with his family and his friends and indeed his Club the top cat All Season then kicks off it's Bayon against Pinon the bass against the catalans and in a part of a country where rugby is almost a religion what better way could we have than starting off with the sky and wh and the yellow and red two siid at last season again stayed well above the relegation Zone B didn't have quite the same sort of season last time out that they did in their first year back up in the top flight but we're never really in trouble mon pelier were always going to be at least 13th oer of course were relegated with a bit of a whimper M pelier didn't do much better and only escaped in the playoff and even there they almost managed to get it wrong it was enough to see their coach fired and a new coach coming in in Yan culu To The ggl [Applause] Stadium P getting underway in a couple of hours time with a home game against Leon that's the knock on and perp you have an early chance here to to uh get forward Tomaso Allen the Italian International equally Adept at fly half and fallback he's at the latter today behind everybody else and that's a great kick up field and toita veru the 35-year-old top scorer in terms of tries last season for peror can't get there to stop it going [Applause] out turn early on there BYO e nare 23y old fullback playing on the inside Center didn't quite get a 5022 out of that so perfect on do at least get to take the line out [Music] [Applause] themselves you have had the lowest line out success rate from their own throws of any team last season with 74% but they're just about onto possession out of their first one of the new season aggressive counter rucking from Bion as cim of course he leads the way one of the most aggressive rugby players there is out there oh that's a high tackle valad will be very relieved to hear the word samp penal just a penalty because it was a bit high and AIA kondre certainly may the referee know that it' been high only scored six tries in his 15 appearances for B on last season so an early penalty for Cami Lopez to get upfield from a very tight angle it's not a bad kick from there [Applause] Riv patat still in charge man who brought them up from br2 this time with his coaching staff of Joel Ray Geral Fraser Nick aband Duran and L [Applause] Louie by trying to make their way forward with selli Malala taken on by foso poti key second row forward who's in his first season since coming in from rassing where he'd been since 2022 however back it comes across the other side again Tomaso Allen has it but the referee has blown the two players up front have not realized until [Music] now referee is loic Luke Ramos today very experienced these days with his assistants benoir benu and Flavia [Music] U that was seen as forward to the Italian outwire that time and so we'll have our first scrum of the new season I know eat already blowing hard got an ankle injury against exiter in the Champions Cup which just shows you how well their first season went the fact that they were in that kind of company it'll be the challenge cut for them this time around though K will also be in the challenge up they could have easily been in the Champions Cup this is great though from Bion Bay picking up Yan alab the 22y old youngster just dropping it on and eat is stopped in his [Applause] tracks didn't play with the uh first team last season yoan or although he did play five times the season before that and indeed scored his first try and his only tried so far which came against today's opposition little apology from the fallback been at the clubs for three years now or nearly three years Flex have lost their last five top cat matches against B on the street that began in [Applause] 2010 K Wow a uh effectively a punch which has resulted in a penalty for Perino Cuda is a punch Cabra similar sort of thing but with the arm David Marty usual assistant of Fran AA at perol since AA came home from tulon couple of seasons ago last season didn't get off to the best of starts last campaign and uh it took him a while to get his message across but once he did they went on a tremendous run midseason and it not only pulled them out of any kind of relegation worries but put them on the edge of the playoffs which they didn't quite manage to keep going until the end however this run is good and here comes toaso Allen and now there's the overlap surely they could have scored the first try and indeed they do it'll be Ali crale the Englishman who goes across the line and scores the first try of the new Top Cat all season well that was terrific from pero loaded it up on this left hand side some lovely movement straight off the training pitch and all of a sudden there was a mismatch here and uh the Bion Defender didn't know which one he should Mark and in the end it was a simple run in last season perol scored over three tries per match 80 in their 26 matches only to lose were [Applause] better and the first kick at goal is also good as well and per have a seven-point lead in the early stages of the first Top Cat alls match of the new season against [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] Bion exor V first scores three tries last season in his 12 matches for a per all of which he [Applause] started P now trying to respond they've already been several times into the peror but they've managed to make a mistake each time they've been in it so far back it comes in from the new scrum half Patty Jammer in from too this season a very exciting introduction played 19 times for to lose last season but was always only on for