All the matches in this round were played on Friday night, giving the clubs and their spectators time to concentrate on Christmas. There were no real surprises in the round.

Perpignan's big win probably came with big relief to the disappointing side, but there was no such relief for Biarritz whop remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the log. Toulouse's win is a big one but in fact the try count was three-all. The match in Brive was appalling.

Results, Round 13

Bayonne vs Castres, 16-16
Clermont vs  Brive, 9-6
Perpignan vs Bordeaux-Bègles, 38-13
Racing-Métro vs Agen, 26-8
Stade Français vs Biarritz, 23-10
Toulon vs Lyon, 20-15
Toulouse vs Montpellier, 45-25

Log after Round 13

Perpignan are the main beneficiaries - up three places while Agen, who have been so promising this season, and Bordeaux-Bègles have both slipped two places.

Bordeaux-Bègles and Lyon both have a match in hand.

1 Toulouse 47
2 Clermont 44
3 Toulon 39
4 Castres 35
5 Stade Français 34
6 Racing Métro 34
7 Agen 32
8 Montpellier 27
9 Perpignan 25
10 Brive 23
11 Bayonne 22
12 Bordeaux 21
13 Lyon 18
14 Biarritz 15

Match Details

Brive vs Clermont at Stade Amédée Domenech

This was a horrible match of kicking and wrestling. Of anything approaching flair, elan, panache and romance there was absolutely none.

Scorers

For Brive:
Pens: Belie, Caminati 

For Clermont:
Pens: James 3

The teams

Brive: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Jacques Boussuge, 13 Arnaud Mignardi, 12 Jamie Noon, 11 Ronnie Cooke, 10 Riaan Swanepoel, 9 Mathieu Belie, 8 Antonie Claassen, 7 Alexandre Bias, 6 Petrus Hauman, 5 Arnaud Méla, 4 Thibault Dubarry, 3 Patrick Barnard, 2 Iuri Natriashvili, 1 Vasil Kakovin
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Davit Kinchagishvili, 18 Retief Uys, 19 Julien Ledevedec, 20 Simon Azoulai, 21 Jean Baptiste Pejoine, 22 Julien Caminati, 23 Pablo Cardinali

Clermont: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Regan King, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Brock James, 9 Kevin Senio, 8 Elvis Vermeulen, 7 Alexandre Audebert, 6 Alexandre Lapandry, 5 Loïc Jacquet, 4 Julien Pierre, 3 Clément Ric, 2 Benoît Cabello, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Jamie Cudmore, 19 Julien Bardy, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Williams, 22 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 23 Daniel Kotze.

Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Stéphane Pomarède, Christophe Malterre
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui

Montpellier vs Toulouse at Stade Yves du Manoir (Montpellier)

Three tries each but Toulouse deserved to win as they were  largely on top, as Lionel Beauxis's kicking successes tell. In fact Beauxis had an excellent game - with the boot, tactically and on the run.

The match was not all good will.. A mass brawl ended with yellow cards for Vincent Clerc and Mamuka Gorgodze. No sooner was Gorgodze back than Thibault Privat went to the sin bin for a high, swinging arm tackle to the head of Daan Human which left the big prop groggy. There were also suggestions that someone attacked his eyes with fingers.

French rugby must keep citing commissioners busy!

Later William Servat was also sent to the sin bin. As Gary Botha had been taken off on a stretcher with a broken leg early in the match, the last scrum was uncontested.

The best rugby was played after the final siren had sounded and Montpellier, with great energy, moved the ball up the field for a try by Yoan Audrin.

Scorers

For Montpellier:
Tries: Van Vuuren 2, Audrin
Cons: Bustos Moyano 2
Pens: Bustos Moyano 2

For Toulouse:
Tries: Médard, Burgess, Picamoles
Cons: Beauxis 2, McAlister
Pens: Beauxis 5
Drops: Beauxis 3

The teams

Montpellier: 15 Lucas Amorosino, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Martin Bustos Moyano, 10 François Trinh-Duc (captain), 9 Benoît Paillaugue, 8 Masi Matadigo, 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Rémy Martin, 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Mickaël De Marco, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga
Replacements: 16 Rassie Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Mikheil Natriashvili, 18 Drikus Hancke, 19 Vassili Bost, 20 Julien Tomas, 21 Paul Bosch, 22 Yoan Audrin, 23 George Jgenti 

