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Uhila sees red as La Rochelle beat leaders Clermont
By Peter Thompson
Loni Uhila was sent off as Top 14 leaders Clermont Auvergne lost 16-12 at La Rochelle and second-placed Lyon beat Racing 92 on Saturday.
Three Ihaia West penalties gave La Rochelle a 9-0 half-time lead at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, but Damian Penaud's try just after the break got Clermont on the board.
The 2016-17 champions were reeling 57 minutes in, though, when Uhila was dismissed for a high tackle on Pierre Bourgarit, reducing them to 12 men soon after Peceli Yato and Etienne Falgoux were sin-binned.
A penalty try increased the home side's lead and although John Ulugia's score 10 minutes from time gave Clermont hope, they were unable to avoid a second defeat of the season.
Lyon closed the gap to four points with a 19-13 victory at Paris La Defense Arena.
Lionel Beauxis booted 14 points and Liam Gill scored a first-half try, ensuring Simon Zebo's five-pointer in the second half was not enough for Racing.
Perpignan have now lost seven out of seven after going down 12-9 at Pau, while second-bottom Agen suffered a 10-0 defeat at Toulouse.
Grenoble celebrated only their second triumph of the campaign, Adrien Latorre, Leva Fifita and Etienne Fourcade scoring first-half tries in a 28-25 win over Bordeaux-Begles.
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Latest Comments
It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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