Pennod 13 Top 14: Rygbi Ffrainc

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-We bring you four exciting matches

-from France's Top 14 today.

-Oyonnax's new year wish was simple

-- to climb the table.

-They made the short trip

-to Grenoble over the weekend.

-Pau shared the same wish,

-but they faced a tougher trip...

-..with a visit to Toulon.

-Racing 92 aimed to maintain

-their strong start.

-They welcomed Bordeaux Begles

-to the capital.

-We start with Clermont Auvergne's

-relatively short trip...

-..to face Agen on Saturday.

-Although they are close on a map,

-they are poles apart in the table.

-It was nice to see Jonathan Davies

-start in the centre.

-Agen with the early pressure.

-The platform is set

-from the base of the scrum.

-Rabarou, the No.8,

-drives towards the Clermont defence.

-The ball is recycled quickly,

-creating problems for Clermont.

-The forwards

-flock to the tackle area.

-Romain Poite's arm is outstretched.

-He has clearly seen something.

-There was a high tackle

-during that passage of play.

-Here it is, and Wales centre

-Jonathan Davies was the offender.

-It's a chance for Francis.

-No problem, high and true,

-and Agen take the lead.

-A chance for Clermont to counter.

-Bardy driving forward.

-But he loses possession.

-Clermont are all over the shop here.

-Sicart with the kick and chase,

-and he keeps possession.

-That was great work

-by the Agen fullback.

-The ball is lost forward.

-They didn't take advantage of it,

-but Clermont were offside as well.

-This was Sicart's deft kick

-behind the Clermont defensive line.

-He did well to keep possession.

-This is where the ball went forward.

-It's another golden opportunity

-for Francis.

-Here is the South African.

-In front of the posts,

-he extends Agen's lead.

-Camille Lopez, on from the bench,

-with an enormous kick.

-But it didn't reach touch.

-Nakosi counter-attacks,

-but it isn't a good kick.

-Jonathan Davies

-offloads to Abendanon.

-They're moving the ball left.

-This is Nakaitaci.

-The Pacific Islander

-is strong and robust in the tackle.

-The forwards keep the move going.

-Clermont are building up

-a head of steam.

-Lopez finds a gap

-and passes to No.8 Gerondeau.

-It had to come.

-That was a well-worked try.

-It was quick ball.

-Lopez with the half-break...

-..and there was no-one

-close to Gerondeau.

-Another great chance for Clermont.

-They're within five metres

-of the try line.

-The rolling maul has formed.

-Everyone knows their job.

-The backs are in there too.

-They thunder forwards,

-and the try has come.

-Romain Poite has his arm up.

-Once again,

-Gerondeau is the last man up.

-The technique was great there.

-Agen had no hope at all.

-The home team

-desperately need a try...

-..to keep their hopes alive.

-Clermont did well

-to hold them up initially.

-They're there in one big cluster.

-Replacement Clement Darbo

-directs things for Agen.

-Clermont

-are still resisting the threat...

-..but Agen's forwards

-continue to drive on.

-Charge by charge, step by step,

-they get closer to the try line.

-It's slow ball.

-Again, the forwards keep it tight...

-..but Clermont have stolen it.

-The ball is loose.

-The ball popped out,

-and Agen have a try.

-The ball came from nowhere...

-..and Francis

-reacted faster than anyone else.

-Here it is again.

-There was no-one

-to stop Burton Francis for Agen.

-The Fijian Ratuniyarawa

-has been red-carded.

-It's going to be so hard for Agen.

-Romain Poite walks under the posts

-and awards the penalty try.

-It was inevitable,

-given Clermont's power and strength.

-It was unavoidable.

-The clock is red,

-and this will be the final phase.

-Victory is certain.

-The ball has gone forward.

-Romain Poite's whistle

-ends proceedings...

-..with a convincing win

-for Clermont Auvergne.

-The gap on the pitch reflects the

-gap between the teams in the table.

-In Paris, Racing 92 welcomed

-Bordeaux to Stade Yves Du Manoir.

