Top 14 - Round 3: Toulouse stunned by Montpellier as Lyon OU remain unbeaten

Elsewhere, Clermont Auvergne marked their centenary season with a bonus-point win over Pau, while Castres impressed with expansive attacking displays. Lyon's third win on the bounce sees them remain the only unbeaten side left in the Top 14, whilst Bordeaux-Bègles entertained the Chaban crowd with 11 tries to crush Montauban. Racing 92 then showcased their power and precision to claim a solid victory at Perpignan.

Clermont marked their centenary season in style, producing a dominant 50–27 victory over Pau to claim a bonus-point win and send a message to the rest of the Top 14. Georgian prop Giorgi Akhaladze set the tone early with a try from a pick-and-go near the line, and he later added a second, underlining the revered power of Clermont’s pack.

Killian Tixeront, Alivereti Raka, Lucas Dessaigne, Etienne Fourcade, and Alex Newsome all contributed tries to the ever-growing Clermont score-line. Fly-half Harry Plummer controlled the game with six conversions and a penalty, orchestrating attacks and exploiting Pau’s indiscipline.

Pau attempted to stay in contention through the efforts of Jules Gailleton, Steve Attissogbe, and Tim Hewat, who crossed the line for tries, while Joe Simmonds added points from conversions and penalties. However, Clermont’s cohesion, relentless forward pressure, and ability to convert opportunities left the visitors chasing shadows. A yellow card for Pau created extra space, which Clermont exploited through structured phases and clever backline moves.

Clermont 50
TRIES: 7 (Giorgi Akhaladze 2, Killian Tixeront, Alivereti Raka, Lucas Dessaigne, Etienne Fourcade, Alex Newsome)
CONVERSIONS: 6 (Harry Plummer 6)
PENALTIES: 1 (Plummer)

Pau 27
TRIES: 3 (Jules Gailleton, Steve Attissogbe, Tim Hewat)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Joe Simmonds 3)
PENALTIES: 2 (Simmonds 2)

HT: 22–17

Castres Olympique recorded a commanding 48–17 win over Bayonne, running in seven tries to claim a bonus-point victory and a morale-boosting performance ahead of their derby against Toulouse. Christian Ambadiang opened the scoring with a try after returning from an early yellow card, showcasing his explosive pace along the fringes.

Santiago Arata, Vilimoni Botitu, Will Collier, Pierre Popelin, and All Blacks centre Jack Goodhue also crossed, while Popelin converted four of the tries and added a penalty. The Castres forwards dominated possession and set-piece play, allowing their flying outside backs to finish efficiently.

Bayonne managed only one try and relied on Welsh playmaker Gareth Anscombe’s kicking for points. Despite the visitors’ determination, they were unable to overcome Castres’ structured defence and clinical attack. Ambadiang’s second try all but secured the win for Castres, while Popelin’s 60-meter interception try put the match beyond all doubt.

Castres 48
TRIES: 7 (Christian Ambadiang 2, Santiago Arata, Botitu, Collier, Popelin, Goodhue)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Popelin 4)
PENALTIES: 1 (Popelin)

Bayonne 17
TRIES: 2 (Martin, Fischer)
CONVERSIONS 2 (Anscombe, Segonds)

PENALTIES: 1 (Anscombe)

HT: 19–3

Lyon maintained their perfect start to the season with a thrilling 42–37 win over Stade Français Paris, producing a second-half try blitz that overcame a 16–14 halftime deficit. Monty Ioane and Iosefo Masi each scored twice, while scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud and Hugo Dumortier added crucial tries to tip the balance. Paddy Jackson converted all six tries for Lyon.

Stade Français fought valiantly throughout, with Samuela Dakuwaqa, Louis Carbonel, Guram Melikidze, and Alvaro Garcia crossing for tries. Carbonel’s personal tally of 22 points kept Stade within striking distance and earned them a losing bonus point, but Lyon’s clinical finishing in the second half proved decisive. Despite numerous turnovers and fluctuating possession, the hosts’ structured attack and resilience ensured they retained top spot in the Top 14.

