Top 14: USAP continues its comeback, UBB corrects Bayonne

Supported by their Catalan supporters present in large numbers in Montpellier, the USAP players sought a crucial success against the MHR (25-20), which allows them to temporarily settle in 6th place. A ranking which would offer them a ticket for the final stages of the Top 14. The Montpellier residents remain 13th and a barrier for relegation with this fourth defeat in a row.

More realistic and methodical, Usap made the difference in the last twenty minutes to knock out the Montpellier residents, without reaction or solution. Funny crossover. In front of three to four thousand Catalan supporters, who roared through the quiet aisles of the GGL Stadium, Perpignan confirmed its rebirth at the top after ten lean years.

Montpellier plunges a little deeper into doubt. Saturday, under the tramontane, the Montpellier residents missed their chance during the first period. Clearly dominating, the MHR was singularly lacking in realism. Scorer Louis Carbonel left nine points en route and his partners wasted great testing opportunities in front of a Catalan team, reduced to fourteen on two occasions. Thus, at the break, Montpellier only led by five points (10-5) thanks to a try from its third row Nicolaas Janse Van Rensburg (20th) and a penalty from Carbonel.

Master of the game after the break, Perpignan responded perfectly to the initial domination of the MHR by scoring two new tries by its forwards Ignacio Ruiz (53rd) and Patrick Sobela (63rd), who entered during the game, to take the advantage for the first time of the match in the 63rd minute. Defeated before the hour, Montpellier never managed to reverse the course of a match which slipped through its hands.

Aviron Bayonnais was still in Pro D2 the last time it lost in its Jean-Dauger stadium, on January 21, 2022 against Grenoble (35-37). More than two years and 28 victories later, the series ended against neighbors Bordeaux-Bègles (34-15), largely because of Blues winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, author of a double, and from the foot of Maxime Lucu. The Girondins, rid of the Champions Cup, took the opportunity to climb to 3rd place in the ranking. The Basques, already recently beaten at Anoeta by Toulon (46-10), will have to concentrate on maintaining their position.

Lyon had the good operation of the day in the race to maintain with its improved success over Pau (38-20), in a match geared towards the offensive (six tries to three). Four days before the end of the regular phase, the LOU is now eight points ahead of the penultimate place, synonymous with the play-offs, occupied by Montpellier. The Palois, on the other hand, are letting go in the perspective of qualifying for the final phase, like Castres, beaten at Oyonnax (22-19) after receiving two red cards. A first victory in 2024 for the Ain club, to which last place however seems promised.