15- Leo Barré (French Stadium)
In a match where his three-quarters were not always very skilful, the young Parisian back did well, especially in the first period when his precise kicking games allowed the Stade Français to occupy the Pau camp. He was also very sure under high balls and he always knew how to position himself well to cover his back of the field.
14- Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles)
Author of a very good start to the season, he was finally rewarded by scoring twice against the MHR. First on a personal feat, which allowed his team to get back on track. On an inside hook, he put his opposite Rattez on the ass. Then he accelerated to spin between the poles (24th). He doubled the bet on the hour mark (58th) to knock out Montpellier. We saw a lot of his red helmet…
13- Duncan Paia’aua (Toulon)
He will have been one of the only Toulonnais to float in a somewhat unbridled meeting. The Samoan international first launched his team perfectly by scoring a try (10th) following a counter-assassin, then he offered himself a double (51st). But that was not enough for the RCT, which bowed to Jean-Dauger.
12- Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle)
As often when he is on the field, he radiated in the center of the field. In attack, he made the difference by his ability to mobilize defenders, as on the 2nd try from Teddy Thomas (36th) which he served on a plateau with a magnificent pass after contact. In defense, he expressed his physical density. The La Rochelle international was behind the red card received by Acebes (40th), before going out on injury at the end of the match.
11- Ethan Dumortier (Lyon)
The young Lyon winger is unstoppable. Evidenced by his 8th try of the season where, served at the end of the line, he executes a 360 ° on himself to avoid the tackle and restart in power to flatten despite the intervention of two Brivistes (28th).
Ethan Dumortier scored his eighth try of the season against Brive. (A. Martin/The Team)
10- Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles)
After a first period where he kept his team afloat thanks to the precision of his shot on goal, the Bordeaux international opener pulled out all the stops in the second half, a great architect of the improved success of his team. He delivered two caviars to the foot. First in Cordero on a small grazing (47th), then in Bielle-Biarrey on a long diagonal (58th). He ends the game with 17 points and a 7/8. We could also have highlighted Camille Lopez’s great match with Bayonne (100% against the poles and a drop of 45 meters)!
9- Paul Graou (Toulouse)
Associated with the impeccable Antoine Dupont moved opener to face Clermont at Marcel-Michelin at the end of this fourteenth day, the Auscitainian Paul Graou (25 years old) – he is of the Alldritt, Dupont, Jelonch, Bourgarit generation – perfectly fluidized the Toulouse game. Excellent accelerator, he even offered himself a major breakthrough in the Auvergne defense to score a good try (51st).
8- Giovanni Habel-Kuffner (French Stadium)
In sparkling form for several weeks, he embodies the excellent dynamics of Stade Français. Against Pau, the pink-haired third-line center was in all the right moves, gaining many meters in the heart of the field. He scored the break test in the second period (47th) after an impeccable maul from the stadium pack.
7- Sékou Macalou (French Stadium)
Less decisive than against Racing 92 at Christmas (10-48), the Parisian third-line wing still delivered a full match against Pau this Saturday (37-3). Lively and sharp, he created breaches in the Béarnaise defense and ensured the continuity of the game with his good support courts. A new decathlete performance.
International flanker Sekou Macalou was beaten by Béarnais Sacha Zegueur. (B. Paquot/The Team)
6- Said Hireche (Brive)
The Corrèze captain was exemplary throughout the match, even if he received a yellow card 5 minutes from the end, which could have cost his people dearly. He scratched a large number of balls on the ground, especially at the height of the Lyon push. He even found himself a three-quarter time center to help out …
5- Denis Marchois (Bayonne)
At the heart of the fight, the Bayonne captain showed the way to revolt when his team was trailing 13-0 after 15 minutes of play. This second line of duty tackled a lot and fought in the rucks, but he was also present in the offensives of his team. Released 4 minutes from the end of this match, when after having given a lot, he was completely “cooked”.
4- Andrés Zafra (Brive)
The Colombian second-line symbolizes the rage and the state of mind of the Brive pack which knew how to outsmart Lyon by being dominant in collisions and in duels. It was he who opened the scoring with a strong try (11th), which will allow Brive to do the whole race in the lead at Gerland…
3- Pascal Cotet (Bayonne)
The right pillar of Aviron took over his Var counterpart Bruce Devaux, before dominating his replacement, the international Dany Priso, who came into play before half-time (33rd), and who took a yellow card 2 minutes later after a 5th defeat conceded by the RCT in melee. Cotet was undeniably the strong man of the Bayonne pack.
The right pillar of Aviron Bayonnais Pascal Cotet against the RCT in Jean-Dauger. (R. Perrocheau/The Team)
2- Bosch Faculty (Bayonne)
He is one of the leaders of his team, a leader of combat and abnegation. In the scrum, the Puma did a great job synonymous with unchallenged domination of the Aviron pack. He also “sent” like crazy in defense and, icing on the cake, scored the try that allowed his people to regain the ascendancy (45th). So, even if he missed a few shots, his score was high.
1- Quentin Walcker (Castres)
Solid in melee, precious in the game, the international left pillar from Tarn (2 selections in 2021) distinguished himself by some relevant support during sharp offensive movements, but without ever forgetting the obscure tasks, like a pack self-sacrificingly castrated. Came out 5 minutes from the end.