Toulouse (AFP)

Stade Toulousain asserted its rank of champion of France and dominated the Union Bordeaux-Bègles 22-14 on Sunday, which lost its place as leader of the Top 14, during the match at the top of the 14th day.

Not kept in the 28 for France-England, Toulouse rear Thomas Ramos, repositioned at the opening, was decisive, with a try, a decisive pass and 12 points on the clock.

Leader of the championship before this day and symbolic autumn champion, the UBB had not lost in Top 14 since October 19 and a setback to Brive on the 8th day. It gives up the place of leader in Lyon, winner of Toulon.

Sunday, the Girondins were overtaken by the Toulouse machine, yet deprived of its hinge Ntamack-Dupont, of the 3rd Cros line, of the hooker Julien Marchand, of the left pillar Baille, retained in the French team, and of its right pillars, Aldegheri and Faumuina, injured.

After a bad start to the season which coincided with the absence of its internationals in Japan (5 defeats in its first 8 games), Toulouse had chained victories in November and December, before skating during the holidays in Top 14, with a draw at home against Toulon and a defeat in Paris against the Stade Français.

With this precious victory, Toulouse continues on its dynamic of victories in the European Cup and returns to 6th place with 34 points, 13 points from UBB (2nd).

- Decisive ramos -

It was better not to arrive late at Stade Ernest-Wallon on Sunday evening: from the 3rd minute, an attack by Médard on the right side was stopped 5 meters from the line. Ramos, in the opening position, then reversed the game on the left and addressed, with his foot, a decisive pass for the third line Alban Placines, who grabbed the offering and pressed into the in-goal.

Rare, Thomas Ramos hit the corner transformation and the ball hit the two posts and then the crossbar, before coming out.

The UBB responded immediately. Radradra punctured the Toulouse defense full-axis, Kolbe tried in vain to tackle it, but the Fijian colossus scored between the posts.

But on the other hand, the South African world champion Cheslin Kolbe was more successful, he intercepted a pass from Dubié and entered the second try at Stade Toulousain (13) after a supersonic race.

Then, the two teams accumulated the errors in the last gesture, bad choice or forwards and it was necessary to wait 35 minutes and a breakthrough of Ramos who resisted two tackles to register the 3rd Toulouse test (19-7).

A penalty from Thomas Ramos gave the Toulousains a little more room. Stade Toulousain continued to shell the Bordeaux defense, offered itself long attack sequences, without finding the fault to seize the offensive bonus.

In the 70th, it was the hooker Pelissié who reduced the mark for the UBB, on a work from the front.

Toulouse-UBB was an opportunity for coach Ugo Mola to trust players who are little used such as the young pillars Tafili and Neti, the Fouyssac center, the 3rd line Placines and the 2nd line Verhaeghe starting at kick-off.

During the 15th day in mid-February, the Stade Toulousain will travel to the Paris region to face Racing 92 and the UBB will host Lyon.

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