about 10 minutes or so least did get a little bit of a a run out for them in the absence of antoan dupon when he was away with the sevens little kick forward by Camy Lopez and it will run into touch allowed to do so by Jake McIntyre his opposite number 22 appearances for Jake mckinty last Season 22 starts in 24 88 points he'll be looking for more perhaps this campaign you don't this was the beautiful try finished off though look at that the offload under pressure from alvaret D Galu 27y old Fijian Center and it allowed those two other play players should just peel round the back and have the time to be able to take the pass and from there on in it was a simple run [Music] in per play an attractive style of rugby as well under Frank oer however that's in trouble and all of a sudden fundo Bosch the former lar shell hooker almost managed to go I'm not quite sure how they haven't scored perel somehow managed to re-erect the rall between them and the tri line Bion though still on the charge on the edge of the 5 m line JMA feed it out into the Tongan Dita tatfu J again looking for it Lopez oh almost intercepted by Ali crossdale again and how will this be seen it's a penalty but will it be more than that does he see that as deliberate or is that a genuine attempt to catch the ball he's asking the question to his assistant the touch judge on his near side and now he's asking the TMO there's a few Legends in the crowd right so there could also be here an investigation as to whether or not this could be a uh a penalty try as well depending on the situation with the [Applause] [Music] Defenders so cross down in the blond well he's got it with one hand but is that really [Applause] enough so the referee says he isn't in position to be able to catch that ball it could well be a yellow card coming up it is so the TR scorer the first TR score of the New Zealand is also going to be the first man sent to the S as [Applause] well see so all of that good done just a few moments ago rather undone there there is no penalty try though there was a covering Defender even though there was an overlap as well but uh not enough to say that there was a definite try that was stopped so then fundo bus had ball in hand for the line out on the 5 meter line oh that's clever cing back out to the hooker l l good defense though from perel keeping them out for the time being but how long crabbing along the line already more good defense good hit there coming in from andrean warrian one of the new signings in the perp lineup today [Applause] Andy Borday another new signing picks up the ball but the loose head prop can't go over the new man in from Van who enjoying their first ever season he was so good in pro2 however this is very good from Bion and there in and it's Celli malalla who gets his first try of the new season [Applause] [Music] [Applause] well last season he was rather inhibited by a ankle injury that he picked up against exitor that kept him out from January to may he only scored one try all last season but this was a trop to the line for his first of the new campaign and he'll be delighted and so too will his [Applause] team so fian's already prominent so far with dun Val helping to set up the Peron try and now Malala actually scoring B Bon's first of this season Manu tagi there on the right hand side one of the big Marquee signings from England several England Internationals coming over he starts off the new season [Music] injured and it is 7 points a piece the conversion successful and a good start to the new season with both sides having come here to play I miss you so patat will be a lot happier about that I [Applause] think and Away with go then all square that's gone out on the full so they'll come back for the scrum on the halfway line and a mistake from pero and that won't please Fran Kaza lock it up [Applause] no ball says um bti [Music] J J has come to Bion openly saying that he wants to take over from the two veterans at the club Maxi Mar who's on the bench today in the Bion Legend G Ru as half Camy Lopez still rules the roost at standoff half Jo s having come in from stad fron will be challenging him through this campaign couple of stad Fon players have moved down to the Southwest cassim goes one way and feeds it into Lopez who's one of the stockier fly halves in rugby that's gone out and will be a perp in your line out by the looks of it and there's a knock on in there as well there it is all because of the pressure exerted BYU he starts his second and at the moment last season and he's got another addition to that to take him up to 2026 they take it definitely here until the end of this season one of the best finishers although even he couldn't keep up with KU in terms of tries last season an amazing season by the Leon scrum half who still struggles to get into the French national side despite his prolific nature at Club rugby nice piece of play by Sala lamb the Simone International hooker [Applause] in he comes in from lamb successful mul called immediately and perel start to make some movement straight away very good B here all over the place great control being exerted and a penalty I think given as well for the mall being brought down and the penalty signal nowu toi watching From the Bench Revelation now a full French Inter National still only youngster though only 20 years old and there is uh his family member who he might have been up against today but uh un fortunately Manu tagi newly arrived England International Center broke his hand and will be out for 6 to8 weeks hardly the start he would have been looking