Lyon falls against Stade Français, Toulon rebounds against Vannes

Saturday, during the multiplex of the 4th day of Top 14, Lyon suffered its first defeat of the season on the pitch at Stade Français (31-10), but remains temporarily at the top of the standings. On the other side of the table, Toulon has won the shock of victory orphans since the start of the season. The RCT dominated Vannes (28-10), which is sinking and which will have a hard time ahead on the next day at home against Pau. In the other two matches, Clermont was not worried against Castres at home (20-6), while Bayonne punished Racing 92 at the end of the match (17-20).

Lyon stops at three

The leader sees his series of victories stop at three with a clear defeat at Stade Français (31-10). The Lyonnais started in accordance with their leading ranking, which Stade Toulouse or Montpellier can compete with on Sunday, patiently building their success by leading 10-0 after half an hour of play.

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But they did not last the distance, especially in the second period with the entry of the Parisian bench. Reduced to 13 for several minutes during the second half, they conceded four tries in the second half and left a first offensive bonus of the season at Stade Français.

Clermont easy

For their part, the Clermontois perfectly accomplished their mission against Castres. Taking advantage in particular of Castres' loss of balls and a failed start to the match (12-0, 13th), Christophe Urios' men controlled the match played at a false pace. The offensive bonus obtained just before the locker room (17-0) held after the break (20-6).

Racing relapses

While it had finally launched its season by winning in La Rochelle on the 3rd day, Racing fell again in Créteil against Bayonne (17-20). If they started badly (0-10, 8th), the Racingmen then got their hands on the ball. The Bayonnais initially resisted before conceding too many penalties, allowing Maxime Machenaud to put his team well ahead shortly after returning from the locker room against his former club (17-10, 43rd).

But the second half saw the opposite scenario: the Bayonnais laid siege to the Racingmen's 22 meters, in vain due to their inaccuracies in touch and scrum. Until a yellow card five minutes from the end then another touch from five meters, where this time Lucas Martin went to the end. The Bayonnais held off the last pressure from Racing 92, who pounded the line until the 85th minute. They are provisionally second.

Vannes close, but already far

Vannes is now the only team in the Top 14 without a victory and even without a point. And yet, as against Toulouse last week, the Bretons looked good for a long time at the Mayol stadium, even leading 10-0 after the half hour of play and again 10-7 at the break.

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But the Toulonnais, who had also lost their first three matches, shifted gears upon returning from the locker room, perhaps scalded by the whistles of their supporters, including the first try in their new colors from center Gaël Fickou, to win 28-10. With the results of the other teams, Vannes, last, is already five points from the play-off place of Racing 92 and eight from Toulon, 12th.