PARIS, FRANCE – Funny thing; last weekend’s Top 14 was a bit like this… either heavy and stuffy like over-stuffed poultry or fizzy, light and fun like champagne. Let’s start with the latter…
The game everyone expected, Toulouse playing at their neighbor Castres. The home team is doing great this year, trailing Toulouse by just 3 points. Unfortunately, their wins rely on the kicking abilities of South African scrumhalf Rory Kockott (in photo), rather than tries from their wingers, Martial and Andreu. Their game plan is (very) boring for those that like to be bored, they did not disappoint. Despite a huge mistake in his in-goal from Toulouse fullback Clément Poitrenaud, allowing Andreu to score, Toulouse took the W, thanks to penalties by up and coming flyhalf Lionel Beauxis. Castres Olympique 18-16 Stade Toulousain
Mont-de-Marsan hosted Biarritz, which claimed a very difficult win under new coaches Laurent Rodriguez and Didier Faugeron… Serge Milhas and Jack Isaacs were fired. Mont-de-Marsan 18-19 Biarritz Olympique
After their great victory over Toulouse two weeks ago, Grenoble was facing another challenge; Bordeaux-Bègles. And… they won! But it was not easy. Argentinian flyhalf Sanchez – him AGAIN – missed a penalty which could have given the UBB the bonus point. Does he do this on purpose?!
Grenoble 19- 9 Bordeaux-Bègles
Now for the Champagne games!
Racing-Métro, who is not doing so great, hosted struggling Agen. How did it go? The poor guys from Agen got sacrificed and came home with a valise (suitcase), which means a great defeat in French rugby slang. Argentinian winger Juan Imhoff had a blast. Racing 40-6 Agen
https://youtu.be/akd0-JWGtL4
After daddy Lucien Harinordoquy invaded the pitch last season during Biarritz-Bayonne, this drunk dude found it wise to have a talk with the ref… without being disturbed by Security!
https://youtu.be/49ZoS68qfPM
Bayonne came home with only a suitcase, as well, after traveling to Clermont. The visitors were not drinking any champagne.
Clermont 48-3 Aviron Bayonnais
Was that the end of the luggage won? Non! Not by a long shot…
Top14 leader Toulon was hosting the rough Catalans from Perpignan… who left the Stade Mayol with the same result as almost everyone else.
Toulon 46-13 USAP
Last but not least… When Montpellier starts playing great rugby, they’re quite unstoppable, and Paris learned this first-hand. Montpellier’s best players were winger Nagusa, fullback Bustos-Moyano and flyhalf Trinh-Duc, who left everyone dumbfounded with his quick linout rumble/pass/try. Montpellier 54-16 Stade Français
https://youtu.be/8bxGZHpcmAo