-No Luke Charteris this week,

-but Dan Carter gets the honour...

-..of starting another game alongside

-Bancyfelin's Mike Phillips.

-This is the first scrum of the game.

-Serin feeds the ball

-deep into the scrum.

-The No.8, Tauleigne, waits for it.

-He goes to the blind side.

-Fly half Hickey to the centre, Rey.

-Back to the No.8, Tauleigne,

-who's tackled by Mike Phillips.

-He's the only Welshman

-in Racing's side tonight.

-Marais carries the ball forwards,

-but is tackled by Claassen.

-The early pressure

-is all coming from Bordeaux.

-Advantage is being played.

-Not moving away in the tackle area.

-It's a chance for the first points

-of the game, as Dan Carter looks on.

-His opposite number, Simon Hickey,

-has the chance to score them.

-He succeeds.

-The visitors, Bordeaux, lead 3-0.

-26 minutes played. Racing,

-the home side, are under pressure.

-Their scrum

-has buckled under the pressure.

-It's another penalty for Bordeaux.

-Racing's scrum

-was all over the place.

-Hickey aims for the posts.

-It's a fairly easy kick for him.

-It's over, and Bordeaux lead 9-0.

-Four minutes

-of the first half remain.

-Can the home side

-get something before half-time?

-Conditions are worsening.

-Nyanga's poor pass

-is gathered by Carter.

-Phillips encourages his forwards

-to come round the corner.

-It's a long pass to Claassen,

-who carries the ball forwards.

-Phillips, with the long pass

-to Imhoff, who looks for space.

-Bordeaux's defence

-retains its shape...

-..but somehow, Szarzewski

-got his hands on the ball...

-..to go over under the posts.

-Referee Thomas Charabas

-hasn't given the try yet.

-The replay may show

-what he's looking at.

-Szarzewski comes in from the side

-and takes the ball from Imhoff.

-I don't think it went forwards.

-I don't see a problem with the try.

-We'll see what the referee says.

-There's nothing wrong

-with the grounding.

-The try is awarded.

-Racing and Laurent Labit

-are delighted.

-The weather is worsening,

-but Racing's play is improving.

-On the angle was Laulala,

-formerly of the Blues.

-Phillips to Carter,

-who finds the gap.

-Dulin is on his shoulder,

-back inside to Dumoulin.

-The best try and the best play

-of the night, without a doubt.

-But once again,

-Thomas Charabas is going to the TMO.

-Phillips with the pass to Carter.

-I can't see a problem there.

-Dulin's angle was perfect,

-and the final pass looked OK to me.

-A fine try for Alexandre Dumoulin.

-And there we are. He agrees.

-The scores are level.

-This is a chance for Dan Carter...

-..to put Racing ahead

-for the first time.

-His kick is true.

-Racing lead 14-12.

-Mike Phillips, at the base...

-..to Tameifuna,

-who carries it powerfully.

-Phillips to Carter,

-who looks for a gap.

-Yes, the tackle was rather high.

-I think it was Hugh Chalmers,

-the open-side flanker.

-Dan Carter.

-As I mentioned,

-the weather is worsening...

-..but Racing, and the New Zealand

-fly half, are improving.

-It's 20-15, as sub Beauxis

-kicks the ball high.

-Who's under it?

-Mike Phillips gets his hands on it.

-Advantage is being played

-in Racing's favour.

-I think the ball went forwards

-form Dumoulin's hands.

-No advantage came,

-so Racing have the penalty.

-Dan Carter,

-to extend Racing's lead...

-..and bring the win that bit closer.

-After this short break, find out

-how Pau got on against Toulon...

-..and how Oyonnax fared

-on their trip to Grenoble.

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-We head to Stade Felix Mayol

-for our third game of the weekend.

-Toulon welcomed Pau

-to their fiery lair.

-The home team's players

-were desperate to prove a point.

-They lost badly to Toulouse

-over Christmas.

-The visitors were eager to build on

-their victory against La Rochelle.

-Despite the talent in the backs, we

-may not see much adventurous play.

