Paris (AFP)

Toulouse, roughed up at the end of the match in Montpellier, held out to offer itself a new victory and become the only team with three Top 14 successes on Saturday during a tough third day for La Rochelle, beaten in Clermont, and still in failure.

At the top of the ranking, the Toulouse stadium has honored its status as the reigning double French champion, not without a great fright in the Hérault (17-15).

Reduced to 13 to five minutes from the end, following a lack of pillars and the yellow card for Paulo Tafili, Ugo Mola's team encountered repeated assaults from the MHR which did not pass very far from a victory.

"We lost three points and not won a defensive bonus point," said Languedoc manager Philippe Saint-André, emphasizing the realism of Toulouse.

Well started by a flash try of the opener of the Blues Romain Ntamack, after only 42 seconds of play, the European champions drove the point home at the start of the second period through the center Lucas Tauzin.

But they conceded two tries in ten minutes by scrum half Martin Doan (66) and winger Vincent Rattez (76).

Fortunately for Toulouse, the new Italian scorer from Montpellier Paolo Garbisi missed the transformation of the equalizer.

"It's also good to win like that, in the last minutes," said Stadist back and scorer Thomas Ramos.

The kick of Toulousain Thomas Ramos during the Top 14 meeting between Montpellier and Toulouse (15-17) on Saturday September 18 in Montpellier Sylvain THOMAS AFP

- Clermont's first success -

In Clermont, it was already time to reunite with his former club for coach Jono Gibbes.

The New Zealander left La Rochelle, which he led to the finals of the European Cup of the championship, to join Auvergne this summer.

The evening smiled on the former All Black.

Under heavy rain and wind at the Marcel-Michelin stadium, the "Jaunards" won (23-22) by scoring two tries (Yato, Vili).

But they conceded the defensive bonus by conceding a single try in extra time.

La Rochelle remains in search of a first success.

Rochelle flanker Gregory Alldritt during the Top 14 match between Clermont-Ferrand and La Rochelle on Saturday September 18 in Clermont-Ferrand THIERRY ZOCCOLAN AFP

The surprise of the day came from Biarritz, where the promoted, still undefeated in his Aguiléra stadium, offered himself the scalp of a second cador, Racing 92 (28-19), after Bordeaux-Bègles at the opening of the championship.

Basque generosity was rewarded with only one try but the English opener of the BO, Brett Herron, was able to make the errors of the Ile-de-France bear fruit.

He only missed one kick, the first, before putting together eight and piling up 23 points in total.

For their part, the Racingmen scored three tries but accumulated too many mistakes to avoid a first defeat.

Even the defensive bonus escaped them, surprising after their convincing success against Stade Français (36-21) and La Rochelle (23-10).

"Being wrong about the state of mind, that should not happen when playing Racing," lamented the center and captain of Ciel et Blanc, Gaël Fickou.

Biarrot Brett Herron, author of 23 points in Biarritz's Top 14 victory against Racing 92 (28-19) on Saturday September 18 in Biarritz GAIZKA IROZ AFP

- Violent tackle from Pieterse -

UBB has missed the boat in Castres.

The Girondins did not know how to take advantage of the exclusion, a quarter of an hour from the end, of Castres Ryno Pieterse, author of a tackle of rare violence on Maxime Lucu, who was however "well" after the meet.

The Bordeaux scrum-half had just hit a candle and was no longer on his feet when the South African second line threw himself on him, shoulder forward.

The opener Matthieu Jalibert had the opportunity to shelter his team but he missed two penalties.

His opposite Castres, the Argentinian Benjamin Urdapilleta, did not tremble (23-23).

The CO is part, with Toulouse, of the only two undefeated formations.

A week after the setback in front of Pau, Lyon corrected the promoted Perpignan (47-3) with the bonus, and took second place in the standings.

Brive is third after his success, also improved, ahead of Pau (30-13).

Sunday, Toulon receives the French Stadium, in search of its first points.

© 2021 AFP