TOULOUSE — Antoine Dupont struck twice as Toulouse came from behind to beat Bayonne and remain top of the Top 14 with 24 points, while newly promoted Vannes stayed winless after six rounds. The reigning champions overturned a 12-20 deficit on Sunday to continue their aggressive start to the season, with Pau second on 22 points and Bordeaux Begles third on 19 after a full weekend of fixtures across France.
Toulouse trailed Bayonne before a half-back masterclass turned the match. Julien Marchand scored a brace, Joshua Brennan and Romain Ntamack also crossed, and Dupont added his second try of the afternoon to seal the comeback. Joris Segonds grabbed a late consolation try to secure a try-bonus for Bayonne, who drop to fifth, seven points behind the leaders.
In Paris, Stade Francais thrust aside Montpellier on Saturday with tries from Paul Alo-Emile, Leo Barre, Tani Vili and Alivereti Duguivalu, plus the boot of Louis Carbonel, outweighing efforts from Argentine Justo Piccardo and former Scotland star Stuart Hogg. Number nine Alexis Bernadet snuck over late for Montpellier but they missed a bonus point, and the sides swap places on 14 points with Stade Francais sixth and Montpellier seventh. At the other end, Perpignan — featuring Paolo Garbisi, Sevu Reece and Jonny Gray — proved too strong for Vannes, with former Leinster man Luke McGrath scoring after substitute Matteo Desjeux was sent to the bin five minutes after coming on. Perpignan move ninth, while Vannes remain last on a solitary point, eight behind Castres.
Elsewhere, La Rochelle led early through Antoine Hastoy and Valentin Bouju and held on against Lyon despite a late Thomas Adelaide yellow card, with Lyon replying only through Jiuta Wainiqolo and the boot of Leo Berdeu; Lyon drop to eighth and La Rochelle rise to fourth, one point behind Bordeaux. At the Stade du Hameau, Pau denied Castres a losing bonus point as Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang scored an 80th-minute try for a try-bonus win, with fly-half Theo Vidal having kept Castres in it with his boot; Pau stay second while Castres sit just above Vannes in the danger zone.
Toulon overcame Racing 92 despite yellow cards for Kyle Sinckler after six minutes and Joe Quere Karaba six minutes from time, with three tries and the boot of Tomas Albornoz outweighing replies from Antoine Gilbert and former England number eight Nathan Hughes; Toulon climb to tenth, two points above Racing in 12th. Bordeaux Begles edged Clermont after Hugo Reus had kicked the visitors ahead with 15 minutes left, Maxime Lucu kicking superbly and scoring a try after a Cameron Woki yellow card, with Clermont taking a losing bonus point to keep clear of Racing.