Paris (AFP)
Baptiste Couilloud and Camille Lopez who allow Lyon and Clermont to garner convincing success, ASM and La Rochelle which reattach in Toulouse in the lead and Agen at the bottom of the hole: here are the main lessons of the 6th day of the Top 14, disputed from Friday to Sunday.
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MEN
Baptiste Couilloud.
Not retained in the first list of the XV of France, the Lyon scrum-half offered the best publicity by leading the LOU to a prestigious victory in Toulouse (16-7).
His kick over the red and black defense was perfectly exploited by Josua Tuisova, the other man in sight on the Rhone side, author of his 6th try in as many matches.
Camille Lopez.
On the decline at 31, the Clermont opener?
The Basque has proven that he should still be counted on this season by registering himself, after the siren, the test of the bonus against Pau (50-29).
Eighteen points in total, a single failed transformation (5/6) and another brilliant blow, a low kick for himself followed by a long pass that sends the Japanese Kotaro Matsushima to the test, author of his first two productions in France.
Antoine Gibert.
The N.10 of Racing 92 (21 years old) emerged as the winner of the duel of the young forerunners against that of the Stade Français, Joris Segonds (23 years old), by scoring from 30 m to the left the victory penalty (25-24) after the mermaid.
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NUMBERS
0. Like the number of Agen wins after 6 games.
By receiving Bayonne, competitor for maintenance, the SUA had yet a dream opportunity to finally launch his season but he missed the meeting (26-15).
4. La Rochelle won against Bordeaux-Bègles (20-6) its 4th game in a row at home without conceding a try.
The Rochelais came close to the bonus that would have allowed them to be the only leaders.
They form a top trio with Clermont and Toulouse.
Four is also the number of consecutive losses in all competitions for the UBB, which points to 12th place, far from its leader's chair at the time of the interruption of the previous season.
11. Marcel-Michelin is used to high scores with Clermont, generous offensively and defensively in recent years.
The ASM still provided the show against Pau by scoring 7 tries and conceding 4, or 11 in all.
In their last three meetings, for as many successes, the Auvergnats have crossed the opposing line sixteen times.
20. A fortress has fallen: Toulouse lost to Lyon after 20 matches in the Top 14 without defeat at home (Ernest-Wallon or Stadium).
The last French champion (2019) is certainly deprived of seven French internationals and, among other injured, Cheslin Kolbe, injured.
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THE DECLARATIONS
"We know that we are going to have six very complicated weeks (with the international window which deprives Toulouse of 7-8 players, editor's note). We will hang on, we will spend them together. It is not the wall of wailing, we're not going to cry. "
Ugo Mola, the Toulouse manager, refuses to feel sorry for himself after the hitch at home against Lyon.
"It's still too early to say that we have both feet in Pro D2, but it is sure that it is badly embarked."
Rémi Vaquin, Agen's forward coach, does not hide his face after the setback against Bayonne.
"All that's missing is the points."
Mauricio Reggiardo, the manager of Castres Olympique who started from scratch after his wave of Covid-19 contamination, highlighted the progress of his team, beaten in Toulon (19-6) after having long resisted the RCT.
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