South Africans shine in France

 

For Toulouse it was finally some good news, former All Black Luke McAlister kicked 17 points as 19-time French champions Toulouse ended a five-match losing streak with a 22-10 win over Stade Francais on Saturday.

 

Toulouse had kicked off sitting in the embarrassing and unfamiliar role of bottom side in the Top 14 after wins earlier in the day for fellow strugglers Castres and La Rochelle.

 

But McAlister kicked a perfect six from six, including a conversion of centre Gael Fickou's second-half try, to help the French giants stop the rot which had seen them suffer five successive losses for the first time since 1962.

 

The Kiwi flyhalf played a key role in setting up Fickou's try which came as some relief as just three minutes earlier Stade wing Jeremy Sinzelle had intercepted his wayward pass, a score which temporarily cut the visitors' deficit to 15-10.

 

Victory allowed Toulouse to end the weekend fourth from bottom, but still just two points ahead of last-place Oyonnax.

 

Second-place Clermont's hopes of returning to top spot were dashed at Bordeaux-Begles as they lostt 21-51

 

Bordeaux ran in six tries to two as Clermont shipped over 50 points in a match for the first time in nine years.

 

"We were taught a lesson in commitment. From the start we were dominated both in defence and attack," said Clermont coach Franck Azema.

 

"We conceded more tries in one match than we had since the start of the season. We can no longer say that Clermont has the best defence."

 

Bordeaux's tries came from Romain Lonca, Pierre Bernard, South African lock Berend Botha, wing Metuisela Talebula, Clement Maynardier and Jandre Marais.

 

Castres, the 2013 champions who had started the day second from bottom, collected only their second win in eight matches with a 51-10 mauling of Grenoble.

 

South African-born scrumhalf Rory Kockott boosted his chances of a first French cap by grabbing one of Castres' seven tries while also kicking 16 points.

 

With French national coach Philippe Saint-Andre looking on, Racing Metro claimed their second bonus-point win of the season by running in seven tries in a 46-32 win over Brive who scored four tries of their own.

 

Springbok lock Juandre Kruger grabbed a brace for Racing with Teddy Thomas, Johan Goosen, Francois Van der Merwe, Virgile Lacombe and Camille Gerondeau also on the scoresheet.

 

On Friday, Australian star Matt Giteau led French and European champions Toulon to a scrappy, bad-tempered 21-18 win over Oyonnax to take pole position in the Top 14.

 

The flyhalf played the decisive role in his team's two tries as Toulon avenged their shock 25-22 loss at Oyonnax last season.