Instead of seven matches, rugby fans had to be content with three after cascading postponements including the clash between Stade Toulouse, double defending French champion, and the French Stadium on Sunday after infections in the Parisian ranks.

In the aftermath of the forceps victory from Castres to Perpignan (20-19), the only match played on Sunday during Boxing Day, Montpellier then La Rochelle performed well by offering each other enhanced success.

The Hérault people won a sixth consecutive success (27-12), the second in a row with the offensive bonus, which allows them to pounce on the leading duo.

The MHR returns to equal points (40) with Toulouse, second, and is only two units behind Bordeaux-Bègles, a leader surrounded by positive cases of Covid-19 and forced to postpone his trip to Toulon.

So many victories in a row, this had not happened in Montpellier since the seven successes stacked between February and April 2016. Philippe Saint-André's men were able to be realistic despite their indiscipline and half an hour spent in numerical inferiority after the red card inflicted on the second row Bastien Chalureau.

"Nothing was easy. We must congratulate the Biarrots who do not let go," reacted the former coach of the XV of France (2011-2015).

Long hung, this match turned in favor of the Héraultais fifteen minutes from the end when Vincent Rattez went to corner the second visitor test, on the first real initiative of the "PSA" team during the second act (20-12).

This test, after the one succeeded by Handre Pollard in the first period, cut the legs of Biarrots, carried by the boot of Brett Herron (4 penalties) but sterile dominators, unable to undermine the opposing defense united in the fight.

The overpowered Masivesi Dakuwaqa (76th) drove home the point, which allows Mohed Altrad's club to join Toulouse in the standings.

La Rochelle fourth

Stade Rochelais won two places to move up to fourth place, ahead of Castres, after its victory over Lyon (25-3), now sixth.

In the pouring rain, the Maritimes showed their superiority at home with a sixth straight league victory at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium.

The South African center of Montpellier Handre Pollard, author of a test against Biarritz, December 27, 2021 in Top 14 GAIZKA IROZ AFP

After moving tribute to international third row Kevin Gourdon, forced to abruptly stop his career at 31 due to a heart problem, the Rochelais dominated the first period (13-3), thanks to a test from the third center line of the Blues Grégory Alldritt, very visible, and the success of the New Zealand opener Ihaia West in front of the poles.

Then the second row Thomas Lavault and a third collective try, finally attributed to the inevitable Alldritt, allowed the Rochelais to ensure the bonus.

Before the back Brice Dulin prevents the Lyonnais Ethan Dumortier from flattening.

Next meeting for the Maritimes: from Sunday in Castres on the occasion of the 14th day.

It is due to start on Saturday with in particular a clash between Clermont and the Toulouse Stadium, hoping that the championship will this time be spared by the virus.

Clubs will still be able to benefit from full stadiums.

Because January 3 will be marked by the return of the gauges, set at 5,000 spectators outside "to slow down the Omicron variant", as the government announced on Monday evening.

And this for a period of three weeks.

© 2021 AFP