Top 14: Toulon end understrength La Rochelle's winning run

Ronan O’Gara opted to make additional changes as well as missing his French internationals

Toulon's Argentinian flanker Facundo Isa (C) is tackled as he runs with the ball during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Rugby Club Toulonnais (Toulon) and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) at Stade Mayol in Toulon. Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images.

La Rochelle’s four-match winning streak in all competitions screeched to a halt as a stripped-down side lost a hard-fought Top 14 match at Toulon 25-23.

Already without France internationals Reda Wardi, Uini Atonio, Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt, and Jonathan Danty – and with Pierre Bourgarit Ultan Dillane and Raymond Rhule on the injury list – head coach Ronan O’Gara opted to make additional changes, with Teddy Iribaren and Ihaia West starting at the hinge, with Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Antoine Hastoy on the bench, alongside Will Skelton.

And it was Iribaren who scored the game’s first try. One of the smaller players on the pitch charged down what should have been a straightforward clearance kick, and picked up the loose ball to score.

A penalty try 13 minutes from time looked to have won the match for the visitors.

Toulon had come into the game without a win in 2024 and having crashed out of the Champions Cup in embarrassing fashion, and fans have started to publicly air their disquiet at a perceived lack of direction at the club. A banner hoisted at the club’s training ground recently read: “You’re trampling 116 years of history – aren't you ashamed?”.

But a converted Ben White try and the last of six penalties from Melvyn Jaminet shortly before full time were just enough for the hosts.

The fullback had been released to his club by France on Wednesday evening.

White hurt his shoulder going over to score. He was replaced shortly afterwards, and was seen in the dugout with an icepack. While his injury is a concern for Gregor Townsend, it’s a bigger worry for Pierre Mignoni, with Baptiste Serin already sidelined for several months.

The 13th round of the Top 14 – the halfway point of the campaign – kicked off with Bordeaux succumbing to a first home defeat of the season, ending up on the wrong end of a 30-26 thriller against Stade Francais at Chaban Delmas.

Despite losing most of their devastating first-choice backline to France, Noel McNamara’s attacking policies appeared to be paying off, as the hosts raced into a 21-6 lead inside half an hour.

But, after that early storm, Stade reorganised and stifled Bordeaux, profiting from the hosts’ impatience and indiscipline. Stephane Ahmed’s interception try in the 75th minute was enough to settle the result in the visitors’ favour.

Castres slipped to a fourth Top 14 defeat in a row, and second at home, despite fighting back from 17-3 down against Clermont after 25 minutes to level the scores at 20-20. But Anthony Belleau’s 74th-minute penalty saw the four points head deep into the Massif Central.

Bayonne came from behind to beat Oyonnax 21-17, record their 25th domestic win in a row at fortress Jean Dauger, and move seven points clear of their 13th-placed opponents.

Lyon, boosted by a run to the knockout phase of the Champions Cup, climbed out of the relegation play-off spot with a 36-24 win over fellow strugglers Perpignan. Bottom-of-the-table Montpellier, meanwhile, beat Pau 22-17 to close the gap to Top 14 safety to a single point.

On Sunday evening, Stuart Lancaster’s league leaders Racing 92 host Toulouse in the final match of the weekend at La Defense Arena – a sneak preview of April’s Champions Cup round-of-16 meeting at Stadium Toulouse.