Paris (France) (AFP)

Bordeaux-Bègles, taking advantage of the defeat at Brive of its main pursuer, Lyon, has further increased its lead in the Top 14 rugby, which is preparing to take a break for three weeks for the uncertain epilogue of the Six Nations Tournament .

. The Castres UBB

Bordeaux-Bègles suffered but won at home on Sunday against Castres (26-24). The Girondins, who had conceded only five home tries since the start of the season, collected four in seventy minutes, and could have conceded the draw if the Tarnais striker Rory Kockott had not missed his last transformation .

"I'm happy to have won the match. I'm relieved too. I sold Castres," said UBB coach and former Castres player Christophe Urios, as the CO often give their club a hard time. .

The UBB (1st, 61 pts) took advantage of this to increase its lead at the top of the ranking over Lyon (2nd, 53 pts).

. Lyon falls to Brive

Brive, fall of the fat. The Corréziens offered the scalp of a second leader this season, Lyon (30-16), after the UBB in October.

The LOU was ghostly and underwent the law of the wing winger, Joris Jurand, author of the three tries of his team in the first half. And that of the opener Thomas Laranjeira, decisive both on penalties and in the game.

The Lyonnais, whose reaction came too late with two tries in the second period, do not see anyone threatening their direct qualification for the semi-finals, even with this second defeat in three matches.

But in the classification, Racing 92, third, is approaching at full speed and is only seven points away.

. La Rochelle fanny

Les Ciel et Blanc signed the weekend's cardboard in Nanterre, crushing La Rochelle (49-0) on Saturday with seven tries and a well-deserved attacking bonus.

How far the start of the slow racing season is far! Even without their internationals (Chat, Thomas, Le Roux, Vakatawa) selected for the Tournament, the Ile-de-France residents delivered a perfect performance, moreover in front of their audience, when they had flopped several times at home.

From an accounting point of view, they overtake their opponent of the day in the ranking. And if they continue on this streak, the Racingmen can dream of better than the third step of the podium.

La Rochelle, on the contrary, fell to fifth place, surpassed by Toulon, and was only two points ahead of Toulouse, the first not qualified for the final stages. Not a good omen, especially since the next opponent is called Bordeaux-Bègles ...

. Toulon at the finish

A victory that counts. Toulon won Mayol a decisive match (19-18) by beating the Stade Français by a small point thanks to a penalty after the siren.

The meeting, sad until the hour of play, got carried away at the end, with a revolt by the Parisians who registered two tries (69th, 75th) and thought they finally got their heads out of the water.

But Louis Carbonel did not tremble to pass the winning penalty.

And the Stade Français finds the last place, abandoned by Pau who dominated Montpellier (19-15) on Saturday and leaves the relegation zone.

The other relegation is Agen, beaten at home by Clermont (32-15) who passes in extremis in the top 6, thanks to the defeats of Montpellier to Pau and Toulouse to Bayonne (20-10). The Toulouse French champion, who suffered Jean-Dauger his eighth defeat of the season in the league, leaves qualifying places for the final phase.

Complete results of the 17th day of the Top 14:

Saturday

Racing 92 (bo) - La Rochelle 49 - 0

Agen - Clermont (bo) 15 - 32

Bayonne - Toulouse 20 - 10

Pau - Montpellier (bd) 19 - 15

Brive - Lyon 30 - 16

Sunday

Bordeaux-Bègles - Castres (bd) 26 - 24

Toulon - Stade Français 19 - 18

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