Berliner Boersenzeitung - Much-changed Toulouse edged by Stade Francais before Champions Cup semi

The away side made eight changes from last weekend's win over Lyon, including resting the likes of half-backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, highlighting the importance of the trip to Dublin for the record five-time Champions Cup winners.

The record 21-time French champions remain top of the table despite defeat as the third-placed Parisians move six points behind La Rochelle, in second, with three rounds of the regular season remaining.

French rugby's two most decorated sides were equal at 10-10 after half an hour as the visitors' Pierre Fouyssac responded to Lester Etien's early try.

Melvyn Jaminet and the Parisians' Joris Segonds slotted penalty goals in front of a sold-out crowd at Stade Jean-Bouin, a first full-house since 2015.

With four minutes of the half to play, however, France full-back Jaminet left the field on a stretcher with an ankle and shin injury, making him a doubt to face the Irish province.

Fly-half Segonds, the league's top points scorer this season, made sure of the victory with three further penalties after the break.

- Leyds on form -

La Rochelle's South Africa winger Dillyn Leyds scored as they beat Clermont 26-13 before next Sunday's Champions Cup last four tie with Exeter.

Champions Cup holders La Rochelle welcome the English side to a sold-out Matmut Atlantique, which holds 42,000 people.

Leyds claimed a 78th-minute bonus point with his try as his club moved within a point of Toulouse.

"It would be a lie to say that no-one is thinking about the semi-final, but today we needed points in the Top 14," La Rochelle full-back Brice Dulin told reporters.

"There were moments when they made things difficult for us so it's the perfect preparation for next week," he added.

Bayonne, in eighth, are still in the hunt for the play-offs as ex-France fly-half Camille Lopez slotted his seventh drop goal of the season with four minutes left in the 33-30 victory over champions Montpellier.

Earlier in the day, French media reported Montpellier were set to pull out of a deal to sign Exeter's Luke Cowan-Dickie after the England hooker failed to turn up to a second of two days of medical examinations.

"I have no comment to make," Montpellier head coach Saint-Andre said. "There will be a statement from the club," he added.

On Sunday, Lyon visit Bordeaux-Begles in the fight for the play-offs, with 20-year-old Mateo Garcia making just his fifth senior start for the home side.

(A.Lehmann--BBZ)