Toulouse last weekend, had taken the gloss off Toulon's promising start to the second season.
But first half tries from Ignacio Fernandez-Lobbe and Paul Sackey put Toulon on their way and the visitors pulled ahead after Perpignan lock Robins Tchale-Watchou was sin-binned for a high tackle on Felipe Contepomi.
Toulon lead 26-6 at the break before Perpignan reacted but they were blocked by Contepomi who kicked 19 of his sides points.
The win moves Toulon up to fifth on the table as Perpignan remain eighth after their second defeat at home this season.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjelal heaped praise on his side.
“It's our first match worthy of the top level this season,” he said.
“We've finally recaptured the values that we lost at Toulouse last week. I really had a difficult week, I was consumed by doubts. But despite the win here we're going to recruit an additional player in the next ten days,” he added.
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SU Agen 21-20 Racing-Métro 92
Stade Armandie, Agen
After claiming a crucial win against La Rochelle last week, Agen produced one of the upsets of the season to do their prospects in then relegation tussle the world of good.
Third-placed Racing-Metro suffered a double blow as fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski suffered a knee injury which leaves his participation in France's international match against Fiji on November 13 in doubt.
In tightly-fought game where the lead was exchanges a few times in the closing stages, fly-half Valentin Courrent was the hero for the hosts as he scores all his sides' points, slotting the winning penalty after the full-time hooter after Racing scrum-half Jerome Fillol had nailed a drop- just minutes before.
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Stade Rochelais Atlantique 22-14 ASM Clermont Auvergne
Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle
The biggest upset of the season so far as the defending champions were not even able to pick up a defensive bonus point.
La Rochelle's Benjamin Dambielle scored 17 of his side's points with Vincent Roux touching down a second half try, to move the team from western France up one spot to eleventh, four points clear of the drop zone.
Les Maritimes' scrum was on fire against a Clermont side that just didn show up on the night.
Morgan Parra created a try for Julien Malzieu fifteen minutes from time for Clermont, but the horse had already bolted.
“Tonight my team didn't have any passion, La Rochelle did,” said Clermont coach Vern Cotter whose team remain mid-table.
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Biarritz Olympique 17-17 Castres Olympique
Parc des Sports d'Aguilera, Biarritz
Biarritz scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili scored all of his team's points, including a try, as they shared the spoils with visiting Castres to stay fourth.
In thick fog that threatened to see the game called off, Romain Teulet knocked over his fourth penalty with just two minutes on the clock to nab two precious points for the Castrais.
With visibility at a minimum, kicking became the name of the game as both looked to occupy territory.
Chris Masoe was in barnstorming form and Joe Tekori scored and try early in the second half as the visitors outmuscled their hosts who struggled in the line-outs
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Stade Français Paris 20-24 Aviron Bayonnais
Stade Charléty, Paris
Bayonne finally put an end to their spiral of five straight losses with a 24-20 success over Stade Français at Charlety.
The Parisians, already humbled by Clermont last Saturday, slip to tenth after their second loss at home this season.
The Basques visitors were good value for their victory, scoring three tries from centre Lionel Mazars, wing Yohan Huget and the 62nd minute winner from full-back Jean-Baptiste Peyras Loustalet
Scrum-half Julien Dupuy kicked two drop gaols to add to Julien Arias' second half try for the hosts
Stade Français now lie ninth, a huge fourteen points behind the leaders .
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CS Bourgoin-Jallieu 11-25 Stade Toulousain
Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
No surprises here as Toulouse ran in four tries to one to take the bonus point and remain top of the standings.
Full-back Maxime Medard displayed the form that earned him a recall to France team scoring Toulouse first and fourth tries while Vincent Clerc and William Servat touched one each.
Bourgoin no trail are now nine points behind the first none relegation place and look sure to drop out of the top flight.