for number of England Internationals have uh effectively turned their back on uh their England careers and come over to France course perhaps most [Music] famously penalty taken straight down the middle toaso Allen one of the reasons why Jake McIntyre doesn't score more with the boot and pering you'll find themselves back in front [Applause] International who scored five tries last season and 173 points go go in his 17 appearances [Music] kicks and finds [Applause] touch Tom the Oney old scrum half now for pero number one pick at fly scum Hof last season he started three quarters of all of the games that he played scored five tries in doing so as well as fako Bosch lines it up osar F out by Sabella McIntyre keeps it on going out to [Music] dongalu actually represented Fiji D Galu big typical powering run from the open side flanker osar in there and sees it on the halfway line then that little kick forward but they seem to have run out of the idea of the plan they peror now they've knocked got the ball anymore McIntyre picks it up once more and is taken down by a couple of players fortunately for him there's some yellow go red and gold jerseys surrounding him to keep possession in the sides hands Osan back up on his feet again this time looking for the kick you got to get on with it much quicker these days now with those kicks out of The Ruck [Applause] have been few R law tweaks that have come in over the summer Allan couldn't take hold of it and dropped it picked up by aadu the crowd think that was a trip however the perp your man is allowed to continue and indeed gets the penalty himself for a Bome player not rolling away after the tackle I think it's Celli MAA man who was the last up who was the uh man who went in for the tackle and then didn't get up again fre just reassuring per what they did was fine despite the jeers from the crowd and a few of all tweaks over July involving [Applause] offside when there's a kick now players ahead of the ball it's no longer enough for them to not move while the ball is in the air and wait to be on side again now you actually have to actively move backwards away from play to get back on side yourself otherwise you'll be called offside otherwise it'll be known as loitering is the new expression another penalty this time well that's voso poti who's been penalized here for dragging down the jumper in the air watch for the arm here there it is you can see it pulling down jaob [Applause] van and uh well they're obious feeling confident this afternoon so back on comes Ali crossdale as well after that with a quick 10 minutes pero did not suffer at all there and Gregory patat men didn't manage to to make their man Advantage tell at [Applause] [Music] all so then toaso Allen feeling good about kicking today trying to extend the lead a little bit further he's hit that very well indeed it'll just drift back again and all of a sudden it's a six-point lead Bion seven perol 13 it's going well for the aways side so [Applause] far Tomaso Allen 89.6% success rate last season Camy Lopez had 88% plus they had the highest goal kicking successes rates in last season's Top Cat of any players that attempted at least 50 penalties conversions or drop goals which of course Camy Lopez likes to do the drop goals that is so it's not surprising you're seeing some high quality kicking at the moment no misses for either side yet and that's touch F by Jake [Applause] McIntyre Jake McIntyre in his fourth season since he came in from Claremont back in 2020 one via Western [Applause] Force it's a warm day which doesn't really suit the big men for condo Bosch goes to the back this time and it's successfully done oh hit hard however the ball bounces back the right way and it's picked up by fundo Bosch the Argentine hooker who's a bit of a TRC scoring machine himself makes it over the 22 halfway through the first half of the St Jean D where perp are enjoying the first half so far and looking like they've carried on their decent form in the latter part the second half of last season into the new campaign against Bion where this place used to be a fortress for them and it all fell apart a little bit for them right at the end of last [Applause] season was a time when the only home defeats that Bayon suffered was when they decamped across the border into Spain to the anot in San Sebastian which is where the semi-finals of course took place a couple of years ago that was forward by cassim South African looks distraught but the referee saw it clear as day and penalized the former Scarlets man and former Central Cheaters man who has been at Bion now since 2021 and has uh put a couple of extra Seasons onto his current contract to keep him here until 2025 territory then B with 71% but uh it's perp who've done the better work when they have ventured into opposition territory and they might well have another go doing it here as well here comes crosdale coming across the line and doing really well look at him go the Englishman maybe feels he's got something to make up for the team after that yellow card McIntyre I think that's an offside against Bion that's smacked against a Bion [Applause] player and a yellow card for a deliberate offside yep so Andy Borday the new man in from Van where he was so impressive in their promotion year up from pro2 he's going to spend 10 minutes sitting in the bin in his first half of rugby for his new side boy on Gregory patat side here and not getting off to the of starts to the new campaign as David Marty brings on some refreshment and probably a couple of words of wisdom as well for