Clermont lose top spot to Toulon

Clermont Auvergne have been knocked off the summit of the Top 14 ahead of their two Champions Cup clashes with Munster after they went down 27-19 away to champions Toulon on Saturday night.

Toulon switched the game to the Allianz Rivieria in Nice and the French and European champions seemed set for victory in an intense encounter when they led 17-8 at the break thanks to tries from David Smith and Maxime Mermoz.

But Clermont, who travel to Thomond Park next Saturday, hit back in the second half, with skipper Aurelien Rougerie adding to Fritz Lee’s opening half try. However, they left the south of France without a point and fell to their fourth defeat of the campaign as Smith got his second try to send Toulon top of the league ahead of their Champions Cup dates with Leicester in Ulster’s pool.

Connacht’s Challenge Cup opponents for the next two weekends, Bayonne, drew 19-19 away to a La Rochelle side who are also in their pool in what was a relegation encounter at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Former Argentine international Martin Bustos Moyano scored a late penalty to snatch the draw for a Bayonne side who will travel to the Sportsground on Saturday.

Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble secured their first away of the season and moved to fourth as they remain on course to qualify for Europe’s top competition for the first time. Jonathan Wisniewski, who left Racing Metro after Jonathan Sexton moved to Paris, was the hero with a last minute penalty but former Clontarf scrum-half James Hart also played a key role with two penalties as they carved out a 25-22 win.

Sexton did not play for Racing Metro as coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers returned to a Castres side they led to the Top 14 title a year and a half ago and inflicted a 14-9 defeat which leaves the home side, finalists as well just six months ago, bottom of the table as they play Wasps in Leinster’s pool over the next two weekends.

Meanwhile, James Coughlan’s remarkable maiden season in France continues to get better, with the 33-year old scoring two tries as Pau won 24-22 away to Montauban to open up a 13 points lead at the top of Pro D2.