Top 14: All Blacks legend Ma'a Nonu continues try-scoring form as Toulon hammer Racing 92

All Blacks legend Ma'a Nonu was back upon the score-sheet at the age of 43-years-old, with the former New Zealand centre extending his record as the league's oldest ever try-scorer. Nonu rolled back the years with a powerful drive through the Racing 92 defensive line, leaving many a Parisian down on the deck. Bordeaux-Begles then continued to turn around their form, as the reigning European Champions secured their first win away from home, despite the efforts of a plucky Perpignan side.

Bayonne produced a commanding performance to overwhelm Clermont Auvergne 44-17 at Stade Jean Dauger, building a 25-3 lead by halftime.

The home side were clinical with ball in hand, scoring six tries through a combination of forward pack dominance and unleashing their electric backs. Estaban Capilla touched down twice while winger Arnaud Erbinartegaray crossed in the 18th minute. Center Gaetan Germain added another just before halftime, and wing Mateo Carreras contributed a double in the second quarter. Fly-half Joris Segonds was flawless with the boot, converting four tries and adding two penalties to keep Clermont at arm’s length.

Clermont’s response was limited. Hooker Folau Fainga’a worked his way over the line for a 43rd-minute try, with substitute Selevasio Tolofua crossing in the 79th minute. Raffy converted both tries and added an early penalty, but could not stem Bayonne’s momentum.

Bayonne’s structured attack and defensive intensity left Clermont scrambling for answers throughout, particularly in the opening half, where turnovers and rapid ball movement created multiple scoring opportunities. The win sees Bayonne climb the Top 14 table, while Clermont will be left to regroup after a rare heavy defeat.

TRIES: Capilla 14’, 58’; Erbinartegaray 18’; Germain 40’; Carreras 46’, 52’.

CONVERSIONS: Segonds 15, 40', 47', 53

PENALTIES: Segonds 8', 31'

TRIES: Fainga’a 43’; Tolofua 79’

CONVERSIONS: Raffy 43’, 80’

PENALTIES: Raffy 2’

La Rochelle returned to winning ways in emphatic style, running in eight tries to overwhelm promoted Montauban 54-19 at Stade Marcel-Deflandre. Irish coach Ronan O’Gara made several changes to his starting XV, giving game time to France Under-20 internationals and rotated veterans, but the mix of experience and youth proved unstoppable.

Jack Nowell opened the scoring in the 13th minute, setting the tone for La Rochelle’s dominance. Thomas Lavault followed in the 22nd minute, with a penalty try awarded in the 35th minute and Levani Botia crossing in the 38th to give the hosts a 28-0 lead at halftime. The experienced duo of Botia and fly-half Ihaia West orchestrated much of the attacking play, with West adding his kicking precision to keep Montauban at bay.

The second half saw La Rochelle maintain their relentless tempo. Semi Lagivala scored shortly after the restart, before West produced a 50-metre line-breaking run to touch down in the 46th minute. Hoani Bosmorin added another try in the 60th minute, and Botia rounded off La Rochelle’s scoring in the 69th minute. Montauban managed to respond with Kylian Ringuet in the 51st minute and Paul Valle crossing twice (63’, 72’), but they were never able to truly threaten the bonus-point result.

La Rochelle’s balance between youthful exuberance and seasoned performers shone through, with dynamic backline moves, strong forward phases, and clinical finishing. O’Gara highlighted the performance as a stepping stone to more consistent displays, while Montauban remained anchored at 13th in the table, seeking to build from their limited scoring moments.

TRIES: Nowell 13’; Lavault 22’; Penalty try 35’; Botia 38’, 69’; Lagivala 44’; West 46’; Bosmorin 60’

CONVERSIONS: West 14’, 23’, 40’, 45’, 47’, 70’

PENALTIES: –

TRIES: Ringuet 51’; Valle 63’, 72’

CONVERSIONS: Mouchous 52’, 72’

PENALTIES: –

Montpellier returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 35-13 victory over Lyon at GGL Stadium, maintaining their early-season momentum in the Top 14. The hosts dominated from the outset, combining slick backline moves with powerful forward carries to build a commanding halftime lead.

Lenni Nouchi opened the scoring after just five minutes, capitalising on quick recycling from the Montpellier forwards, with Argentine centre Justo Piccardo adding a second try in the 22nd minute following sustained pressure. Fly-half Domingo Miotti converted both tries and added penalties in the 17th and 28th minutes to give Montpellier a 20-3 advantage at the break, with Lyon’s only first-half points coming from a Leo Berdeu penalty.