his team beautiful run from crossdale he's been very much the man at the center of most things in this first half and of course who came to popal first off when WS went into Administration he started off as [Applause] Saron so Allen with another opportunity here to extend the lead from the kicking team and he does it suddenly it's a nine-point gap and we're now beyond the converted try in terms of their advantage at seven points to [Applause] 16 and the catalans have enjoyed their little trip so far along the Pyrenees to B on in front of the pyes at the very least he would have been able to see the Pyrenees looming up to the South when they traveled out by Alan and again safe touch up to about halfway so Allen had his season interrupted in March with a ham string problem that he picked up against OA who of course were relegated at the end of the season when he in the game expecting van to do the same thing that has happened to bre and then OA comes straight up and then go straight down again mon pel did their best though to stop OA going down and only just about drag themselves over the finish line there's a high tackle no not rolling away actually the crowd were roaring for what they saw was a high [Applause] tackle he did see it after all in the end the Marvin ay the South African International world champion even though he was just a squad player really in France for that World Cup last year Camy Lopez looking for the 5 meter line I'm not sure he's going to quite find it but it'll be inside the 22 [Applause] so like perol Bion actually playing a little bit better when reduced to 14 men this is as good a chance as they've had as any of uh putting points on the board or more points on the board bshch that's brilliantly done byan to pull that ball away [Applause] veru stays on his feet and allows the support to circle around him Bruce devau man who spent most of his time on the bench for too long but gets the start for his new club per today and oh that was a little bit hooked by McIntyre and in the end Bayon won't be too unhappy with how that ended up they still got a reasonably chance good chance here at attacking even though they got that wrong ITA couldn't gather former captain of Bion Cami Lopez though now the skipper M mul called Bion now going well fundo Bosch has the ball at the bat this is exactly where he likes to be although he would like to be a little closer to the try line per beginning to rally and so the Bion players are told to play it which they do rocking through here Burpo however really well kept by Celli Mala MAA recycles picked up by bruny the Argentine Blindside flanker cim Jima big hit comes [Applause] in JMA recycles once more out to Ean good defense this from per but not really going anywhere at the moment 5 minutes of their simin still to go but they at least are uh reducing the penalty clock and they're going to go for the drop goal that I was talking about earlier Camy Lopez for the first time this season and he doesn't make [Applause] it okay Camy Lopez was the player who played the most in Top Cat alls last [Music] season he successful with 89 of his 101 kicks at goal that includes everything penalties conversions drop goals [Music] [Applause] combined meanwhile Tomaso Allen gets perp up to the halfway line and it's picked up by us cassim avoids One Challenge and it takes a big hit from adre Warren to finally bring him down on the 10 m line that was not a great pass fundo Bosch took his eye off it but it was a bit low and a big kick back up field again slightly too long Perfect Kick forward is when it lands in front of the tri line of course the worst circumstances when you let it go over the back of the TR line and then you come all the way back for a strum where the kick was taken from so at least they didn't do that Cav Lopez the TR line Dropout one of those new laws that came in in the last two or three seasons trying to encourage play the kick comes back from Allen it's inside the 22 so the Mark is called just a little bit too long again there from the perp kickers that didn't find touch either so Jake McIntyre can find crosdale crosdale has already shown that he's in the mood to run so far today and off he goes again however MAA comes in and lays him out flat great hit by the viran Cent duvo eludes One Challenge gets an extra three M as a result Tom eosa wants a little caterpillar to form off the back and then takes it quickly see how much quicker they are taking it [Applause] now that'll be [Applause] offside voso poti [Applause] limited uh exposure to Top Cats and indeed rugby in general for ratting last season only started four of the 10 appearances that he had playing for another side to play in sky blue and white [Applause] correcto Bosch just going into uh I think it's crossdale referee sign there was nothing in that other than the knock [Music] on I miss you so then there is the uh injury house then for B led by Manu tagi but also missing the ls of Bordeaux in the the pack and Shake toay again as well the fullback who's a great Runner Ru the scrum half of course the Italian allrounder Federico morio who is out with a hamstring injury didn't mention G marok either who's out with an ankle problem Reese Hodge as a Bruce knee and Swan Ken is nursing a shoulder [Music] problem f [Applause] oh big push here by Bion and they're going to get the penalty for that that was some real power great stuff there from the uh front rowers and don't forget that Andy Borday is off the pitch which means it's vanon gelli who's playing at loose head prop got to be hon I didn't