Lyon (AFP)
Toulouse is no longer the leader of the Top 14: Lyon won at the expense of the Stade (31-23), Saturday at Gerland in the closing match of the 17th day, maintaining the hope of qualifying for the final phase.
In difficulty since the end of December, with only two victories in its last eight meetings, LOU Rugby had to win against the leader in order not to jeopardize his chances of qualification.
7th, the Lyon club comes back four lengths from Toulon (6th).
After nine matches without defeat (eight wins, one draw), Toulouse conceded, meanwhile, its first loss in the Top 14 since November 1 and a trip to the Stade Français.
The Toulousains thus cede first place to Racing and La Rochelle, winners of Castres and Stade Français.
They are now third, one point behind the two leaders.
Between two teams diminished by the absence of many players, selected or injured, the show was still there.
But the LOU could count on the winger Noa Nakaitaci.
After his hat-trick last week against Racing, the winger confirmed his international form.
This time he scored twice (7th, 54th).
Lyon could also count on the speed and power of the Fijian center, Josh Tuisova, who offered a try to Toby Arnold (35th).
Author of two drops, the striker Jonathan Wisniewski made him an almost flawless against the poles (6/7).
Replacing Yohann Huget at a moment's notice, who remained in Toulouse, the young winger Dimitri Delibes (21) for his part celebrated his first tenure in Top 14 by signing a double in the first period, to allow Ugo Mola's men to stay contact at break (17-23).
But the Toulouse youth, and the melee weaknesses have proved prohibitive to hope to bring back a positive result.
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