Former England boss' Top 14 woes continue

WRAP: Former England coach Stuart Lancaster remains under pressure as Racing 92 director of rugby after the Parisians lost 17-21 at Montpellier in their fourth defeat in five games across all competitions.

Former England No.8 Billy Vunipola claimed his first try for Montpellier, who jump above Lancaster’s side to eighth.

According to various media reports, Lancaster’s is set to leave Racing 92.

Rugbypass reported that teh French club held a meeting last week to discuss the former England coach’s future.

Reports have emerged over the past week that neither Racing nor Lancaster are happy in their current situation, with his departure from the Parisian club now expected.

The report says that former France and Racing 92 hooker Dimitri Szarzewski is ready to take over should Lancaster leave.

That is not the only departure Racing are expecting, as fellow coach Laurent Travers is linked with a move across the Top 14 to Bayonne at the end of the season.

Elsewhere, Bayonne centre Sireli Maqala moved clear as the French Top 14’s leading try scorer on Saturday crossing in his side’s 27-21 win at Vannes.

Fiji’s Maqala claimed his ninth league try of the season, one more than Lyon scrumhalf Baptiste Couilloud, as his Basque outfit moved up to fourth in the table.

The 24-year-old was joined on the scoresheet with tries from hooker Lucas Martin, Argentina backrow Rodrigo Bruni as well as 12 points from the boot by flyhalf Joris Segonds.

Vannes remain bottom of the standings after their ninth loss in 12 games of their maiden campaign in the top-flight.

#⃣INJURY UPDATE: @THESTORMERS Director of Rugby John Dobson provided details of Sasha Feinburg-Mngomezulu’s injury – suffered in the 29-10 @URCOfficial victory over the @LionsRugbyCo 🏆#Rugby 🏉#Rugby365 🌐#RugbyUnion 🌍#STOvLIO 🇿🇦
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— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) December 21, 2024

Toulon are up to third thanks to a 56-25 hammering of Pau as France winger Gabin Villiere claimed a double.

Last season’s losing finalists Bordeaux-Begles went above Toulouse to top spot holding off Castres for a 13-3 victory as ex-Ireland fly-half Joey Carbery kicked eight points in torrential rain.

“The score isn’t great but what’s important is that we’ve won at Castres,” Bordeaux-Begles centre Yoram Moefana told Canal+.

“The team was solid, and stayed together, we’re very happy,” he added.

Additional source: Rugbypass

On Sunday, record 23-time champions Toulouse face Lyon without their Olympic seven gold medallist Antoine Dupont as the scrumhalf is rested following two weeks of Champions Cup action.