The poster promised a show. The fifth day of Top 14 offered a game of titans. Montpellier Hérault Rugby, reigning French champion, hosted Stade Toulousain at the GGL Stadium on Sunday 2 October. Like last season, the standoff turned to the advantage of Toulouse (17-19). Melvyn Jaminet, his sights dreadfully adjusted against the poles (5/5), allowed the Rouge et Noir to win by a short header and regain the lead in the Top 14 ahead of La Rochelle.
#PosterTOP14 – D5
The shock has kept all its promises At the end of the suspense and crazy gambling intentions it is a victory for the @StadeToulousain ! pic.twitter.com/3ePQERAtxP— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) October 2, 2022
With a reshuffled team due to the absence of its resting internationals (Dupont, Jelonch and Mauvaka), and a still well-stocked infirmary (Ntamack, Cros, Ahki, Chocobares, Baille, Barassi), Toulouse could not rely on its laurels (six victories out of the last seven confrontations). Started very strong thanks to Dimitri Delibes (3rd), who scored a beautiful try at the end of a 90m solo raid on the meadow, the Toulouse team encountered solid opposition. In a meeting where the two teams went blow for blow, Anthony Bouthier (8th) and Enzo Forletta (27th) exploited the weaknesses of the Rouge et Noir to slip behind the line.
If the Toulouse have multiplied the well-oiled sequences and the turnovers, their indiscipline has played them many tricks. Led at the break by a small point (14-13), narrowly missing the correction just after the siren, the solution came from the infallible foot of Melvyn Jaminet.
The international offered a score of great virtuosity, remaining 100% successful with Stade Toulousain. Offering the advantage in the first period, multiplying the duels in outstretched kicks, then achieving a masterstroke 60 m from the poles (59th), the opening half carried his team when the pace ran out of steam in the second period. .
A penalty behind the halfway line?
No worries for Melvyn Jaminet #MHRST pic.twitter.com/SVZOoc1XWY
– CANAL + Rugby (@CanalplusRugby) October 2, 2022
In front of the poles, the tricolor international adjusted the target (5/5) to win at the end of the suspense (17-19). Stade Toulousain trembled until the end, weighed down by Emmanuel Meafou’s red card for a dangerous percussion, before exulting. Once again at the top of the Top 14 ranking, they will find ASM Clermont, who fell on Saturday from Lyon, on October 8th.