Toulouse (7th, 48th points), somewhat revived thanks to its narrow victory over UBB (12-11) last weekend, will have to question itself again before receiving Montpellier in 15 days, during the last of his late matches.

Despite the absences of his French internationals and the numerous injuries, the reigning French champion intended to re-ignite a positive dynamic during this trip to Paris.

But the French Stadium, now 8th at 45 points, remained on a victory (29-28) during their last opposition on February 11 at the Stadium of Toulouse, in a late match of the 13th day.

A return match only three weeks after the first leg: the meeting promised to be original to say the least, explosive for the most.

It was like a "Classic", tense, with a first period rather Parisian and a second clearly Toulouse.

It was Fijian international center Waisea Nayacalevu who scored the first try of the match, his eighth in the Top 14, making him the joint-top try scorer in the league alongside Samoan Bordeaux-Bègles, Ulupano Seuteni.

The rest of the first period was often synonymous with waste, clashes, nothing but very logical for a "Classic" but, more seriously, a dangerous veneer from the pillar of Toulouse Charles Faumuina on the Parisian Lester Etien: card yellow for the New Zealander.

The Fijian international center of the Stade Français, Waisea Nayacalevu, scores the 1st try of the match of the 20th day of the Top 14, March 6, 2022 at the Stade Jean-Bouin Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT AFP

So outnumbered, Stade Toulouse is nevertheless the author of the second try of the meeting, signed by its young 21-year-old hooker, Guillaume Cramont (35th), nevertheless insufficient to recover the advantage taken by the Parisians (13-10 at halftime).

Back from the locker room, the domination of Toulouse, more players, continued, materialized by a successful penalty from Zach Holmes (13-13, 60th), which was answered by three points from Joris Segonds (16-13, 64th) .

Toulouse's Australian opening half, Zack Holmes, during the match of the 20th day of the Top 14 against Stade Français, March 6, 2022 at the Stade Jean-Bouin Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT AFP

The end of the match was marked by a new yellow card, addressed this time to a Parisian, the second row Juan John Van der Mescht.

Holmes did not tremble to pick up the score (16-16, 72nd).

But the Parisian club is a regular in matches won with forceps: at the last second, it snatched the winning try thanks to its back Kylan Hamdaoui, following a superb recovery from New Zealander Ngani Laumape.

© 2022 AFP