Stade Toulousain, already a clear winner in the first leg, on October 8 (46-10), had not won at the Marcel-Michelin stadium in the French championship since May 2002. It ended this long drought and signed with the passage his tenth victory of the season, the fourth away, for a draw and three defeats.

In the standings, Ugo Mola's men are seven points ahead of Stade Français (2nd) and twelve over La Rochelle and Racing, who share third place.

The ASM, which appeared for the first time in front of its public since the announcement of the departure next summer of its winger Damian Penaud, lost for the eighth time this season (against for five successes and a draw), remains in a difficult situation.

The Auvergnats, beaten for the second consecutive time, are eleventh in the standings, eight points behind Bayonne and Bordeaux who occupy the last 5th and 6th qualifying places for the play-offs.

Looking back, they are only six points ahead of Brive (13th), who beat them on December 23 and won in Lyon on Saturday.

The Clermontois, who presented a rejuvenated squad on Sunday evening, did not weigh heavily on this meeting.

Two tries by Juan Cruz Mallia (7th) and Sofiane Guitoune (24th), to which Melvyn Jaminet added a conversion and two penalties (31st, 39th), allowed Toulouse to take the lead at half-time (18-6).

In the second half, Stade Toulousain confirmed its broad domination over this meeting with two new tries from Jaminet and Paul Graou, both converted by Jaminet (45th, 51st, 32-6).

ASM however managed to reduce the mark with a try, transformed by Anthony Belleau, attributed to Tomas Lavanini following a work of the package of forwards and a long video viewing (32-13, 68th).

Toulouse's Sofiane Guitoune (g) against Clermontois Damian Penaud, January 1, 2023 in Clermont-Ferrand © THIERRY ZOCCOLAN / AFP

Clermont also finished the match better, taking advantage of the faults of the Toulouse who finished in double numerical inferiority after the temporary exclusions of Rynhardt Elstadt (71st) and Arthur Retière (74th).

But Toulouse, where Antoine Dupont helped out at the opening, nevertheless managed to retain the benefit of the offensive bonus.

© 2023 AFP