Montpellier continued their control after the interval. Jordan Uelese broke through Lyon’s defensive line for the third try in the 44th minute, and Madosh Tambwe extended the lead further in the 61st minute following a series of sharp passes. Melvyn Rates rounded off the scoring in the 73rd minute after a well-executed team move. Miotti added two conversions, completing a perfect kicking display that kept Montpellier’s advantage firmly intact.

Lyon responded late through a pair of tries from Jiuta Wainiqolo (62’) and Monty Ioane (69’), but the hosts’ early dominance and clinical finishing ensured that the French visitors never threatened the outcome. Montpellier’s blend of experienced campaigners and dynamic young talents underlined their consistency and ability to impose themselves, while Lyon will need to regroup and tighten their defensive structure ahead of their next Top 14 fixture.

TRIES: Nouchi 5’; Piccardo 22’; Uelese 44’; Tambwe 61’; Rates 73’

CONVERSIONS: Miotti 6’, 25’

PENALTIES: Miotti 17’, 28’

TRIES: Wainiqolo 62’; Ioane 69’

CONVERSIONS: –

PENALTIES: Berdeu 18’

Bordeaux-Bègles secured their first away win of the Top 14 season with a commanding 27-12 victory over struggling Perpignan at Stade Aimé Giral. The visitors took control early and never looked back, leaving Perpignan still searching for their first points of the campaign.

Bordeaux-Bègles set the tone inside the opening 10 minutes, as wing Salesi Rayasi sliced through Perpignan’s defence to score in the ninth minute, with Martin Page-Relo adding the conversion. Moments later, the visitors extended their lead when prop Temo Matiu crashed over in the 20th minute, again converted by Page-Relo, with the halfback adding a penalty in between to put Bordeaux-Bègles 13-0 ahead.

Perpignan finally registered on the scoreboard with a Page-Relo penalty, but it wasn’t until the 40th minute that the home side’s first try came via a penalty try, which Page-Relo missed, leaving the score 20-7 at halftime. The opening half had been dominated by Bordeaux-Bègles’ forward power and precise execution, nullifying any rhythm from the hosts.

The second half saw Bordeaux-Bègles consolidate their control, with Les Bleus fly-half Matthieu Jalibert crossing in the 62nd minute following a well-orchestrated backline move. Page-Relo added the conversion to put the visitors firmly in command. Perpignan did manage a late try through Italian international Tommaso Allan in the 79th minute, but it proved merely a consolation as Bordeaux-Bègles maintained defensive composure and controlled possession to see out the win.

Bordeaux-Bègles’ performance highlighted their growing confidence away from home and offered a timely boost as they look to climb the Top 14 table, while Perpignan remain rooted towards the bottom, facing mounting pressure to secure more league points.

TRIES: Penalty try 40’; Allan 79’

CONVERSIONS: –

PENALTIES: –

TRIES: Rayasi 9’; Matiu 20’; Jalibert 62’

CONVERSIONS: Page-Relo 10’, 21’, 64’

PENALTIES: Page-Relo 7’, 29’

Castres claimed a hard-fought 29-24 victory over Stade Français at Stade Pierre Fabre in a thrilling Top 14 clash, holding off a late surge from the Parisian side to secure a memorable win. From the outset, Castres looked sharp and decisive, with winger Theo Chabouni crossing twice inside the first 17 minutes to put the hosts 12-0 ahead. Fly-half Enzo Hervé added both conversions and a penalty to consolidate the early advantage, leaving Stade Français chasing the game.

Stade Français finally hit back in the 23rd minute through Thibaut Motassi Dibongue, whose well-timed run saw him dive over from close range, with Louis Foursans-Bourdette converting to bring the score to 12-7. However, Castres continued to dominate the first half, combining forward power with clever backs’ interplay. Captain Geoffrey Palis extended their lead on the stroke of halftime, finishing a patient build-up to make it 22-7, with Hervé adding the conversion to cement Castres’ commanding position.

The second half saw Stade Français regroup, applying pressure through multiple phases and turning over possession in the midfield. Early in the half, back row Tyler Ardron powered over for Castres’ fourth try, converted by Hervé, to stretch the lead to 29-7. Despite the deficit, Stade Français refused to yield, with Noah Nene crossing in the 49th minute and Jack Iscaro finishing a slick backline move in the 71st, both converted by Foursans-Bourdette, narrowing the margin to 29-24 and setting up a tense final ten minutes.

Castres’ resolute defence held firm under repeated Stade Français attacks, with their backline and forward pack working in unison to repel multiple waves of pressure. The home side’s discipline and tactical kicking enabled them to control territory and secure the win, while Stade Français were left to rue missed opportunities and turnovers that prevented a comeback.