Toulouse: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Yves Donguy, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Sylvain Nicolas, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Romain Millo Chlusky, 4 Gregory Lamboley, 3 Yohan Montes, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Daan Human
Replacements: 16 William Servat, 17 Yassin Boutemane, 18 Yoann Maestri, 19 Thierry Dusautoir, 20 Jean Marc Doussain, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Jean Bouilhou, 23 Census Johnston

Referee: Jérôme Garces
Assistant referees: Akim Hadj Bachir, Patrick Beuriot
Television match official: Eric Gonthier
 
Stade Français vs Biarritz at Stade Charlety (Paris)

Scorers

For Stade Français:
Tries: Papé, Contepomi
Cons: Dupuy, Contepomi
Pens: Dupuy 3

For Biarritz:
Try: Van Staden
Con: Peyrelongue
Pen: Peyrelongue

The teams

Stade Français: 15 Paul Warwick, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Martin Rodriguez, 11 Julien Arias, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Pierre Rabadan, 6 David Lyons, 5 Pascal Papé, 4 Gerhard Mostert, 3 David Attoub, 2 Aled De Malmanche, 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements: 16 Laurent Sempéré, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Antoine Burban, 20 Jérôme Fillol, 21 Jules Plisson, 22 Francis Fainifo, 23 Stanley Wright

Biarritz: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty , 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Iain Balshaw, 10 Julien Peyrelongue, 9 Luix Roussarie, 8 Raphaël Lakafia, 7 Pelu Taele, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jerome Thion, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Benoît August, 1 Sylvain Marconnet.
Replacements: 16 Arnaud Heguy, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Florian Faure, 19 Benoît Guyot, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Benoît Baby, 22 Charles Gimenez, 23 Thomas Lebrequier

Referee: Christophe Berdos
Assistant referees: Cyril Lafon, David Parrini
Television match official: Laurent Valin
 
Perpignan vs Bordeaux at Stade Aimé Giral

Scorers:

For Perpignan:
Tries: Marty, Coetzee, Michel, Mermoz
Cons: Hook 3
Pens: Hook 4

For Bordeaux-Bègles:
Try: Adams
Con: Frazer
Pen: Frazer

The teams

Perpignan: 15 Joffrey Michel , 14 Farid Sid, 13 David Marty, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Rudi Coetzee , 10 James Hook, 9 Kevin Boulogne, 8 Henri Tuilagi, 7 Damien Chouly, 6 Gregory Le Corvec, 5 Robins Tchale Watchou, 4 Olivier Olibeau, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Marius Tincu, 1  Kisi Pulu
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Jérôme Schuster, 18 Ovidiu Tonita , 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Bertrand Guiry, 21  Florian Cazenave, 22 Gavin Hume, 23 Benoît Bourrust 

Bordeaux-Bègles: 15 Bruce Reihana, 14 Vungakoto Lilo, 13 Andrew Mailei, 12 Julien Rey, 11 Blair Connor, 10 Gerard Fraser, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Matthew Clarkin, 7 Daniel Leo'o, 6 Justin Purll, 5 Adam Jaulhac, 4 Cameron Treloar, 3 Silviu Florea, 2 Wayne Avei, 1 Laurent Delboulbes
Replacements: 16 Fabien Rofes, 17 Hikairo Forbes, 18 François Tisseau, 19 Leroy Houston, 20 Julien Seron, 21 Camille Lopez, 22 Felix Le Bourhis, 23 Albert Toetu

Referee: Patrick Pechambert
Assistant referees: Alain Blondel, Laurent Sclafer
Television match official: Gilles Cogne
 
Toulon vs Lyon at Stade Mayol

Scorers

For Toulon:
Try: Palisson
Pens: Wilkinson 5

For Lyon:
Pens: Loursac 5

The teams

Toulon: 15 Luke Rooney, 14 Alexis Palisson, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Matthew Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Jonathan Wilkinson, 9 Mathew Henjak, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 5 Dean Schofield, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Sébastien Bruno, 1 Laurent Emmanuelli
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Kristian Chesney, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Gabriele Lovobalavu, 21 Benjamin Lapeyre, 22 Laurent Magnaval, 23 Davit Kubriashvili 