-Slade with the kick.

-The bounce is kind for Votu.

-This is an early chance

-for the visitors.

-The referee

-says the defenders are offside.

-Can Pau make something here?

-No, it's been knocked on.

-They'll come back for the penalty.

-It's too good

-an opportunity to miss...

-..with less than two minutes

-on the clock.

-This is a chance for Pau.

-Colin Slade, the Kiwi,

-to put Pau ahead.

-It's no problem for him.

-It's 3-0 to the visitors.

-They're pushed back

-but it's there for Tillous-Borde.

-The scrum half tries his luck.

-The ball is there for Fresia,

-the prop. Here's Fernandez-Lobbe.

-He gains ground.

-He's a lynchpin for the team.

-Armitage out to Cooper

-and to his compatriot.

-James O'Connor scores!

-The Australian

-gets the game's first try.

-Toulon take the lead

-for the first time.

-It's a move

-they've practised countless times.

-The long pass cut out midfield.

-The winger was like a lightning bolt

-on the outside.

-We've had half an hour of play.

-Five points separate the teams.

-There are more problems

-in the scrum.

-Pau are going to be penalised.

-There's a card for the prop,

-Julien Jacquot.

-He's going to spend the next

-ten minutes with his feet up.

-Pau are down to 14 men.

-It's a chance for Toulon

-to stretch their advantage.

-They're still missing Halfpenny's

-accuracy.

-That one was easy enough for Taylor.

-Guirado has plenty of options.

-They've secured possession.

-The drive is sure to come.

-It comes, but they're not quite

-as united as they might hope.

-The maul won't make it.

-Maybe it will, they've reformed.

-It's there for Tillous-Borde.

-He changes direction.

-Mikautadze is on the outside.

-A try for the Georgian.

-Pau did well

-to stop the original drive.

-Toulon were prepared for that.

-The lock in the right place

-at the right time.

-It's been a purple patch

-for the home team.

-The possession comes easily.

-Tillous-Borde out to Nonu.

-The runners loop around.

-There are plenty of runners.

-Menini, it's a bad pass.

-Good hands from Gorgodze

-and from Taylor!

-There's nobody near O'Connor.

-It's the winger's second try.

-The gap is opening up.

-Despite the poor pass in midfield...

-..Gorgodze and Taylor's handling

-was superb.

-It's 21-3 and Toulon currently have

-a bonus point.

-Toulon have the ball again.

-Gorgodze has the ball in his hands.

-He's lost that one.

-Can the visitors do something here?

-The scrum half had to go himself.

-They need something to break down

-Toulon's organised defence.

-They still have the ball.

-This is Smith.

-He dummies and goes himself.

-He dummies again!

-It's a try from nothing for Pau.

-Nonu, his former All Black partner,

-swallowed the dummy.

-Smith will have enjoyed that one.

-He fooled his former teammate.

-There's the second dummy.

-There are six minutes left.

-It's eight against seven up front.

-There's no doubting

-what Pau will do here.

-It's an eight-man drive

-and the scrum goes down.

-It's there for Lacrampe.

-It's a penalty try

-according to the referee.

-It's another seven points

-to the visitors.

-Somehow, they're within four, which

-is enough to steal a bonus point.

-The result

-everyone would have expected.

-The visitors gain a valuable bonus

-point with the late penalty try.

-We head to the Rhone-Alpes next...

-..for the game between Grenoble

-and Oyonnax at Stade des Alpes.

-Neither team

-has been convincing this season.

-Nicky Robinson continues his return

-from injury, starting on the bench.

-Oyonnax have done wonderfully to

-keep the gap down to three points.

-Grenoble have put them under the

-cosh in these first twenty minutes.

-They've got their backs to the wall

-once again.

-The scrum half is Charl MacLeod.

-Cibray was up quickly.

-MacLeod asking questions again.

-The ball is available and there's

-huge pressure on Oyonnax's line.

-They haven't won a single fixture

-away from home this season.

-This is their sixth attempt.

-The ball comes out to MacLeod.

