.

pink wave

The French Stadium had enhanced its three previous successes (against La Rochelle, Racing 92 and Pau) with an offensive bonus point.

The fourth was not improved against Castres (26-17), but the Parisian club will be satisfied with it.

The Pink Soldiers consolidate their second place and temporarily return to three points behind the leader, Toulouse, opposed in the evening (9:05 p.m.) to La Rochelle, which is doing well for them.

The CO, only 11th three points from the penultimate place, knows perfectly well what it has to do to hope for better: finally win away from its fortress of Pierre-Fabre.

.

UBB four by four

After having flirted with the relegation zone for a while, the Girondin club has risen four to four in the standings in recent weeks.

His fourth victory in a row, against Bayonne (23-15), in a sold-out Chaban-Delmas stadium (32,413 spectators), was not the most flamboyant.

Bordeaux-Bègles players congratulate each other after a try by Yoram Moefana against Bayonne, January 7, 2023 at the Chaban-Delmas stadium © Thibaud MORITZ / AFP

It still allows him to temporarily climb on the podium.

Who would have believed it when manager Christophe Urios was pushed out in November?

"We are not going to be choosy", commented the new strongman of the UBB Julien Laïrle.

"Winning matches like that when we're not at our best level is very important for the group and making an impression. It's a sign of progress, of confidence, we doubt a little less".

.

Clermont still sick

Between the announced departure of Damian Penaud, the impotence displayed against Toulouse (32-13), the insults and threats falling from the stands of Michelin and the resignation of the three-quarter coach Xavier Sadourny, the context was volcanic in Auvergne before Perpignan reception.

Pushed to their limits by an opportunistic and playful Usap, like this superb collective movement concluded by Genesis Mamea Lemalu, ASM avoided the eruption thanks to two tries at the end of the match (31-20).

The Clermontois breathe a little better and sink the Catalans, more last than ever, now six points behind Brive.

.

In Brive the "Collazico"

The new Corréziens manager Patrice Collazo played a bad trick on his former club Toulon (26-17), which he had not necessarily left on good terms.

The Black and Whites, transformed in recent weeks, have won a third consecutive victory in a match that has long been a duel of scorers between their opener Enzo Hervé (seven penalties) and his Toulon counterpart Dan Biggar.

Brive remains 13th, but is just two points behind Pau, beaten at the same time at home by Lyon (21-12), which thus puts an end to a series of three straight losses.

The 15th day will close on Sunday (9:05 p.m.) with the clash between the defending champion, Montpellier, and Racing 92.

© 2023 AFP