Paris (AFP)

The LOU takes back the hair of the beast. Lyon, which marked time in 2020, took again the head of the Top 14 in Bordeaux-Bègles, fell Sunday at the title champion Toulouse (22-14) who did not say his last word.

Guided by Thomas Ramos, released by the staff of the XV of France for this 14th day of Top 14, the Toulousains tripped the autumn champion who remained on five wins in a row and returned to the race for the first six places (6th , 34 pts)

Toulouse and Ramos, the pride of champions

Until the last match, the players on the extended list of Fabien Galthié made available to their club this weekend had been discreet. It was before the Thomas Ramos festival with Toulouse despite the absence of five of their internationals (Baille, Marchand, Cros, Dupont, Ntamack) preserved by the coaching of the Blues for the opening of the Six Nations Tournament against the 'England in a week.

Aligned in N.10, in the absence therefore of Romain Ntamack but also of the suspension still in progress of the Australian Zack Holmes, Thomas Ramos scored points, 12 precisely: 7 at the foot and a try.

But undoubtedly some more also in the spirit of Fabien Galthié where he is in balance with the Montpellier Anthony Bouthier to occupy the post of back. With in mind the announcement Thursday of the list of 23 players for the "Crunch".

Surgical in front of the poles, Ramos is also at the origin of the first test by finding at the end of the line his flanker Alban Placines which had only to flatten. And his essay, the third of the Rouge et Noir, is a personal feat: a 40-meter solitary breakthrough during which he resisted two tackles.

Without his master to play Matthieu Jalibert, remained in Nice with the Blues, Bordeaux-Bègles, dominated in large widths to Ernest Wallon, yields his throne, acquired after the 11th day, in Lyon but keeps a mattress of 10 pts on his pursuers .

. Lyon hits hard

"Furious" of the setback inflicted by Northampton (36-24) in the European Cup with five tries conceded at Gerland, the coach of LOU Pierre Mignoni "found (s) on team" against Toulon who presented himself with the club label in shape after his streak of six undefeated matches, including a draw in Toulouse (13-13).

The relief was palpable also at its opener Jonathan Wisniewski at the microphone of Canal +: "It does us good because this European Cup, we did not negotiate very well and it gave us more doubts than certainties. "

Faced with a name from the Top 14, this improved success, signed by the New Zealand rear Toby Arnold, with a stick on the three tests, is good for morale. But above all for the classification: with 49 pts, Lyon regains power.

Behind the leading duo, six teams settle in five points. La Rochelle, winner of Montpellier (35-30), and Racing 92, torturer of Castres (27-0), are the best placed in the race for dams with 37 points. But the MHR (8th), with 32 units, remains on pace, thanks to the defensive bonus point snatched from the Maritimes. Like Clermont (7th, 32 pts) who overthrew the Stade Français (29-19).

. In Castres, "we play the maintenance"

Castres and his Argentinian technician Mauricio Reggiardo had to face the facts. Ground 27-0 by Racing yet deprived of five internationals (Chat, Le Roux, Palu, Vakatawa, Thomas), the CO (12th, 23 pts) is only one step ahead of the new Agen barragiste (13th ) who won on the wire in Bayonne (23-22) for the first time in six days.

Relentless observation by Reggiardo, sounded after the meeting: "Now we know what we are playing, the maintenance." Hard return to reality for the champion of France 2018 that his trainer considered "still in the blow to finish in the six" before the match.

. The Stade Français last

Consequence of Agen's first victory in ages, Stade Français, beaten in Clermont, plummets to 14th place (20 pts) which he will therefore have left only a short day after his convincing success against Toulouse (30 -18).

The Parisians have however confirmed their awakening since the departure of Heyneke Meyer and the history of the match would undoubtedly have been different if, after an early first try, their young winger Lester Etien, one of the 14 players released by the staff of the Blues, n 'had not let the ball pass between his hands when the path to in-goal was wide open (12th).

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