-Farrell to Nemani!

-The Fijian gets the first try

-of the match.

-It was a long period of pressure

-from Grenoble.

-What a pass from Chris Farrell.

-Grenoble are back where they want

-to be. Oyonnax are down to 14 men.

-Silvere Tian, the winger,

-is in the sin bin.

-There should be

-some space somewhere.

-Runners

-are coming from all over the place.

-That's the try line

-in the background.

-MacLeod tried to point out

-an infringement to the referee.

-He signalled play on.

-The forwards drive on once again.

-They're driving determinedly

-towards the try line.

-Taumalolo almost crosses the line.

-He's the bald prop.

-Has the try come this time?

-Yes, it has.

-Hendrik Roodt scores.

-We've had half an hour on the clock.

-It's 16-3 and Roodt from

-South Africa gets the second try.

-We talk about how French teams can

-afford to attract foreign players.

-Only five Frenchmen

-are starting for Grenoble.

-Gio Aplon went through Oyonnax

-like a knife through butter.

-He's got support

-in Fabien Alexandre.

-Can Aplon get there?

-No, he can't, but MacLeod is there.

-At the moment,

-Grenoble have a bonus point.

-We've got five minutes left

-of the first half.

-It's a neat little pass

-to find Alexandre.

-Aplon came on the loop.

-He didn't get there

-but fed MacLeod who did.

-Grenoble are threatening

-to run away with this one.

-The score is currently 25-3

-in the second half.

-It looks like a happy new year for

-the team based at Stade des Alpes.

-The ball was slow

-getting to MacLeod.

-There are plenty of men out wide.

-Wisniewski to Aplon.

-I think Gio Aplon could thread

-a needle with his eyes closed.

-Aplon, without doubt, is having

-his best game of the season.

-He's got such quick feet.

-Oyonnax were second from bottom this

-morning. They only have Agen below.

-Believe it or not....

-..they're yet to score a try

-away from home this season.

-It looks like that record

-is about to change.

-Tian was the villain earlier,

-now he's the hero.

-Grenoble still have their hands

-firmly on that bonus point.

-Oyonnax and Tian,

-he's done well for them at home.

-The score is 35-10.

-We've had almost an hour of play.

-The Grenoble forwards have been

-much stronger than Oyonnax...

-..in the line-outs, the scrums

-and in the driving mauls.

-Here they come again

-looking for another try...

-..to seal their win and bonus point.

-They could really use one.

-They're over the line.

-The referee was in the right place.

-Who knows

-who's under the pile of bodies.

-I think in the end it was

-the Australian No.8, Rory Grice.

-There you can see the grounding.

-Grenoble are comfortably ahead

-by 42-10.

-Nick Robinson

-came on as a substitute...

-..at the start of the second half.

-Codjo. That's a wonderful pass

-back inside to Jimmy Yobo.

-Surely they'll get a try here?

-Yes, it comes for Maurie Fa'asavalu.

-That's better.

-If you score three more tries

-than your opponents...

-..you get a bonus point in France.

-At the moment, Grenoble still have

-their hands on that bonus point.

-La Rochelle won a tight game

-against Castres on Saturday.

-Despite the visitors outscoring

-the home side by two tries to one...

-..fly half Zack Holmes' kicking

-was the difference between the two.

-The game between Brive

-and Montpellier was even tighter.

-Just a point separated them

-at full time.

-Stade Francais also beat Toulouse

-by one point.

-A victory for the holders after a

-late try from centre Paul Williams.

-Racing 92, Clermont and Toulouse

-may be on the same points...

-..but results between the sides

-decides the standings.

-Toulon and Bordeaux-Begles

-stay in fourth and fifth place.

-Brive climb above Montpellier

-thanks to their victory.

-Stade Francais climb to eleventh,

-pushing Pau down to twelfth.

-Oyonnax and Agen

-are rooted to the bottom.

-The French clubs

-turn their attention...

-..to European matters

-for the next three weeks.

-We'll be back for more from

-the Top 14 at the end of January.

-Until then, au revoir.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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