Toulouse (AFP)

Biarritz made a successful return to the Top 14, seven years later, with a convincing victory against Bordeaux-Bègles at the start of the season, which Brive and Racing 92, authoritative winners of the Ile-de-France derby, also got off to a good start.

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Biarritz, a winning comeback

Mr. Englishman, shoot first.

The new Biarritz opener Brett Herron, who arrived this summer from the Harlequins, scored the first penalty, the first try and the first transformation of the 2021-2022 season.

Ten points that put the promoted Basque in the orbit of a resounding success against Bordeaux-Bègles (27-15) for his comeback in the elite, seven years after leaving it.

In the wake of his three-quarter New Zealand center Francis Saili, with all the good moves, the BO was rewarded for his enthusiasm and fighting spirit.

The smaller budget of the championship, which has to face last season's four semi-finalists in the first five days, should bore more than one team in front of its boiling crowd of Aguilera.

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A one-way derby

Like last season, the home advantage, despite the public's return to Jean-Bouin, was not enough for the Stade Français in the Ile-de-France derby against Racing 92, easy winner (36-21).

Racing 92 was superior to the Stade Français in the Ile-de-France derby in Paris on September 4, 2021 GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT AFP

And as during their victorious jump-off in June (38-21), the Racingmen made the difference in the first half before quietly managing their lead.

With three tries from international hooker Camille Chat, injured at the end of last season, young winger Donovan Taofifenua and center Olivier Klemenczak, at the conclusion of a great collective movement, the Hauts-de-Seine club scored from the start the spirits face his best enemy.

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Brive first leader

Unlike Biarritz, Perpignan suffered for its return to Top 14. The promoted Catalan paid the price (36-15) of the recital of the opener of Brive Enzo Hervé, author alone of 26 points, including an essay, in the lineage of his successful last season.

The only team so far to have won the offensive bonus point, thanks to its three tries, the CAB is the first leader of the championship.

Castres has, at the same time, started its season as it had finished the last: with a victory at home, against Pau (16-12).

Brivist winger Wesley Douglas (ball in hand) tries a breakthrough in the Perpignan camp, September 4, 2021 in Brive DIARMID COURREGES AFP

The Tarnais, however, made a messy copy, like the best director of the Top 14 last season, Benjamin Urdapilleta, author of the only test of the match but guilty of an unusual lack of success against the poles (2 out of 5).

Two other meetings will take place on Sunday: the start of the buyout operation for Lyon and Clermont (5:45 p.m.) and the reunion between the last two finalists, La Rochelle and Toulouse (9:05 p.m.).

© 2021 AFP