Aviron Bayonnais defeated the reigning French champions 12-8 at Jean-Dauger on Sunday in the ninth round of matches.
Bayonne got four out of four, Toulouse didn’t. In a duel between two teams on the back of three straight wins, Aviron defeated Stade Toulousain (12-8) this Sunday, to close the the ninth day of the Top 14. Deprived of a number of international players, who have been booked with the XV de FranceThe French champions, with a rejuvenated squad, (clearly) didn’t lose out in this match and fought hard. like lions.
Toulouse cursed at Jean-Dauger
It was a fierce battle, but the Basques came out on top, opening the scoring on the quarter-hour mark through Sireli Maqala (15′). The Haut-Garonnais reacted in the second half, bringing on the heavy artillery and a number of more experienced players. Setareki Bituniyata got Stade back on track at the perfect moment (73′), with a powerful try, before Maqala scored a brace, a crushing blow for the Haut-Garonnais. The Jean Dauger crowd trembled to the end as Joris Segonds missed a penalty and a drop-goal a few minutes earlier, but Gregory Patat’s men held out until the final whistle, inflicting a second away defeat on Toulouse this season after the one at Castres.
The European champions, who leave the Basque country with a defensive bonus point, have not won in Bayonne for four years. Despite this defeat, the Rouge et Noir regain their place in the top flight. Top 14 leader. For their part, Les Ciel et Blanc continue to impress, moving up to fourth place in the championship, just one point off the podium.