Castres (AFP)

Throne in danger for Lyon: widely defeated in Castres, (29-12) who paid tribute to Ibrahim Diarra, champion of France with the CO (2013) who died on Wednesday, the LOU is under threat from Bordeaux-Bègles who receives La Rochelle Sunday (4:50 p.m.)

The men of Pierre Mignoni, leaders of the Top 14 since the start of the championship, mark time with a third defeat in four games and could well abandon their first place at the UBB at the end of this 11th day. "We are not dead, we are still in the top six, we are going to start again" prophesied the manager of LOU after the meeting.

After leading a hell of a train with seven victories in the first seven days, Lyon confirms its current difficulties with a better record in the European Cup: three defeats also in four matches, including one on the ground of Treviso (25- 22), a week ago.

Conversely, the victory of Castres with the offensive bonus gives the CO a little air, twelfth at kick-off.

The Tarnais remained on three defeats in the last four games, but, thanks to this fifth victory in six games at home, move away from the red zone. "We said things and we responded present," also rejoiced the 2nd line Loïc Jacquet.

After a tribute to "Ibou" Diarra, champion of France with Castres in 2013 who died Wednesday after a heart attack, the LOU was penalized by his indiscipline punctuated by two yellow cards - Hendrik Roodt (27) and Josua Tuisova (40 ) - in front of a Castraise team which registered two tries in the first period.

The first on a collective movement concluded in the end by the wing Geoffrey Palis (8), the other, on a personal initiative of the center Thomas Combezou author of his sixth test of the season just before the break (12-3) . "We put all our generosity on the ground: we played for the public, for us, our families and Ibou," said Jacquet.

On returning from the locker room, the OC gave themselves a little more air on a test by Rory Kockott (19-3, 45th). Punished with a yellow card in stride, the scrum half offered the opportunity to Lyonnais to take advantage of this numerical superiority to get closer (19-9, 57th).

Shortly before the hour of play, a power failure made the end of the game obscure but the Tarnais finally hit the nail on a winning ball (29-12, 74th). "The Castres did things in order and they deserve their victory" soberly concluded Mignoni

Next weekend, Lyon will end the year with the reception of Bayonne while Castres, who bowed during his five trips this season, will have a hell of a challenge on the lawn of Clermont.

© 2019 AFP