Paris (AFP)
The mano a mano at the top of the Top 14 continued on Saturday: Lyon imposed themselves on the line in Agen (13-12) before Bordeaux-Bègles won the pole position in the French championship for their runner-up after having sank Bayonne (22-3).
The other good operation of the day is to be credited to Racing 92. The Ile-de-France club temporarily climbs to 4th place after its masterful success ahead of Clermont (27-19).
Strong and realistic, the Ciel et Blanc, carried by their two Teddy, Iribaren and Thomas, had a fifth success in a row in all competitions and completed the first leg in the qualifying places.
The Jaunards, they return empty-handed, again missing the bonus, and point to 6th place.
At the top of the ranking, Lyon, unable to find the key for 40 minutes, did not make it easy for Armandie: it took a lot of self-denial, and a bit of luck, for Pierre Mignoni's men to impose in the last five minutes thanks to an essay by Xavier Chiocci.
Led 12-0 at the break by the penultimate, the Lyonnais fought to chain a second success in a row. But the LOU has not really shown its teeth, with twelve forwards, four balloons lost in touch, two yellow cards for Jonathan Pelissié (8th) and Liam Gill (38th) as well as three tries refused ...
Agen, who must be content with the defensive bonus point, has not won since October 19 and a 27-14 success against Stade Français.
A success to snatch the LOU who did not put pressure on the UBB. The leader confirmed his good form of the moment by unrolling in front of Bayonnais who have not won since October.
In the other meetings of the evening, Jules Plisson continues to see life in pink on the side of La Rochelle: the opener scored 22 points to allow the Maritimes to go and crush Pau outside (44-13) and climb on the podium while Montpellier, after three defeats and a draw, returned to victory before Brive (29-26).
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