Agen run in eight tries against Biarritz (52-17)

A week after losing in Colomiers (37-19), Agen posted their biggest score against Biarritz in the 51 meetings recorded in our database.

33-3 at half-time

The first try came from a loose Biarritz lineout: Valentin Gayraud gathered and sent Hugo Bouyssou away from halfway in the 5th minute. Edgar Retière replied with a penalty (5-3) before Iban Etcheverry dived over in the corner on his 100th appearance for Agen, according to La Dépêche and Rugbyrama (12-3, 20th).

In the same passage of play Dorian Laborde was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Gayraud. With the extra man, Agen’s forwards scored twice: Nail Audoire from close range (25th), on his first start at Armandie, then Sialevailea Tolofua from a five-metre scrum (27th). Both were their first Pro D2 tries. Bouyssou added a second after the hooter, with Yann Lesgourgues also in the bin (33-3).

Biarritz fight back to 33-17, Audoire settles it

Gayraud’s yellow card (46th) let Biarritz back in. Mosese Dawai (47th) and replacement Jonny Dyer (50th) both scored close to the line (33-17). Kolinio Ramoka then stopped a certain Dawai try in the 53rd minute, the moment that saved Agen’s bonus point, said La Dépêche.

On their first visit to the Biarritz 22 of the second half, Agen killed the game with Audoire’s second try (40-17, 58th). Charlie Shiel was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and replacement hooker Pierre Jouvin scored twice from driving mauls (68th, 78th). Craig Willis kicked six conversions from eight.

Agen into the top six, Biarritz stalling

The bonus-point win takes Agen from 19 to 24 points, ahead of Biarritz, who stay on 24. Rugbyrama has Agen sixth for now, with the rest of the round on Friday. After two home defeats in September, to Brive (14-37) and Oyonnax (17-19), Agen have won their last three games at Armandie. Their 52 points are their best total of the season.

Without six internationals, Biarritz have won only one of their last five, against Valence Romans (34-30). It is the second time this season they have conceded 52 points away from home, after Aurillac (52-33). Thursday’s 35-point margin is also Agen’s biggest in the history of the fixture, beating 34.

After the international break, Agen travel to Montauban on 20 November and Biarritz host Narbonne. Anthony Lac refereed in front of 6,292 spectators.