FORMER ENGLAND WING Jack Nowell opened his account for the season as Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle held on to edge Toulon 21-20 on the Mediterranean coast in the French Top 14.
Nowell’s try spoiled veteran France centre Gael Fickou’s home senior debut for his boyhood club, the 32-year-old having rejoined this summer from Racing.
At the other end of the experience scale, O’Gara handed a first senior appearance to 18-year-old scrum-half Valentin Bouju, who played the whole game.
“It was tough, it’s moments like that you savour the most,” La Rochelle back-rower Paul Boudehent told Canal+.
“Val, coming to Toulon to win in his first match, honestly, it’s massive. Rugby-wise it wasn’t the prettiest but the taste is magnificent.”
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Summit
Meanwhie France wing Theo Attissogbe scored two tries as Pau trounced local rivals Bayonne 70-28 to move to the summit of the Top 14 table.
Attissogbe crossed in both halves as Pau, who lost in the play-offs last season, secured their second victory of the campaign after winning at Montpellier last weekend.
Bayonne notched four tries, all converted by South Africa fly-half Robert du Preez, but it was a sluggish display from the team that edged Toulon a week ago, not helped by full-back Yohan Orabe being sent off after just four minutes.
“It shows what the team is capable of, scoring easily and quickly,” head coach Sebastien Piqueronies said.
“The players have to accept my demand though. We need to be better to beat teams who have 15 (players) and those that are more cut-throat.”
Hosts Pau stormed to a 35-7 lead at the break, Attissogbe underlining how he has kept France’s record try scorer Damian Penaud out of the national team this year with a classy finish.
Orabe was shown an early red card after tackling Attissogbe in the air, leaving the winger needing stitches under his eye.
Their dominance continued after half-time with Attissogbe’s second touchdown as the three-time French champions racked up 10 tries in total.
Elsewhere, Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo, last season’s leading scorer, also claimed a double as Lyon humbled Racing 92 48-31 to jump to second in the standings.
On Sunday, title holders Toulouse welcome two-time Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Begles in a repeat of the 2024 and 2025 French finals.
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Jack Nowell opens account as Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle beat Toulon
FORMER ENGLAND WING Jack Nowell opened his account for the season as Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle held on to edge Toulon 21-20 on the Mediterranean coast in the French Top 14.
Nowell’s try spoiled veteran France centre Gael Fickou’s home senior debut for his boyhood club, the 32-year-old having rejoined this summer from Racing.
At the other end of the experience scale, O’Gara handed a first senior appearance to 18-year-old scrum-half Valentin Bouju, who played the whole game.
“It was tough, it’s moments like that you savour the most,” La Rochelle back-rower Paul Boudehent told Canal+.
“Val, coming to Toulon to win in his first match, honestly, it’s massive. Rugby-wise it wasn’t the prettiest but the taste is magnificent.”
Summit
Meanwhie France wing Theo Attissogbe scored two tries as Pau trounced local rivals Bayonne 70-28 to move to the summit of the Top 14 table.
Attissogbe crossed in both halves as Pau, who lost in the play-offs last season, secured their second victory of the campaign after winning at Montpellier last weekend.
Bayonne notched four tries, all converted by South Africa fly-half Robert du Preez, but it was a sluggish display from the team that edged Toulon a week ago, not helped by full-back Yohan Orabe being sent off after just four minutes.
“It shows what the team is capable of, scoring easily and quickly,” head coach Sebastien Piqueronies said.
“The players have to accept my demand though. We need to be better to beat teams who have 15 (players) and those that are more cut-throat.”
Hosts Pau stormed to a 35-7 lead at the break, Attissogbe underlining how he has kept France’s record try scorer Damian Penaud out of the national team this year with a classy finish.
Orabe was shown an early red card after tackling Attissogbe in the air, leaving the winger needing stitches under his eye.
Their dominance continued after half-time with Attissogbe’s second touchdown as the three-time French champions racked up 10 tries in total.
Elsewhere, Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo, last season’s leading scorer, also claimed a double as Lyon humbled Racing 92 48-31 to jump to second in the standings.
On Sunday, title holders Toulouse welcome two-time Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Begles in a repeat of the 2024 and 2025 French finals.
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Rugby Top 14