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La Rochelle thrash Toulouse in Top 14 / Photo: © AFP
La Rochelle thrash Toulouse in Top 14
Defending two-time European champions La Rochelle thrashed Toulouse 29-8 in the Top 14 on Saturday in a psychological blow to Antoine Dupont's team.
France skipper Dupont was not in the match-day 23, however, as a La Rochelle team featuring Gregory Alldritt in his first match since France's World Cup quarter-final loss to South Africa notched up a bonus-point victory in front of a home 16,700 sell-out crowd.
Tries from wingers Dillyn Leyds and Nathan Bollengier, allied with one from Fiji flanker Levani Botia and a penalty try were enough to see the hosts claim the win -- just their fifth from 11 matches this season.
Toulouse claimed a late consolation score through Clement Verge against the team they beat for the Top 14 title last season.
Current Top 14 leaders Racing 92 fell to a 27-23 defeat against Bayonne.
Despite being 20-6 behind going into the final quarter, Bayonne fought back with three tries to snatch a home victory over the Parisians.
All Black Leicester Fainga'anuku scored his first Top 14 try to help Toulon to a 19-5 victory over Stade Francais.
Bottom-placed Montpellier went down 20-18 to Lyon, while Castres host Perpignan in the weekend's closing game on Sunday.
F. Burkhard--BTZ