Lyon: 15 Romain Loursac, 14 Franck Romanet, 13 Latu Fatafehi, 12 Waisale Seru Sukanaveita, 11 Mosese Ratuvou, 10 Régis Lespinas, 9 Enrico Januarie, 8 Sisaro Koyamaibole, 7 Juan Leguizamón, 6 Eugene N Zi , 5 Coenie Basson, 4 Arnaud Marchois, 3 Philemon Toleafoa, 2 Jean-Philippe Bonrepaux, 1 Xavier Fiard,
Replacements: 16 Antonio Testa , 17 Guram Kavtidze, 18 Arnaud Dorier, 19 Nicolas Bontinck, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Lee Thomas, 22 Xavier Sadourny, 23 Anthony Roux

Referee: Sébastien Minery
Assistant referees: Alexandre Ruiz, Philippe Gorbenko
Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure
 
Bayonne vs Castres at Stade Jean Dauger

Scorers

For Bayonne:
Try: Boutaty
Con: Boyet
Pens: Boyet 3

For Castres:
Try: Martial
Con: Teulet
Pens: Teulet 3

The teams

Bayonne: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Marvin O'Connor, 13 Thibault Lacroix, 12 Sam Gerber, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Benjamin Boyet, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Julien Puricelli, 6 Jean Joseph Marmouyet, 5 Abdellatif Boutaty, 4 Rob Linde (captain), 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 David Roumieu, 1 Aretz Iguiniz
Replacements: 16 François Da Ros, 17 Vitolio Manukula, 18 Troy Flavell, 19 Marc Baget, 20 Cédric Garcia, 21 Lionel Mazars, 22 Clément Otazo, 23 Renaud Boyoud

Castres: 15 Romain Teulet 14 Romain Martial, 13 Thomas Sanchou, 12 Romain Cabannes, 11 Maxwell Evans, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Rory Kockott , 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Yannick Caballero, 6 Ibrahim Diarra, 5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 4 Matthias Rolland, 3 Karena Wihongi, 2 Mathieu Bonello, 1 Anton Peikrishvili.
Replacements: 16 Marc Rallier, 17 Michael Coetzee, 18 Scott Murray, 19 Steve Malonga, 20 Thierry Lacrampe, 21 Pierre Bernard, 22 Paul Bonnefond, 23 Luc Ducalcon

Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: David Rosich, Jean-Michel Schutz
Television match official: Hervé Dubes
 
Racing-Métro vs Agen at Stade Yves du Manoir (Colombes)

Scorers

For Racing-Métro:
Tries: Nallet, Qovu
Cons: Wisniewski 2
Pens: Wisniewski 3

For Agen:
Try: Agulla
Pen: Courrent

The teams

Racing-Métro: 15 Juan Martín Hernández, 14 Sireli Bobo, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Joshua Matavesi, 11 Juan José Imhoff, 10 Jonathan Wisniewski, 9 Nicolas Durand, 8 Sébastien Chabal, 7 Álvaro Galindo, 6 Rémi Vaquin, 5 Lionel Nallet (captain), 4 Santiago Dellapè, 3 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 2 Benjamin Noirot, 1 Julien Brugnaut.
Replacements: 16 Thomas Bianchin, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Jone Qovu, 19 Jacques Cronjé, 20 Mathieu Lorée, 21 Gaëtan Germain, 22 Antoine Battut, 23  Mikaele Tu'ugahala

Agen: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Saimoni Vaka, 13 Junior Palesasa, 12 Jamie Robinson, 11 Belisario Agulla , 10 Valentin Courrent, 9 Sylvain Dupuy, 8 Ueleni Fono, 7 Adri Badenhorst, 6 Antoine Erbani , 5 Patrick O'Connor, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Julien Janaudy 1 John Schwalger    
Replacements: 16 Jalil Narjissi, 17 Semisi Telefoni, 18 Damien Lagrange, 19 Pierre Julien, 20 Maxime Machenaud, 21 Conrad Barnard, 22 Miguel Avramovic, 23 Beka Sheklashvili 

Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Assistant referees: Salem Attalah, Christophe Graviou
Television match official: Daniel Gillet