O'Gara and La Rochelle back to winning ways as Thomas returns with a brace

Top 14 round-up: Thomas played at outside centre for the second time in his career but he was found in more traditional wing areas for both tries.

TEDDY TOUCHDOWN: La Rochelle's French centre Teddy Thomas (C) scores a try during the French Top14 rugby union match between Union Bordeaux-Begles (UBB) and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) at The Marcel-Deflandre Stadium in La Rochelle, western France on October 20, 2024. Pic: XAVIER LEOTY / AFP

Teddy Thomas marked his return from a four-week injury lay-off with two first-half tries as Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle weathered a second half fightback to beat 14-player Bordeaux 32-22 in a messy yet strangely entertaining game of cards at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Thomas played at outside centre for the second time in his career and the second time in his last two appearances – he scored twice in his first outing against Toulouse, too – but he was found in more traditional wing areas for both tries.

He collected Dillyn Leyds’ crossfield kick for the first out on the left, after six minutes. And he skirted over in the opposite corner 10 minutes later, benefiting from space created by Brice Dulin.

Bordeaux’s vaunted attack mustered only one first-half foray – after half an hour – into La Rochelle’s 22. Five minutes later, France centre Yoram Moefana was sent off for a high tackle on international colleague Jonathan Danty.

His impending suspension should keep him out of the reckoning for at least the first match of France’s three internationals in November.

The hosts wasted no time making the most of their numerical advantage. Dulin faked a pass and darted through a gaping hole in Bordeaux’s defence following a well-controlled scrum 10m out to extend their lead to 20 points at the break.

As well as that red, referee Tual Trainini brandished four yellows. Bordeaux’s Bastien Vergnes Taillefer and La Rochelle’s Judicael Cancoriet were sent to spend 10 minutes on the sidelines in the opening 15 minutes. Kane Douglas returned temporarily to the bench in the 62nd minute, shortly after coming on for Will Skelton. And La Rochelle were reduced briefly to 13 when Leyds, too, was sin-binned with 10 minutes to play.

Bordeaux, unsurprisingly, altered their gameplan at halftime. It bore early dividends as first Pablo Uberti then 20-year-old rising backrow star Temo Matiu reduced the arrears.

But Dulin’s second – a smartly taken tap penalty – after 54 minutes settled Rochelais’ nerves, despite Matiu’s second seven minutes from time, as O'Gara's side returned to winning ways after last weekend's loss at Bayonne.

On Saturday, Jeremy Davidson’s Castres plunged Stade Francais deeper into an early season crisis, winning 35-13 at Stade Pierre Fabre, despite playing 60 minutes with 14 after Adrea Cocagi was sent off for an elbow into the throat of Samuel Ezeala.

Stuart Lancaster’s Racing 92 were comfortably second best at Bayonne. Sireli Maqala scored his sixth try of the season as the Basque side won 32-15.

Toulon bounced back from two losses on the road in two weeks to beat Montpellier 30-17 on their return to Stade Mayol. Promoted Vannes conceded nine tries in a 55-33 thumping at Clermont.

Toulouse returned to the top of the table with a 14-22 win at Pau’s Stade du Hameau, while Tomasso Allan scored 19 points as Perpignan beat Lyon 29-26.