Lyon 42
TRIES: 6 (Monty Ioane 2, Iosefo Masi 2, Baptiste Couilloud, Hugo Dumortier)
CONVERSIONS: 6 (Paddy Jackson 6)

Stade Français 37
TRIES: 4 (Samuela Dakuwaqa, Louis Carbonel, Guram Melikidze, Alvaro Garcia)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Carbonel 4)
PENALTIES: 3 (Carbonel 3)

HT: 16–14

Bordeaux-Bègles delivered a stunning 71–24 bonus-point victory over newly promoted Montauban, scoring 11 tries in a dominant display of attacking intent. French flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey opened the scoring with a sharp break, quickly adding a second before the interval.

Nicolas Depoortere and Damian Penaud also crossed repeatedly, while Mathieu Jalibert, Connor Sa, Joseph Laharrague, and Valentin Hutteau contributed tries of their own. Jalibert and Laharrague added conversions, with Baptiste Mouchous slotting a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking and maintaining pressure on the visitors.

Montauban responded with tries from Josua Maurouard, JT Jackson, and Kévin Firmin, but they were consistently outclassed by Bordeaux’s speed, structure, and relentless forward play. The Girondins capitalized on turnovers, quick ball recycling, and line breaks to exploit defensive lapses, while Bielle-Biarrey and Depoortere’s pace proved impossible to contain. Bordeaux’s pack dominated in close quarters, enabling expansive backline moves that repeatedly breached Montauban’s defensive line.

Bordeaux-Bègles 71
TRIES: 11 (Louis Bielle-Biarrey 3, Nicolas Depoortere 3, Damian Penaud 2, Mathieu Jalibert 2, Connor Sa, Joseph Laharrague, Valentin Hutteau)
CONVERSIONS: 7 (Jalibert 5, Laharrague 2)

Montauban 24
TRIES: 3 (Josua Maurouard, JT Jackson, Kévin Firmin)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Mouchous 3)

PENALTIES: 1 (Mouchous)

HT: 26–10

Racing 92 secured a 28–15 win at Perpignan, with poise and efficiency away from home. Jordan Joseph opened the scoring with a try, while Wilfried Hulleu added points to build an early lead. Vinaya Habosi added a second-half try, providing the final margin and cementing Racing’s control. The forwards dominated set-pieces and breakdowns, allowing backs to exploit gaps and launch decisive attacks.

Perpignan fought hard in front of a vocal home crowd, pressuring Racing’s defence and attempting multiple gain line breaks. However, repeated infringements and missed tackles allowed Racing to maintain momentum and convert pressure into points. Jordan Joseph’s leadership and defensive organisation were pivotal, with tries from Wilfried Hulleu and Vinaya Habosi complementing his efforts to keep Perpignan at bay.

Racing 92: 28
TRIES: 3 (Joseph, Hulleu, Habosi)

CONVERSIONS: 2 (Seunes 2)

PENALTIES: 3 (Seunes 2, Spring)

Perpignan 15
TRIES: 2 (Ecochard, Malolo)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Allan)

PENALTIES: 1 (Allan)

HT: 15–0

Montpellier achieved their first win of the season with a commanding 44–14 victory over Toulouse. Gabriel Ngandebe, Jordan Uelese, Tom Banks, and Arthur Vincent crossed for Montpellier before halftime, establishing a 34–7 lead. Vincent scored twice with unbridled power in the midfield, while Domingo Miotti added points with conversions and penalties. Wilfrid Hounkpatin sealed the score late, rounding off a comprehensive performance.

Toulouse opened their scoring through Dimitri Delibes but struggled to contain Montpellier’s relentless attack. Celian Pouzelgues added a second try, while Thomas Ramos contributed with conversions and penalties. Montpellier’s pack dominated possession, ensuring quick ball and frequent overlaps, allowing backs to exploit space effectively. Ngandebe, Uelese, Banks, and Vincent combined precision and power to breach Toulouse’s line repeatedly.

Montpellier 44
TRIES: 5 (Ngandebe, Uelese, Banks, Arthur Vincent 2, Hounkpatin)

CONVERSIONS: 5 (Miotti 4, Bernadet)

PENALTIES: 3 (Miotti 3)

Toulouse 14
TRIES: 2 (Dimitri Delibes, Pouzelgues)

CONVERSIONS: 2 (Ramos 2)

HT: 34–7