Status quo at the top with Stade Toulousain, bonus-point winners against Bayonne, still leading with a 7-point cushion now over Section Paloise (who lose a point on the leaders) after their unbonused win over RCT. The rest of the Top 6, on the other hand,  has seen significant changes:

  • Bad business for Stade Français, who drop two places (5th on Sunday evening evening) and for Toulon, beaten at Pau, who also drop two places (5th).
  • Good business for UBB, now 3rd, and for Montpellier, who move into the Top 6 (4th, one point behind UBB).
  • Worth noting: Castres can keep believing after their tense win over Clermont, La Rochelle and Racing keep their places after their defeats, likewise for Lyon (despite a solid win at La Rochelle) and Bayonne, Perpignan and Montauban.

Two away wins: 

  • Lyon at La Rochelle: despite the flood of points, 44-24, no bonus point but ç tries in total, in a heavy atmosphere at Marcel-Deflandre since the announcement of the hospitalisation and career-ending retirement of the legendary Uini Atonio.
  • UBB at Montauban: Sapiac go down again, not without a fight, but UBB did not pass up the chance to close the gap nicely with a bonus-point win.

Another glut of points and bonuses:

  • 10 teams scored at least points (Montpellier, Castres, Clermont, Racing, Perpignan, La Rochelle, Lyon, UBB, Toulouse and Pau.
  • 4 bonus points, 3 attacking (Montpellier, UBB and Toulouse) and 1 defensive (Clermont)

In summary:

  • confirmation at the bottom of the table, with a 7-point lead over 14th-placed Montauban and 18 points off 12th-placed Lyon, Perpignan are targeting the relegation play-off place in the hope of staying up by winning the “access game” against the Pro D2 runners-up for a fourth time in their history
  • confirmation at the top of the table too with Toulouse and Pau. UBB and Montpellier have put themselves back in the picture.
  • Castres, Clermont and Racing, joint 7th (41 points), are pulling clear of La Rochelle 37pts), Bayonne (35pts) and Lyon (32pts).

The next round in two weekends’ time will be crucial for Castres (at Bordeaux), Bayonne and Racing, who face each other at at Jean-Dauger, La Rochelle, who host Montpellier, Toulon at Mayol where Clermont travel, and finally Stade Français, who take on leaders Toulouse at Jean-Bouin…