actually see who ch on but it's a big [Applause] hit good push as well from Baran to Vita to tafu a tight head that will give them a lot of heart there is the big man from [Applause] donga couple of Tri last season for him in his 25 appearances and here comes byon again with another useful piece of forward play the mall almost up to the 5 met line and peror here are in a bit of trouble up against 14 player by on don't forget the Bon had the ball had come out said the referee so perel could have actually played that and instead he backed off again and cassim has it over the 5 meter line batty Zam doesn't regard himself as a young player anymore he is 23 he says now I've got to deliver and he delivers it out to Lopez Lopez goes inside lovely dummy sold it brilliantly to the entire peror defensive line and Lopez barrels over to get his first try of the new season [Applause] that was [Applause] fabulous look at that three men went to cover the potential pass and it opened a tunnel of opportunity and is Camy Lopez's first try for two seasons that's it [Music] last try came against melier in round 23 in April of 2023 the last of his seven tries that rather his only try that season however the excitement of scoring the try has put his aim off and he's missed the conversion however lovely done and the perp Defenders all looking around going how on Earth did we fall for that and short handed Bion managed to score and Perry fishwater is coming down he's not happy with [Applause] that stop the he's going to have a bit of a word with his forwards more freshwater [Applause] so it's a four-point game again 12 points to 16 and that has brought the home crowd to life [Applause] despite the Miss conversion attempt Here Comes lamb that's nice eosa charging two minutes before the break he manages to keep that in as well they need some support though per SOA provides It dvo Forward he's lost the ball though and it's picked up by btis hegy he's lost the ball now well both sides with butter fingers toas Allen charges into contact there and Bayern looking a little vulnerable again inside their own 22 osar looking around there's an advantage coming here as well for a penalty taken forward by Marvin ay the South African back to Petro cerelli the Italian number one tight head prop and the referee has blown [Applause] right so there's a penalty against Bion in the last Ruck so we're going to come back over here inside the final minute of the first [Music] half aha there we go there's one of those things that there cracking down on the crocodile roll the Croc roll no longer allowed to do that anymore you cannot twist your player now when you are trying to remove the jackler and is a new law or an alteration that has come in and a real opportunity here for Frank AA and he's pering on side to take in a good lead at half time salana L then feeds it safely that's the first job done now they try to set up the rolling mall or the driving Mall as they sit on the edge of the F meter line they're not going anywhere very fast at the so Osa will have to recycle into delafuente as the hooa goes for the end of the 40 minutes last play here it's less there's a penalty that's been dropped and that should be it for the half and what a half it's been you wouldn't know it from the booze ringing around the stand Jean doer but a terrific half with tries Galore but at halime though it is Bay on 12 perp 16 well but it's uh the first half of the actual season has gone the better for Peron we're ready to kick off for the second half with B being led by 12 points to 16 by [Music] perp second half Tomaso Allen puts ball onto his foot launches it into the arms of Camy Lopez and US cim will make the first punching run forward for the second half of this first match of the new season here in France bti jema he reasonably pleased with his first half performance I think but uh everything was relatively safe the mistakes came elsewhere in that first half and so he'll be looking there as Matthew asz who left the club in the summer the emblematic former captain of per who is now no longer a use that player for the first time in many a year well there's a chance there for a y so I just waiting there to see what he said he did come over when he started that Jackal it was good but he then lost his footing and carried on playing the ball and that's why it's a penalty to perp and an immediate scoring chance at the start of the first second half for the visitors so he comes in there first and then he's off his feet still plays the ball and that's why the referee has blown it's one of those where uh could have gone perhaps either way but the referee merciless with him he thinks probably that it should have been a penalty the other way I think because he had his hands on the ball when he was still on his feet doesn't matter what he thought referee thought the other way around and now Tomaso Allen has a chance here to create a seven-point [Applause] lead and it squeezes over [Music] well not the start that Bion would have been looking for you can see there he's overi was the player who came in the Italian TI here prop and knocked him off his [Music] feet when he's saying that he didn't have enough of the ball to be in possession of it so that's why [Applause] [Music] e [Applause] then finds touch but it's a short Escape for EA shining see the wincing shows that he's not too happy with that [Applause] testing the wind [Music] again five call to the line [Applause] out Fondo Bosch first delivery of the second half is safely into the hands of the substitute btis heggy French