Toulouse (AFP)

Thanks to this seventh success in eight matches, with an offensive bonus as a bonus, the reigning double French champion resumed his leader's chair, in which Bordeaux-Bègles had temporarily settled in the afternoon.

Above all, he performs a good accounting operation as the autumn test-matches approach, which will deprive him of many internationals.

In success so far in recent years against its great rival, the OC remains in spite of everything well placed, in fifth place, in the race for the finals.

Almost a hundred years to the day after the first confrontation between the two Occitan clubs, on October 30, 1921 in Castres, the Ernest-Wallon stadium was full to offer a real derby atmosphere.

In the spans mostly covered with red and black flags, supporters did not even wait half an hour before launching their first ola.

It must be said that the match was already almost folded after ten minutes.

Time for the Haut-Garonnais to score two converted tries without the Tarnais touching the ball or almost.

The first, after a low kick from Romain Ntamack, by the stainless Maxime Médard, just ten years after his World Cup final lost with the Blues against New Zealand.

The second, for his hundredth appearance in the Toulouse jersey, by the back and scorer (7/8 success) Thomas Ramos, one of the ten players of his team selected with the XV of France to prepare for the November tests.

Coach Fabien Galthié can be reassured: no one seems to have been injured and his hinge is in good shape.

The scrum-half Antoine Dupont, after a breakthrough of which he has the secret, offered Ntamack his fourth try of the season.

He was also directly involved in the double scored by Juan Cruz Mallia for his return to the club after playing the Rugby Championship with Argentina, which the Blues will face on November 6.

Dominant in melee and intractable defensively, Stade Toulouse has largely erased the blunders that had marred its start to the season so far.

Toulouse second row Rory Arnold progresses despite a tackle from a player from Castres in Top 14 to Ernest Wallon, October 23, 2021 Valentine CHAPUIS AFP

However, it is difficult to see it as a real reference match as Castres, curiously apathetic, did not offer much in the face.

© 2021 AFP