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Tue 29 Jan 2013 | 11:05
Toulouse edge Biarritz to maintain unbeaten home record

20
Comments

Toulouse sit in second place on the Top 14 table following their entertaining 19-14 victory over Biarritz at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Friday night. It came at a cost though as France winger Vincent Clerc hobbled off with a thigh injury. 

This was probably the game of the weekend in France so we've got highlights featured here, but have also archived some of the other big games, where you can see the best moments from Bayonne vs Castres, Bordeaux vs Racing Metro, and Perpignan vs Clermont.

Biarritz came close to challenging Toulouse's unbeaten home record, in the process becoming the first side to pick up a losing bonus point there this season. If it weren't for a knock-on by Welsh wing Aled Brew as he crossed the tryline, things may have been different.

As it was Toulouse held on for the win but as you'll see, they lost Vincent Clerc to injury, which could have larger ramifications as France start their Six Nations campaign this coming weekend.

Clerc pulled a muscle in the second half, and despite his best effort to clear the ball, Biarritz almost took advantage as Harinordoquy threw a NFL type pass infield, only to have the try disallowed. 

France kick off their tournament with a match against Italy in Rome this Sunday, 3 February. 

You can also view the Top Ten Best Tries for the last two rounds

Posted By: Grant Constable

20 Comments

  • browner
    4:09 PM 31/01/2013

    We can only wonder if the National side will benefit from the 'strength of the league' in the 6Nations

    My prediction, they won't play with such freedom against better defenders

    we shall see !

  • browner
    4:00 PM 31/01/2013

    Referee and Touchjudge miss it ............... YC & Penalty Try IMO.

  • frenchie
    9:46 PM 30/01/2013

    @ marty : Jauzion has been sitting on the bench most of the Top14 so far. He decided he will not stay at Toulouse next season.

    I thought Medard will be as full back. A shame Fofana is not used as a centre.

  • marty
    5:20 PM 30/01/2013

    Good to see Jauzion back on the starting line-up for Toulouse, he's such an elusive player in the center. Unfortunate really that is has to be play for the team with probably the best depth at center with Fickou, Fritz, Yann David and McAlister who's often jammed in there

  • colombes
    12:16 AM 30/01/2013

    I tend to agree. Huget hasn't make impressive steps at international level. He's got serious wheels but lack of vision and defense. For him, it will be a do-or-die 6N as there are a lot of injuries in french backline. if he shows his potential, he can install himself on the right wing. if he chokes, talents like Dullin, Buttin, Bonneval, Combezou, Medard, Baraque or Berard will be candidates

  • katman
    11:24 PM 29/01/2013

    I'm cool with "NFL type". Can we see a show of hands?

    Settled then.

  • reality
    9:40 PM 29/01/2013

    In fairness, back then I thought he was pretty bad even for Toulouse, so it seemed that he had no business at all playing for France, and I don't think I was alone in thinking that.

    Now though that he seems to be doing great things at club level, he could well be a much better player at international level too.

  • reality
    9:37 PM 29/01/2013

    Yeah, in the description it doesn't say that NFL is a code. It says an "NFL type pass", i.e. the type of pass that you'd see in the NFL.

  • guy
    8:53 PM 29/01/2013

    Actually RD can call the pass anything RD likes to call it. NFL-style is quite clear for everybody on this site, as it is to you.

  • stroudos
    8:30 PM 29/01/2013

    That rings a bell actually... Must be 2 or 3 years ago now though? I wonder if he's worth another crack, now he's got the extra experience.

  • matt
    7:58 PM 29/01/2013

    Rugby rarely stops for an injury unless it's deemed severe enough, plus Clerc wasn't going to be able to stop that try any way. If I was a Biarritz fan I would be angry

  • matt
    7:56 PM 29/01/2013

    I think Biaritz were unlucky not to be awarded either of the two tries they appear to have legitimately scored.

  • reality
    7:19 PM 29/01/2013

    Huget played for France before, but from what I remember he was a disaster. He needlessly carried the ball into touch right in front of his own line against Italy near the end of the match, Italy got a penalty from the lineout, and then won the match because of it.

    Aside from that specific example, I don't remember him being very good in general when playing for France.

  • rugbydump
    6:23 PM 29/01/2013

    Unbeaten home record this season in the Top 14. It's not a record, but an unbeaten string of results. Hopefully that clarifies.

  • fettsack
    5:45 PM 29/01/2013

    So much good stuff from Biarritz, too bad they didn't finish with the victory but it's a great encouragement for the following games.

    I would support playing quickly anytime but not for an injury, so I think the ref did well to cancel that awesome lineout throw.

  • donkeyballs4000
    5:23 PM 29/01/2013

    So was the Toulouse #5 penalised for that horribly offside tackle for Biarritz's first try?
    Should be a yellow card in my opinion.

  • stroudos
    5:09 PM 29/01/2013

    Favourite moment - Ngwenya interception at 3:42 - he's covered a lot of ground very quickly to get there - totally nailed Poitrenaud in the process too!

    Sad to see Clerc injured. Who will be on the wings for France then? I can't remember seeing Huget play for France before - got to be in contention hasn't he? That bloke has some serious wheels.

  • stroudos
    5:07 PM 29/01/2013

    Can't find the actual law, but usually if you put two defenders in a line opposite the point where the ball went out of play, you can claim to have set a lineout and prevent a quick throw. Shame really, as that was an awesome throw by Hairydonkey.


  • technomouse
    3:25 PM 29/01/2013

    Looks to me like good sportsmanship, though I think the ref may be able to claim that the lineout had formed as there were players from both teams present at the time of the throw in (though I'm no expert on the laws applying to this part of the game).

  • danknapp
    3:12 PM 29/01/2013

    Someone help me out: the Biarritz throw-in turned try which was called back...

    Is there a law which they contravened with that throw, or was the referee just applying good sensible sportsmanship?

    Nobody touched the ball when it went out, the took it from where it went out, and they threw it straight. Interested to know if I've missed something.

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