The China Mail - Dupont helps Toulouse bounce back in Top 14 after turbulent week

Dupont was a second-half substitute as Toulouse claimed victory to end a difficult week, in which the 24-time champions were handed a points deduction and fine for a salary cap breach, on a high note.

With their first away success against Lyon since 2017, Toulouse now trail leaders Pau, who hammered Montauban 53-17 earlier in the day, on only their head-to-head record.

Lyon remain 12th in the standings, eight points below the sixth and final play-off place despite a superb solo effort by Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo.

Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola made a host of changes after last weekend's Champions Cup loss at Glasgow, their first pool stage loss in the tournament since 2022.

Mola's decision paid off as his side led 17-7 at the break thanks to tries from lock Clement Verge and scrum-half Paul Graou, as well as seven points from the boot of full-back Thomas Ramos.

A short-lived Lyon comeback included Wainiqolo's score with 32 minutes to play.

But Toulouse secured victory with a clinical final 25 minutes.

Lock Joshua Brennan, No. 8 Alexandre Roumat and centres Paul Costes and Lucas Vigneres all crossed with Dupont illustrating his class, producing a sublime cross-kick in the build-up to Costes' try.

- Busy Joseph -

Earlier, Olympic gold medallist Jefferson-Lee Joseph scored a try and was sent off as Perpignan beat Clermont 26-20 to win their first game of the Top 14 season.

Joseph, who helped France to the sevens title in Paris in 2024, crossed after seven minutes and was dismissed after quarter of an hour for the Catalans, who are bottom of the table.

The 2009 French champions are now two points off Montauban in the play-off relegation zone.

The visitors dropped down to 11th, having lost a third straight game after two heavy defeats in the Champions Cup.

Leaders Pau pulled away at promoted Montauban thanks to a double from young winger Gregoire Arfeuil.

Another France sevens international in Arfeuil, 21, took his tally for the season to nine tries across all competitions.

Former England winger Jack Nowell crossed twice as La Rochelle hammered Bayonne 49-17 to go up to sixth.

Stade Francais fly-half Louis Carbonel kicked an 80th-minute conversion to secure a dramatic 20-20 draw with Parisian rivals Racing 92.

"What bothers me is that in the match we reward those who have an ugly way of playing," the 26-year-old told reporters.

"The end of the game is positive, because we didn't give up and we fought like we were starving and in the end it paid off."

B.Carter--ThChM