Top 14 leaders Toulouse were stunned 30-27 by struggling Perpignan on Saturday, while Bordeaux Bègles recorded another impressive win.
Toulouse coach Ugo Mola paid tribute to the Catalans’ resolve after they climbed off the foot of the table with just their second win of the season.
Despite trailing 21-11 at half-time, Perpignan roared back in the second half to claim a dramatic victory that lifted them onto nine points and above Montauban, who slipped to a 34-19 home defeat against Clermont.
For Toulouse, it was a fifth straight loss in Catalonia dating back to 2018, although a losing bonus point kept them one point clear at the top after Pau went down 22-17 to Lyon.
“It was a somewhat frustrating match in terms of the rugby played,” Mola said. “Well done to Perpignan for not giving up and getting back on track to kick-start their season. They went out and got it [the victory]. It’s a club that deserves it.”
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Elsewhere, Investec Champions Cup holders Bordeaux Bègles produced a devastating second-half display to thrash Racing 92 62-20, with Damian Penaud, Nicolas Depoortere and Louis Bielle-Biarrey all scoring twice. The win lifted Bordeaux up to fourth on the table.
Antoine Dupont’s France understudy Nolann Le Garrec scored 24 points as La Rochelle hammered a much-changed Toulon 66-0 to move up to seventh on the log.
Lyon snapped a five-match losing streak with a 22-17 win over Pau, while Stade Français climbed to third thanks to a 33-15 bonus-point victory over Castres, sealed by a late try from Leo Barre.
Pressure mounted at Herschel Jantjies’ Bayonne after a heavy 62-22 defeat to Montpellier.
– AFP
Photo: USAP/Facebook
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