Top 14 Round Seven: Review

Castres moved to the summit of the Top 14 table thanks to a dominant victory over defending champions Toulouse.

Montpellier claim first away win of the season in Bayonne

Castres moved to the summit of the Top 14 table thanks to a dominant victory over defending champions Toulouse. Biarritz's season went from bad to worse as they were hammered by Brive, while the return of Juan Martin Hernandez could not prevent Racing from crashing in Bordeaux. Montpellier got their second win in as many games and their first on the road in Bayonne while David Skrela made a winning debut for Clermont, who easily saw off Agen. Bordeaux-Begles 22-18 Racing-Metro 92
Stade Andre Moga, Begles Despite the return of the mercurial Juan Martin Hernandez, Racing crashed to their second consecutive defeat as they were forced to settle for a losing bonus point. Unable to capitalise on their numerous chances and faced with a massive defensive display from Bordeaux, the visiting Parisians were ultimately the victims of their own poor discipline as they let a half-time lead slip from their hands. Dominating in terms of possession, Racing took a 9-7 lead into the half-time break as they used a tail wind to their advantage. Home centre Julien Rey kept les Girondins in contact with the only try of the game, just before the break. Gerard Fraser and Camille Lopez kicked the hosts into the lead in th second half, while all of Racing's points came from the boot of Jonathan Wisniewski. CA Brive Correze 32-7 Biarritz Olympique
Stade Amedee Domenech, Brive Biarritz's disastrous season continues as they were played off the park by Brive, who grabbed a bonus point in a convincing victory. Brive led 10-0 at half time thanks to tries from scrum-half Mathieu Belie and South African lock Retief Uys. The home side were awarded a penalty try on the hour mark at they smashed the visiting Basques. South African loose forward Antonie Claassen's late try gave a Brive a 32-0 lead before Julien Peyrelongue saved some face for Biarritz with a consolation try when Scott Spedding fluffed a kick. Castres Olympique 24-3 Stade Toulousain
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres A sixth consecutive win means Castres are the new championship leaders, one point ahead of Clermont. The fans at Stade Pierre Antoine witnessed yet another try-less affair but the home side thoroughly deserved the four points. South African scrum-half Rory Kockott kicked all of the points for les Tarnais as they beat the reigning champions at home for the third straight season. The hosts led 12-0 at the break and continued to dominated in the second period as Toulouse's only reply came through a penalty from scrum-half Nicolas Bezy. Even both side being reduced to fourteen men, with Remy Tales and Timoci Matanavou both being sinbinned, could not open the game up as the Castres defence once again impressed. ASM Clermont Auvergne 27-13 SU Agen
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand Clermont move above Toulouse in second place in the standings thanks to their sixth win in seven starts. Les Jaunards led from start to finish as winger Wesley Fofana put them in front with a try in the opening minute. A conversion and three penalties from French international David Skrela, in his first game for Clermont, gave the hosts a 16-6 lead at half time. Fly-half Conrad Barnard and full-back Silvere Tian had put Agen on the scoreboard from the kicking tee but the visitors went further behind when Tian saw yellow. Tian made amends though as he scored shortly after coming back on but it wasn't enough to trouble Clermont as full-back Jean-Marcel Buttin's late try secured victory. Aviron Bayonnais 17-26 Montpellier HR
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne Boosted by the return of loose forward Mamuka Gorgodze, who starred for Georgia at the World Cup, Montpellier finally seem to have found their feet as they climb above Bayonne and into eleventh place in the standings. It was all-square at 10-10 at half time but well-constructed tries on either side of the break gave Montpellier victory and suggested they have found some of the form that took them to the final last season. Bayonne enjoyed the upper hand early on and took the lead through a try from centre Thibaut Visensang. Montpol centre Geoffrey Doumayrou's converted try leveled matters however. Montpellier moved in front in the second half when number eight Alex Tulou powered over just after the hour mark. Penalties from Martin Bustos Moyana and a Raphael Lagarde drop gaol gave the visitors a healthy gap meaning Bayonne full-back Joe Pietersen's 75th minute try was too little, too late.