Top 14 round up: Antoine Dupont brace keeps Toulouse at the top while newly promoted side remain winless

Antoine Dupont inspired Toulouse to an impressive comeback on Sunday, as they continued their aggressive start to the Top 14 season. At the bottom of the table, Vannes remain winless after yet another loss.

Here’s the full round-up from the French top division.

Stade Français 30-22 Montpellier

The Parisian side confidently thrust aside their southern visitors on Saturday. Tries from Paul Alo-Emile, Leo Barre, Tani Vili and Alivereti Duguivalu, plus Louis Carbonel’s boot, outweighed the earlier efforts from Argentine player Justo Piccardo and former Scotland star Stuart Hogg.

Despite a spirited fightback from Montpellier in the final minutes, when number nine Alexis Bernadet snuck over the line with a minute remaining, it was not enough to secure a bonus point.

The two sides swap places in the table with this result, both on 14 points, but Stade Francais now sit in sixth, while Montpellier drop to seventh.

Perpignan 21-12 Vannes

A Perpignan side consisting of Paolo Garbisi, Sevu Reece and Jonny Gray were simply too strong for a side that now remain winless six rounds into the season.

Vannes remained in contention until the final 15 minutes, when their substitute Matteo Desjeux was sent to the bin just five minutes after arriving on the field. His absence coincided with a try from former Leinster player Luke McGrath just minutes later, as Perpignan held on to take the victory and send Vannes packing with nothing to show for their troubles.

This was an important victory for the hosts, now ninth in the table, while Vannes remain dead last on just a solitary point, eight behind their closest rival, Castres.

Lyon 16-28 La Rochelle

Lyon drop down again after what had been a largely promising start to the Top 14 season, with just a try from Jiuta Wainiqolo and points from the boot of Leo Berdeu to show for their efforts.

La Rochelle took the lead early on through Antoine Hastoy and Valentin Bouju, and despite a late Thomas Adelaide yellow card, managed to hold on to victory.

Lyon drop down to eighth with this loss, while La Rochelle move up to fourth, just one point behind Bordeaux Begles in third.

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Pau 35-26 Castres

Castres were denied a losing bonus point at the death in a highly entertaining match at the Stade du Hameau on Saturday. An 80th-minute try from Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang secured a try-bonus win for Pau, as they squeezed the visitors out in front of a jubilant home crowd.

Fly-half Theo Vidal had kept the visitors in the game with his boot, scoring his side’s only points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to earn success on the road.

Castres remain in the Top 14 danger zone with this loss, just one spot above bottom-placed Vannes, while Pau continue their impressive start to the season, remaining in second place with 22 points.

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Toulon 29-15 Racing 92

Kyle Sinckler and Joe Quere Karaba received yellow cards six minutes into the game and six minutes before the end, respectively. A pattern that the Toulon fans would not have enjoyed, but alas, it did not affect the result.

Three tries and the impressive boot of Tomas Albornoz put Racing 92 to the sword, with the Paris-based side only able to respond twice, 11 minutes before either half, first through Antoine Gilbert, and later, former England number eight Nathan Hughes.

Racing 92 are struggling this season, finding themselves just two places off bottom. Toulon aren’t faring much better, but this win slingshots them above their opponents into 10th place, two points better off.

Clermont 22-23 Bordeaux Bègles

The central French side came within a penalty goal of beating the European champions, but fell just short. The visitors held on after Hugo Reus kicked three points to take the lead with just 15 minutes left.

The match was close throughout, with both sides leading at multiple stages. Bordeaux’s Maxime Lucu was excellent once again, kicking superbly and scoring a crucial try just as Clermont threatened to pull away in the second half following a Cameron Woki yellow card.

The losing bonus-point comes in useful for Clermont, as they now have clear separation from Racing 92 in 12th, while Bordeaux continue their assault on the top two, sitting in third with 19 points.

Toulouse 45-34 Bayonne

A half-back masterclass brought the reigning Top 14 champions from behind to take victory from the grips of Bayonne. They were up 12-20 at one stage, before Julien Marchand scored a brace, Joshua Brennan and Romain Ntamack added to the scoresheet, and Dupont got his second try of the afternoon.

A late consolation try from Joris Segonds concluded proceedings, bringing a try-bonus back to the Basque Country, but the visitors will rue their opportunity to fell their historic hosts.

Toulouse continue to lead the Top 14 with 24 points, while Bayonne drop to fifth, some seven points below the league leaders.

Top 14 standings

#	TEAM	FORM	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TBP	LBP	BP	PTS
1	Stade Toulousain	WWWWW	6	5	0	1	197	124	73	0	0	0	24
2	Section Paloise	WLWWW	6	5	0	1	239	181	58	0	0	0	22
3	Bordeaux Begles	LWLWW	6	4	0	2	215	151	64	0	0	0	19
4	La Rochelle	WLLDW	6	4	0	2	144	135	9	0	0	0	18
5	Bayonnais	LWWWL	6	4	0	2	190	214	-24	0	0	0	17
6	Montpellier	WWLWL	6	3	0	3	163	122	41	0	0	0	14
7	Lyon	WWLLL	6	3	0	3	193	202	-9	0	0	0	14
8	Stade Francais	LLWLW	6	3	0	3	147	158	-11	0	0	0	14
9	USA Perpignan	WLWLW	6	3	0	3	166	199	-33	0	0	0	13
10	Toulon	LLWLW	6	2	0	4	130	130	0	0	0	0	12
11	Clermont	WLWDL	6	2	0	4	140	169	-29	0	0	0	11
12	Racing 92	LWLWL	6	2	0	4	143	196	-53	0	0	0	10
13	Castres Olympique	LWLLL	6	2	0	4	126	153	-27	0	0	0	9
14	Vannes	LLLLL	6	0	0	6	117	176	-59	0	0	0	1

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