Toulouse (AFP)

Montpellier cannot do it: even with its French internationals, the MHR lost to Bordeaux-Bègles (23-22) and remains stuck at the bottom of the table during a 10th day of the Top 14 marked by the tribute to Christophe Dominici, who died suddenly on Tuesday.

Dark evening for Xavier Garbajosa.

In tears before the match when the face of "Domi", his former companion of the three-quarter line of the XV of France, appeared to the sound of "I will survive", the anthem of the heyday of the Stade Français , the Montpellier coach had no more reason to smile at the end of the meeting.

The UBB has imposed itself on the wire (23-22) in the Hérault thanks to the New Zealander Ben Lam, author of a decisive test (77th) after a framing-overflow on Arthur Vincent.

Montpellier however presented itself seriously reinforced with its Blues - Vincent Rattez, Arthur Vincent, Paul Willemse, Mohamed Haouas - back, as well as the South Africans Jacques du Plessis and Johan Goosen.

In the absence of Handré Pollard, still injured, the staff certainly took a risk by offering a first tenure to the very young (18 years) opener Louis Foursans-Bourdette.

But the rest of the workforce has considerable experience.

Penalized by injuries, duplicates but also postponements (3), the club of Mohed Altrad does not take off (11th).

Unlike UBB, which gleans a 4th victory over the last 5 matches, the second away from Castres where it already won at the finish (30-29).

The team of Christophe Urios, 7th, glued to the top 6.

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In Toulon, the emotion

The wind blew hard in Toulon, without taking away the sadness present on the faces of former Parisians Sergio Parisse and Julien Dupuy, now Toulonnais.

Dominici had taken the opposite route from Var, where he was from and where he wore the RCT four-season jersey (1993-1997) to join the Stade Français.

"Toulonnais forever", could we read in a Mayol stadium in mourning.

The match was sad, too, and Patrice Collazo's team, which left with Charles Ollivon on the bench and the wind at his back, was able to take enough lead in the first period (15-0) before suffering the return Béarnais at the end of the match (18-13).

Narrow but sufficient for the RCT, solid 4th and which thus follows the rhythm of the cadors of La Rochelle, Clermont and Toulouse, all wide winners.

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In front, it gallops

From the leading trio, only La Rochelle can harbor regrets for having let slip the offensive bonus in the last minutes against Brive (36-22).

But with 34 points, the Rochelais keep a good lead over Toulouse (29 points), who outclassed Agen (63-18), and Clermont (28 points) who also filled up in Castres (40-14).

In addition to its nine tries, Toulouse recorded a number of good news.

Replaced at the opening in the absence of injured Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos showed by a winning slalom that he was still fresh after a month spent in Marcoussis.

Returning from injury, Cheslin Kolbe made a mistake without consequence before catching up with a try.

For his first in France, the second line Thibaud Flament, recruited from the Wasps, also convinced.

For Clermont, there is also a lot of positive, especially around Camille Lopez, author of a flawless against the poles (7/7) and a personal try for a total of 23 points.

A good omen before the European Cup.

© 2020 AFP