International but not since the last World Cup in 2019 and there's a good punch through here by the youngster Yan Arabi into the 22 on the punch again Andy Borday back on the pitch after his sin binning out by Jah into the path of archera ball is punched out of his arms though picked up though by Nadia meu the new arrival from stad fron was already here on loan last season and his back here for this campaign gradual movement forward here from the home side picked up by eat he though is wrapped up by Alan you can see the ball still though jerat recycles into the path of toita to tafu again it's low it's dropped four but the referee was playing advantage and it's a penalty to The Host [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] Allan there judged not to have moved out of the way quick enough [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] mer there wasn't entirely happy but uh he's been left in no uncertain terms and doubts that the referee knew what his decision was and that's the way he's going to have to [Applause] accepted off we go again then Allen goes deep this time away by [Applause] Lopez INF T [Music] there been in charge of Bion since 2018 and here come the first substitutions then borderl has come off and he's going to be replaced by the youngster castill gelli is going to come on for the hooker [Music] Bosch didn't see whether or not there was another one come on whether they did the entire front row or not Tomaso Allen though picks it up the full back for Perino and runs [Applause] into and they've been picked off great work selli MAA now trying to goo step his way through the defense and instead is penalized Gregory patat here it's a uh slightly laboring start to the season for them so far [Music] there was the knock on M with a little layoff surpris his teammate Here Comes Kieran Brooks the English tigh head prop in his first Top Cat all game since moving in from too [Music] long came across from the VAR with Bruce his former teammate there and now current teammate with [Applause] ponti dunu looking a little bit reticent he's looking good so far he was suspended for three weeks last November because of uh dangerous use of the elbow against too better side he scored a couple of tries as well nowhere near as many as his uh foran compat though toita veru who's well into double figures terms of Five Point scores per be looking to get off to a much better start to this season and show that the progress under Fran AA is something that is something they can take into the long term and not just that rescue last season when they were in relegation trouble again in the first half of the campaign but soon swiftly came out of it here's osar nicely done dun Galu all the way across to this near side where it's picked up by very Adu dongalo again he managed to be rolled into touch [Applause] [Applause] though trying to get that Swift passing again as they did in the first half going once more here in the second but badamu and dun Galu unable to combine effectively that time [Applause] B have a chance here to run the ball out of their own half with another of their new men in Giovani havner hard-hitting German in from stad fron however they've given the ball away L GES it off here comes Jake McIntyre McIntyre is taken down and the crow stay very quiet for that well McIntyre thinks he's kicked that ball and then he's been taken out of [Applause] play and the referee has agreed he's going to take a look at it well you can imagine how the crowd would have been in uproar it have been the other end but they were staying very quiet there well joot that can be interpreted as the player who's limping but um I'm assuming he's going to that means the player who kicks the ball here there he [Applause] goes well is he already in the act of tackling him when that ball is gone or is he late right so Nadia Meg dude is the man who made that tackle and the referee's already said he's heading for the bin [Applause] and they are still deciding I think whether or not this will be a penalty [Applause] try well bearing in mind it's Pierre Cas who's a loose head prop who's the covering [Applause] Defender well lamb can play it because it's it's come off the opposition [Applause] player to be honest with you I'm not sure that cion has the pace to be able to C up with the the fly so it's definitely a yellow card it is a penalty but I don't think it's going to be a penalty [Applause] try can shooter he said numerals to start with but it's yabi the fullback who's actually heading for the bin for the first yellow card of his young career but not enough for a penalty try so Jake McIntyre is going to go for the corner instead [Applause] so then oh referees not happy already I think they must have closed up the line too early we're missing somebody in front [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] okay referees finally happy with the uh makeup of the two lines and it's taken by Van brilliantly done there by the South African and they set up the driving Mall per driving towards the line they're all coming in now backs forwards everybody it's gone down in front of the [Applause] line saying it's held up p is saying that it was brought down and in the end the referee goes the way of Bion well it looked for all the world here that they try was going to be scored could not see in the middle there well it looks like they tried to go for the line and they just didn't get there so Jake mckinty picks it up on halfway once more and Peron trying to attack again suana folo the number eight from samal we haven't talked