Toulouse (AFP)
Toulouse took advantage on Saturday of its improved success over Brive and the second defeat in a row for La Rochelle, at Castres, to escape at the top of the standings during an 18th day of the Top 14 marked by the return to the field of several Blues.
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Toulouse distance from La Rochelle
Long sluggish despite the return of injuries from its internationals Romain Ntamack and François Cros, Stade Toulouse still managed to win with a bonus against Brive (42-17) thanks to a big end to the game in numerical superiority.
His neighbor from Castres did him a favor a little later by dominating the Stade Rochelais (22-15), beaten for the second time in a row and to whom the next two weekends without Top 14 should do the greatest good physically.
Result: Toulouse made the break at the top of the standings, with now seven points ahead of the Maritimes, whose second place is threatened by Racing 92, opposed in the evening (9:05 pm) in Toulon.
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Paris, the right to believe
Stade Français were forced to win at home against the red lantern, Agen, in order to keep the hope of qualifying for the finals.
He fulfilled his contract with a better victory (40-21) despite the red card received in the 17th minute by second row Paul Gabrillagues.
The Parisian club, carried on Saturday to Jean-Bouin by a great Waisea, temporarily returns to three points from the sixth place occupied by Toulon.
The Agenais bring their sad record of consecutive defeats to 18 since the start of the championship.
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Bayonne and Pau, status quo
Status quo at the bottom of the ranking between Pau and Bayonne, respectively beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles (29-23) and Lyon (28-20).
In the fight to avoid the penultimate place, synonymous with a barrage, the two teams managed to jostle candidates for the finals, but both failed by a hair's breadth of the defensive bonus.
Victorious Friday of Clermont (22-16), Montpellier thus carries out the good operation of the weekend in the race to the maintenance.
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The Blues are back
Several Blues taken in the "cluster" of the XV of France, and authorized to replay after having been considered as a contact case, made their return to competition on the occasion of this 18th day of the Top 14.
Paul Willemse and Anthony Bouthier took part in Montpellier's victory over Clermont.
Having entered during the game, centers Jonathan Danty (Stade français) and Pierre-Louis Barassi (Lyon) each scored a try.
Ditto for Yoram Moefana and Cameron Woki for Bordeaux-Bègles, where opener Matthieu Jalibert was used at the back.
Romain Ntamack and François Cros sometimes seemed to run out of rhythm with Toulouse, whose back Thomas Ramos injured his calf at the end of the match.
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