. Toulouse misses the boat
At the top of the championship (67 points), Stade Toulousain had chosen to rest its internationals back from the Tournament for its trip to Castres.
Las, the Pierre-Fabre stadium did not succeed to the Red and Black: the five-time European champions not only conceded a defeat (27-17) very unwelcome, and this without defensive bonus, but they also left feathers in the Tarn (Jaminet, Guitoune, Arnold and Graou injured), before starting two weeks dedicated to the Champions Cup.
For the Tarn club (11th), it is on the other hand "one more step towards the maintenance", welcomed its captain Julien Dumora, author of a double.
. The ruthless La Rochelle
At the Matmut Atlantique, in front of more than 42,000 people, the Stade Rochelais, of clinical efficiency, went to win against the Union Bordeaux-Bègles (36-6), too undisciplined (sixteen penalties conceded), in a very dense meeting physically.
La Rochelle third row Yoan Tanga pierces the Gironde defence during the Maritimes' 36-6 victory in Bordeaux against UBB Saturday, March 25, 2023 on the occasion of the 21st day of the Top 14 © ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP
The reigning European champion, who will host Gloucester next Saturday in the eighth round of the Champions Cup, has thus reduced his gap (six points) with the Toulouse leader, pocketing at the same time his fourth victory in a row in the league, which is also improved.
Conversely, UBB suffered a setback but retained fifth place in the standings, before travelling to Paris to face Racing 92 on the next day.
. Toulon wins narrowly
By winning narrowly at the Stadium de Gerland (27-23) against Lyon (3rd, 55 pts), who suffered a second consecutive defeat after being the team in form at the beginning of the year, Toulon (6th, 52 pts) validated a precious victory in view of the final phases.
LOU third row Loann Goujon, in a duel with Toulon second row Rayan Rebbadj, catches the ball during Toulon's 27-23 victory on matchday 21 of the Top 14, in Lyon on Saturday, March 25, 2023 © OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP
Led by captain Charles Ollivon, back from the Six Nations Tournament, the Var club, which has an appointment next week with the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup, has nevertheless surely lost its world champion winger, South African Cheslin Kolbe, who complained of an ankle after scoring a try for his own.
As for Xavier Garbajosa's men, who will also switch to the Challenge Cup next week, they can console themselves with the defensive bonus point, which makes them provisionally climb to 3rd place.
. Montpellier in one breath
The defending France champion, struggling in the standings (8th, 48 pts), gave himself a little air by going to win on the wire against Perpignan (23-22) at the Aimé-Giral stadium, where the Catalan club led throughout the match.
Italian international Paolo Garbisi scored thirteen points in Montpellier's victory in Perpignan with one breath (23-22) Saturday, March 25, 2023 © RAYMOND ROIG / AFP
Thanks to the foot of the Italian international Paolo Garbisi (thirteen points), the Héraultais held until the liberating try of the former Montois Léo Coly in the 72nd minute. Now it's time for the Champions Cup for Philippe Saint-André's men.
If Usap (13th, 35 pts) can have regrets, it must already switch to the future, with a next trip to Toulon that promises to be the most perilous.
Pau, in a delicate situation in the standings (12th) after three defeats in a row, managed to dominate Bayonne (30-20) at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian, scene of this Basque-Béarnais clash relocated to the Spanish side.
During a tense encounter, Bayonne (7th, 50 pts) missed the opportunity to score valuable points in view of the final phases.
Finally, in the derby of the Massif Central, it was Clermont (10th, 45 pts) who logically won (38-10) at the Stade Marcel-Michelin thanks to six tries, including a double from Anthony Belleau, in front of the neighbor Briviste, who finished the match at thirteen after two red cards and is heading straight for the Pro D2.
The 21st day will end on Sunday evening with the reception by Stade Français (4th) of Racing 92 (9th) in Jean-Bouin.
© 2023 AFP