Toulouse (AFP)

Power four!

Toulouse continued its flawless performance this season with a new success on Sunday at the end of the 4th day of the Top 14 after an unbridled match against a team from Clermont (27-15) nailed to the penultimate place in the standings .

Once again jostled, the defending champion was able to keep his back and is already digging a first gap at the top of the championship, with five lengths ahead of his runner-up, Racing 92.

With only one victory in four matches, the start is difficult on the Clermont bench for Jono Gibbes, who arrived in the offseason from La Rochelle to succeed Franck Azéma.

But on what she showed Ernest-Wallon, her team can legitimately hope for better days.

The Toulousans hardly existed offensively in the first half, except on a dazzling international hinge: a skillful kick over Antoine Dupont received by Romain Ntamack for his third try of the season.

Toulouse opening half Romain Ntamack (d), author of a test, is congratulated by scrum half Antoine Dupont, during the Top 14 home match against Clermont, September 26, 2021 at Stade Ernest-Wallon Lionel BONAVENTURE AFP

And that's about all as the champions of France and Europe, cornered in their camp, have multiplied the blunders by excess of enthusiasm, and spent most of their time to contain the assaults of the ASM, sometimes narrowly, like the rescues of François Cros and Pita Ahki.

Well served by a very prominent Damian Penaud in the center, his training position, Alivereti Raka was the first to materialize, in the corner, the Auvergne domination.

Clermont Fijian winger Alivereti Raka (l), author of a test against Toulouse, during their Top 14 match, September 26, 2021 at Stade Ernest-Wallon Lionel BONAVENTURE AFP

Released through injury, he was imitated in the same place by his replacement, Marvin O'Connor.

Hired during the week as a medical joker, the French rugby sevens international scored on his first ball for his first XV match in more than three years.

The third row Anthony Jelonch also signed, in force after returning from the locker room, his first try under his new Toulouse colors.

The match then logically declined in intensity.

Dominated in touch, the Clermontois were punished at the end of the match by the inevitable Dupont, taken out of his box at the level of a scrum, on a "89" school embellished with a beautiful pass fake.

After the defeat of its neighbor Castres on Saturday against the French Stadium (34-10), Toulouse is now the only team still undefeated this season.

And given its current success, it may be gone to last.

© 2021 AFP