Le Notebook: Bordeaux are travelling, Pau stumble and Toulouse await their next challenger
Bordeaux's Salesi Rayasi - pictured here playing against England in the summer - will have enjoyed their recent away success
©Photo by George Wood - Nations Championship/Getty Images
For those of us who have spent the last fortnight questioning whether French rugby clubs travel particularly well, the latest round of the Top 14 provided an interesting answer.
Bordeaux-Bègles certainly do.
Having secured a narrow victory at Clermont before drawing 36-36 with Gloucester in Europe, Bordeaux travelled to La Rochelle last Sunday evening and came away with a 25-19 victory.
That is no ordinary away result.
Stade Marcel-Deflandre remains one of French rugby’s more intimidating venues, while Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle had been showing signs of rediscovering their form.
Yet Bordeaux led 19-7 at half-time and defended their advantage as the home side fought back.
It was a victory built on discipline and game management rather than the spectacular attacking rugby we have become accustomed to seeing at Chaban-Delmas.
And perhaps that makes it even more significant, as the European champions prepare for this Saturday's meeting with Bayonne.
Bordeaux: Learning to win differently
The opening weeks suggested Bordeaux were almost two different teams. At home, devastating. Away, considerably less convincing.
That perception is changing.
Their victory at La Rochelle followed a 23-22 success at Clermont, giving Bordeaux consecutive away wins and lifting them into second place.
Young fly-half Hugo Reus contributed 20 points, including six penalties, while Carlu Sadie scored Bordeaux’s only try.
For a side possessing the attacking talents of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Nicolas Depoortere, winning through tactical discipline is an encouraging development.
Bordeaux now have 23 league points, five behind Toulouse.
Willis Watch: Two brothers, two remarkable stories
Tom Willis continues to establish himself as one of Bordeaux’s most influential forwards.
The former Saracens No.8 arrived in France as the Premiership Player of the Year and has made an immediate impression, scoring five tries in his opening seven Top 14 appearances.
Against La Rochelle, he came from the bench after 22 minutes, replacing Marko Gazzotti and contributing to a particularly demanding away victory.
Meanwhile, older brother Jack remains one of the outstanding players in French rugby.
The Toulouse flanker has collected consecutive Top 14 Player of the Year awards, a remarkable achievement in a competition containing some of the world’s finest players.
Both brothers are thriving professionally, yet the RFU’s overseas selection policy continues to complicate their international prospects.
Pau: The reality check arrives
We have spent several editions of Le Notebook discussing Pau’s emergence as potential challengers.
Their attacking rugby, the contributions of Joe Simmonds and Rodrigo Marta, and the development of exciting young French players have made them one of the season’s most attractive sides.
But last Saturday evening at Toulon provided a reminder that consistency is essential. Pau were beaten 41-20 at Stade Mayol.
Toulon scored six tries, with Melvyn Jaminet particularly influential, finishing with 26 points, including three tries. Scotland international Huw Jones also crossed the line.
Pau enjoyed slightly more possession and territory but struggled to convert that into scoreboard pressure. The defeat leaves them third, six points behind Toulouse.
Their attacking potential remains obvious, but their defensive record is becoming a concern.
And now comes perhaps their most important examination yet. On Sunday evening, Pau host Toulouse.
If Section Paloise genuinely intend to challenge France’s established elite, there could hardly be a better opportunity to demonstrate it.
Toulouse: Still winning, still vulnerable
The champions maintained their position at the top with a 38-33 victory over Perpignan last Saturday.
It was their sixth win in seven league matches and took them to 28 points.
But Perpignan’s ability to score 33 points and secure a losing bonus suggests Toulouse are not entirely convincing defensively.
Their recent European encounter with Exeter, when they conceded 40 points despite winning 43-40, provided further evidence that opponents can create opportunities.
Pau certainly possess the attacking players to do so.
Whether they can prevent Toulouse scoring at the other end is another question.
Toulon and Vannes: Changing fortunes
Toulon’s bonus-point victory over Pau in Round Seven was particularly encouraging after their difficult opening month.
Huw Jones, Ben White, Lewis Ludlam, Kyle Sinckler and David Ribbans are among the British connections within a squad that should be capable of climbing the table.
Meanwhile, promoted Vannes finally secured their first Top 14 victory, defeating Clermont 27-26 in Brittany.
Trailing 26-13 during the second half, Vannes fought back through a late Francisco Gorrissen try, converted by Anthony Bouthier.
We have previously suggested that Vannes were playing better rugby than their league position indicated. This time, they found a way to win.
Road to Australia: The Iberian connection
Portugal international Rodrigo Marta remains one of our players to watch.
His remarkable start at Pau, including six Top 14 tries and two more against Leicester in Europe, has demonstrated the quality emerging from Portuguese rugby.
For Spain, Joël Merkler’s continuing development at Toulouse is equally interesting.
His experience across different forward positions at one of Europe’s strongest clubs could prove valuable when Spain compete at Rugby World Cup 2027.
These are the pathways we intend to follow throughout the season.
What happens next?
Three fixtures stand out in Round Eight.
Bordeaux (2nd) welcome Bayonne (7th) on Saturday, looking to build on their impressive away performances. La Rochelle (5th) travel to Stade Français (9th), with Ronan O’Gara seeking a response to Sunday’s defeat.
And then comes the meeting between Pau (3rd) and Toulouse (1st). First against third. Established champions against ambitious challengers.
Perhaps most importantly, it brings us back to the question increasingly shaping our French coverage.
Can the leading clubs reproduce their best rugby away from home?
Bordeaux are beginning to demonstrate that they can. Toulouse have been doing it for years. For Pau, Sunday’s home fixture offers an opportunity to prove they belong in the same conversation.
Seven rounds into the Top 14, the championship is beginning to develop its characters, its rivalries and its challengers.
And that is exactly what makes French rugby so fascinating to follow.