TRIES: Chabouni 8’, 17’; Palis 40’; Ardron 48’

CONVERSIONS: Herve 9’, 18’, 48’

PENALTIES: Herve 12’

TRIES: Motassi Dibongue 23’; Nene 49’; Iscaro 71’

CONVERSIONS: Foursans 24’, 50’, 72’

PENALTIES: Foursans 79’

Section Paloise staged a dramatic late comeback to edge past Stade Toulousain 30-26 at Stade du Hameau in a pulsating Top 14 encounter, overturning a seven-point halftime deficit with a flurry of second-half tries and disciplined kicking. Toulouse had stormed out of the blocks, with early scores from Julien Marchand and Ange Capuozzo putting the visitors 12-0 up inside the opening 12 minutes. Scotsman Blair Kinghorn added both conversions, extending the advantage to 13-0 before Pau’s first score.

Pau’s response came through winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang in the 14th minute, finishing off a slick backline move, with Joe Simmonds converting to make it 13-7. Despite the hosts’ early momentum, Toulouse continued to pressure, and penalties from Kinghorn at 23’ and 34’ stretched their lead to 20-10. A tense, tactical first half ended with Toulouse ahead 20-13, leaving Pau needing a strong second-half performance.

After the break, Pau gradually clawed back control, starting with Nkanang’s second try in the 47th minute following a patient forward drive and smart interplay out wide. Fly-half Axel Desperes added the conversion and later slotted a crucial penalty to bring Pau within striking distance at 26-23. Toulouse attempted to respond with Kinghorn’s penalty in the 73rd minute, but the hosts were undeterred.

The defining moment came in the 80th minute when replacement Jimi Maximin completed a breathtaking team move, diving over in the corner to seal the comeback. Desperes’ perfect conversion from the touchline extended Pau’s lead to 30-26 and confirmed a remarkable turnaround. The win underlined Section Paloise’s resilience and ability to seize key moments under pressure, while Toulouse were left rueing missed opportunities and defensive lapses that allowed the late scores.

TRIES: Grandidier Nkanang 14’, 47’; Maximin 80’

CONVERSIONS: Simmonds 15’; Desperes 48’, 80’

PENALTIES: Simmonds 21’, 37’; Desperes 67’

TRIES: Marchand 3’; Capuozzo 12’

CONVERSIONS: Kinghorn 4’, 13’

PENALTIES: Kinghorn 23’, 34’, 47’, 73’

RC Toulon produced a commanding performance at Stade Mayol to secure a 45-21 victory over Racing 92, asserting themselves early and maintaining control throughout the contest. Toulon struck first through former England and Gloucester man Zach Mercer in the 10th minute, but Racing responded immediately with a try from France international Gael Fickou, converted by Argentine hotshot Geronimo Prisciantelli, to level the scores at 7-7.

Toulon, however, soon took the upper hand with tries from fullback Melvyn Jaminet (25’) and wing Gael Drean (38’), with Jaminet converting both, giving the hosts a 24-7 lead at halftime.

The second half saw Toulon continue their relentless attacking play. Mercer scored his second in the 51st minute after a driving maul, with Jaminet adding the extras. New Zealand veteran Ma’a Nonu and powerful lock Brian Alainu’uese crossed for tries in the 62nd and 80th minutes, respectively, extending Toulon’s lead. Jaminet converted Nonu’s try and Marius Domon slotted the final conversion from Alainu’uese’s effort, rounding out Toulon’s six-try haul.

Racing 92 offered occasional resistance, with Maxime Baudonne dotting down in the 56th minute and Taofifenua scoring a late try in the 76th minute. While Prisciantelli and Ugo Seunes converted these efforts, Racing could never bridge the gap, as Toulon’s structured defense and clinical finishing stifled their attacks.

Toulon’s combination of forward power, precision kicking from Jaminet, and backline flair made them virtually unstoppable, while Racing were exposed for defensive lapses, particularly around the fringes and in wide channels. The victory moves Toulon further up the Top 14 table and provides a timely boost ahead of European fixtures, while Racing must regroup after a humbling defeat.

TRIES: Brex 10’; Jaminet 25’; Drean 38’; Mercer 51’; Nonu 62’; Alainu’uese 80’

CONVERSIONS: Jaminet 11’, 26’, 39’, 52’, 63’; Domon 80’

PENALTIES: Jaminet 40’

TRIES: Fickou 15’; Baudonne 56’; Taofifenua 76’

CONVERSIONS: Prisciantelli 16’; Seunes 57’, 77’

PENALTIES: –