Nanterre (AFP)

Untouchable at home, Toulon has finally conquered its demons away with a great success on the lawn of Racing 92 (29-23) Sunday in a late Top 14 match where Castres, transformed in 2021, was still reassured.

End of the series for Racing 92 who remained on six consecutive victories in all competitions and could seize second place.

But the Ile-de-France team fell on a team from the Var in a big day, which moved back to fourth position in the standings.

In seven matches away from home, the RCT had won only once, in mid-November, in Agen, a red lantern who is still chasing a first victory this season.

But with remarkable offensive efficiency in the first period and solid defense afterwards, Patrice Collazo's men showed that they were no longer allergic to travel.

They had to work harder in the first period, scoring two tries in less than twenty minutes (Swan Rebbadj, Baptiste Serin) to shake up Racing 92 (17-3).

But the Racingmen rectified the situation by scoring two tries in turn, thanks to the anger of Wenceslas Lauret then the fiery legs of Teddy Thomas, well served by the elusive Virimi Vakatawa.

The center of the XV of France was forgiven for having missed a ready-made test, a few minutes earlier, probably thinking of celebrating it even before having flattened.

It took a successful penalty by Louis Carbonel, author of 19 points in front of the poles, to put the RCT in a tie at the break (20-20).

It is thanks to its young 21-year-old opener, who honored his first two selections with the Blues last fall, that Toulon was able to stand out after returning from the locker room (29-23).

After a first period of high flight, the match turned into a real game of chess.

In this game, Toulon came out the best, putting up an iron defense in front of the Racingmen.

Fearsome in the "money time", the Ile-de-France residents have this time failed to reverse the situation.

- Castres sinks Montpellier -

Earlier, Castres again confirmed its improvement.

Moribund in 2020, the CO does not know defeat in this new year.

In Montpellier, the Castres signed a third straight victory (21-19).

But after their brilliance in Lyon then the confirmation against Agen, being reduced each time to fourteen, Baptiste Delaporte and his partners this time took care of the discipline to win all together (21-19).

At the finish.

It is a test in strength - the second for Castres - of the Tongan third row Ma'am Vaipulu, who entered during the second period, which allowed the 2018 French champion to come back to height in the last ten minutes.

Before the decisive transformation of the Argentine opener Benjamin Urdapilleta.

The upheaval of the management, at the end of December, with the arrival at the helm of Pierre-Henry Broncan is bearing fruit.

The CO, now ninth in the standings, 6 points from the Top 6, with another game late, moves away from the red zone.

The MHR sinks further into gloom.

Passed from sports director to head coach at the beginning of the month, after the dismissal of Xavier Garbajosa, the former coach of the XV of France Philippe Saint-André had to be satisfied with only three defensive bonuses in as many games.

And Montpellier is always penultimate, a place synonymous with a play-off at the end of the season.

Worrisome before receiving Lyon and Racing 92, two title contenders.

© 2021 AFP