The Albany Gazette - Bordeaux-Begles end wait for away win before Champions Cup defence

The two-time Champions Cup holders move up to third place in the Top 14 table after their first away win since May before heading to Gloucester next Friday in the continental competition.

Clinical winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey had a try ruled out by the video referee and played most of the game with strapping on his right thigh.

Clermont drop down to 11th after just two wins from the opening six rounds of the season despite three tries, including one from 19-year-old No 8 Louis Vermeulen, the son of ex-France back-rower Elvis Vermeulen.

Pau are top of the table after beating Castres 35-26, before Antoine Dupont's second-placed Toulouse, three points below, host Bayonne on Sunday.

Struggling Toulon beat Racing 29-15 in their first game since director of rugby Pierre Mignoni's resignation

Former France scrum-half Mignoni, who grew up in the town on the Cote d'Azur, left his role on Monday after just one win this campaign.

"It doesn't take anything away from the sad and very tough week we've had," Toulon scrum-half Baptiste Serin told Canal Plus.

"We're thinking of Pierre. This type of performance, we should have put in beforehand," he added.

There was further bad news for Racing as France under-20s centre Paul Costes was ruled out for a lengthy spell after suffering spleen and liver damage during a scooter accident on Thursday.

Elsewhere, ex-South Africa winger Dillyn Leyds scored his 50th La Rochelle try as they moved to fourth in the table a with 28-16 victory at Lyon.

"It does a lot of good," Leyds told Canal Plus.

"It was good to win away from home, claim the bonus point, I think we'll have two or three beers on the bus," the 34-year-old added.

(O.Robinson--TAG)