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Montpellier see off plucky Oyonnax, Ashton stars in Stade mauling

By Peter Thompson
RC Toulon v Bath Rugby – Champions Cup

Top 14 leaders Montpellier scored six tries in a 43-30 victory at bottom side Oyonnax and Chris Ashton grabbed a first-half hat-trick as Toulon’s thumped Stade Francais 43-5 on Saturday.

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Nemani Nadolo went over twice in the first half following a Benjamin Fall score and a penalty try for Vern Cotter’s men, who marched into a 29-16 half-time advantage at Stade Charles-Mathon.

Gregory Fichten and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg touched down after the interval, five-pointers from Curtis Browning, Daniel Ikpefan and Ulupano Seuteni and 15 points from Ben Botica proving to be in vain for the front-runners.

Ashton was the star of the show in Toulon’s rout of sorry Stade, the former England wing claiming a treble before the interval at Stade Mayol.

Mathieu Bastareaud, Eric Escande and Raphael Lakafia also went over the whitewash as the three-time European champions moved up to fourth spot and Stade suffered a second successive mauling after being hammered by Pau last time out.

Gael Fickou helped himself to a hat-trick as Toulouse put Agen to the sword, easing to a 52-25 win at Stade Armandie.

There was also a double for Yoann Huget for fifth-placed Toulouse, who scored eight tries against the second-bottom side.

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Sixth-placed Lyon struck a blow to Clermont Auvergne’s play-off hopes with a 36-10 win, while Pau beat Brive 21-16.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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