1
Toulouse reach the summit of the Top 14
By Peter Hanson
Toulouse scrapped out a 15-13 win at Pau to reach the summit of the Top 14 table, while Racing 92 left it late to earn a dramatic win over Grenoble.
With Clermont Auvergne not playing until Sunday, Toulouse took their opportunity to go top at the Stade du Hameau.
Pau were leading by three points at the break thanks to Peter Saili's try and eight points from the boot of Thibault Daubagna, with Lucas Tauzin's score and Thomas Ramos' penalty accounting for Toulouse's points.
A 46th-minute try from Arthur Bonneval put Toulouse in front, though, and that proved the only points of a low-scoring second half as the visitors racked up a fourth straight Top14 win.
In Paris, Virimi Vakatawa scored twice as Racing 92 defeated Grenoble 24-23 in a close-fought encounter.
Vakatawa's tries had helped Racing to a four-point half-time lead, but Fabien Alexandre dotted down with a little over 15 minutes remaining to give struggling Grenoble hope of a much-needed win.
But with the clock winding down, Olivier Klemenczak crossed and Teddy Iribaren added the extras to seal the tightest of wins and lift Racing to third.
Castres are just one spot behind Racing after inflicting more misery on Perpignan, who have lost all 10 of their league matches, in a 16-12 triumph in which Scott Spedding scored the game's only try for the away team.
Montpellier ended a three-match losing run in all competitions with a hard-fought 18-15 triumph at second-bottom Agen, Ruan Pienaar's 74th-minute try ultimately proving crucial.
Rounding out the action, Toulon's miserable season continued in a 36-25 loss at Bordeaux Begles. Romain Taofifenua's red card for a reckless late tackle four minutes before the break hindered the away side's cause.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
I guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
Go to commentsWhatever let's see if this load of waffle is still valid in 2 years time. ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play. We get to play the Springboks more, including the franchises, which will make us better! Overall I am optimistic. I will add having watched the England game multiple times we made most of the play. England are an awesome physical team, but you can expect the All Blacks to get better and better at executing the chances. It could easily have been 5 tries to one instead of 3 to 1.
Go to comments