David Barnes brings the latest news from the Top 14
“Clermont have already told full-back Scott Spedding and English winger David Strettle they will not be retained”
An 18-year-old making his fly-half debut in the Top 14 had the fate of BordeauxBegles at his feet during the climax of a barely credible match at Toulouse. Matthieu Jalibert is not only highly rated by his club’s English coaches Joe Worsley and Rory Teague.
He has also been chosen by France coach Guy Noves to play for his Barbarians – now officially his reserve squad – against the Maori All Blacks on Friday.
And, if he continues to shine at such a tenderfoot age, he is destined to be a major presence in future crunch games against England and others. But, for now, he has to put real heartache behind him after a lastminute nightmare that left him fighting back tears.
Jalibert had kicked 17 points in an almost flawless performance when he was faced with a penalty, 40 yards out in front of the posts, to win the match.
There was maximum tension and his kick drifted inches wide to leave Toulouse relieved 38-37 winners of a game that was so up and down it almost defied belief.
Toulouse scored three tries to lead by 21 points within the opening 20 minutes and somehow contrived to concede four to trail at the break.
Jalibert, who had played only once for Bordeaux at full-back, was chosen for the more crucial role in place of Kiwi star Simon Hickey, out for three months with a knee injury.
Team-mate Jean-Baptiste Dubie, who struck a post with a late drop kick, said: “We told Matthieu that, whatever happened with his penalty, he had already played a huge game. We were trying to lessen the presssure on him.”
The miss at least brought some deserved reward for South African winger Cheslin Kolbe, an Olympic bronze medallist, who scored two of five Toulouse tries to bring his personal total to eight for the season.
Others were scored by winger Sofiane Guitoune against his old club, young hooker Guillaume Marchand and, most importantly, forward Joe Tekori with six minutes to go.
That left Bordeaux, who scored all four tries in a 15-minute burst through hooker Adrien Pelissie, scrum-half Yann Lesgourgues, Fijian centre Metuisela Talebula and fullback Jean-Pascal Barraque, just one point behind. As poor Jalibert will need no reminding.
Above both of those teams were leaders Lyon and third-placed La Rochelle, the two clubs that have turned the Top 14 upside down in recent times.
Lyon, handicapped by injury, and La Rochelle, by international calls, played out a war of attrition. Finally won 19-15 by the latter, so winning their third match on the road this season and confirming their formidable emergence last season.
A try from sub scrum-half Alexi Bales just after the break made the difference after five penalties from evergreen star Frederic Michalak had not proved enough.
Brock James, returning for La Rochelle after injury, showed he had lost none of his talent by kicking 14 points.
Racing look as though they will have to do without global superstar Dan Carter in future as he is expected to announce his retirement before the end of the season.
For the moment, he is nursing a troublesome knee injury that will keep him out of action for at least two weeks. His team beat Pau 23-20 without him but not before giving themselves a serious scare. In fact, they looked doomed to defeat at home before a flurry of yellow cards worked in their favour.
All Black Conrad Smith and fullback Charly Malie were both yellow-carded within the last nine minutes, thus allowing winger Marc Andreu to score a late, decisive try.
Oyonnax were beaten 32-19 at home to Castres to virtually ensure a threeway fight to avoid bottom place with Agen and Brive. Christophe Urios, the manager who took them from Division Two to European competition, won for the second time on his return with Castres.
Argentine fly-half Benjamin Urdupilleta inflicted much of the damage with 22 points from his boot. Two tries from flanker Mathieu Babillot and full-back Julien Dumora did the rest.
Champions Clermont have a formidable task today at Montpellier, who are interested in signing their France international winger Noa Nakaitaci.
Clermont, themselves, have to confront Vern Cotter, the manager who once won a Top 14 title with them and is now in charge of the team most touted to succeed them this year.
These are uncertain times for Clermont who are in transition, having already told full-back Scott Spedding and English winger David Strettle they will not be retained.
That is a blow for fellow back Nick Abendanon who says: “This is a real shame for me and my family because they are the two best mates I have in the squad.”
Abendanon, himself, has signed a new two-year deal and will play alongside Strettle at Montpellier today.