about very much so far in the game there's a penalty though holding on after the Tackle by perpin and a penalty to Bion so the attack phase for perp just falling apart a little bit there and they waste a couple of minutes of uh their man advantage that's a big kick as well to get by on up into the 22 andagi has come on Anon and warrian just to bring a little bit of extra power and weight he brings on his 149 kilo cage [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] so then Manu gets a chance to see his uh nephew in play but not from those quarters not sure they've ever played against each other it's a shame they won't get the chance to do it today Lopez out wide maalla straightens his out for by on and heads into the 22 back it comes [Applause] off dropped by Luke tagy the fian tigh head [Music] prop J Bay though with 14 men oh Tom eashan there looks like he's bleeding from his head oh my word he's been hit there quite hard and of course head injuries do tend to bleed a lot here's MAA coming back inside and he gets oh whack headbutt with his [Music] teammate that is [Music] nasty and here he comes the Olympic champion Jefferson Lee Joseph Olympic competition where most of the headlines went to Anan dup he did a fair job of attracting a few of his own and he comes on for his first Top Cats game for perin [Music] van tonder is uh coming off he's the man who clashed as Maxim Maro gets ready to come on as well veteran of the game he won the top Catal title with rassing back in 2016 and like jeffon Lee Joseph a former AAR man still playing their trade in the [Music] pro2 S has come off and he's been replaced by Luca [Music] bashel straight change in the back row straight into action as well with this uh scrum [Music] [Applause] Flex so with there sh off it's j McIntyre who's taken over as the strum half big push by B on again we saw this in the first half but perel managed to get it out at least taken up my toito vamu he drags a couple of men with him including Cami Lopez Tomaso Allen now comes in and plays scrum half the fullback for a second there Allan was taking over from Jake McIntyre who now again goes into that makeshift scrum half R it's big hit badama almost managed to get there he's now trying to Jackle it he's off his feet so he'll have to let it go now referee making sure that perp stay on the side big hit lovely hit by salala however they managed to get it out wide [Applause] again back comes I picked up by mcdude [Applause] can though their attack fall short and is hurt himself as well was this High that's salal Al who's had a great game until now but that was a little loose Max wait to make his way on as [Applause] eight the referee says for means I think it's fine other referees on another day might not have gone the same way well have another look well that wasn't it that was the great hit by uh the first one nothing wrong with thats out as well he was making the effort to [Applause] wrapit uncompromising the Samoan International who played four games at the last World Cup on French [Applause] soil including in their final game against England it's been at perp now since 2017 after coming in from NE starting off at cber in [Music] Australia Tom spring is about to come on 21y old [Applause] [Music] fullback and Ean AR has gone off for a head injury assessment barrier has come back on again and uh Bruce devau heads for the sideline in his first match for his new team Georgie barer also in his first match from his new team comes on to replace him so the former Ton Man replaced by the former Claremore AA man and batty JMA also comes off as well and Maxim Maro finally gets to take to the pitch and he's got to play for a lot longer than usual B's J the man who was for so long a replacement at uh to lose he left there saying that they he probably didn't mark very much on the history of to lose even though he was told that he had a brilliant kicking uh percentage Here Comes mdude though for Bion trying to get around and still going me dude here running through the tackles into the 22 he needs to recycle it now though maro's first touches inside the peror attacking Zone Red Zone being attacked here now by Bion back inside by aurelan kandre the right winger haven't seen an awful lot from him in this game so far mecd the left Winger in it comes again Rodrigo bruny the Argentine franer that's good tackling again and Brilliant that work there by Alberti dunavu and they have to start again with kandre by on Lopez thinks about it into taggy he dropped it last time and he's given a ball away this time to jono dein and a first touch here for the new man on jeffon Lee Joseph the seven specialist trying to get down and create a tackle which he does poo tagi just a little short one from him there and that's gone forward Baler trying to recycle again but maybe should have hung on David Marty watches on the head coach for perol fraza it's a great run though by be dude really ripped it up going forward but wa then there was just really aggressive defending little kick by Allen tagy managed to get it to well nearly managed to get to maala but again maybe should have gone to ground and recycled safely and then Patrick Abella who's back on the pitch again ending up knocking it on an exciting Runner is mcdude we saw it last season as well meanwhile on comes Rico bulua so another fian comes on to the pitch former fian International and he comes on for his katri dongalu first uh season with pero as well having come in from Bion seems like an awful lot has happened in this match and we're not yet at the hour mark Bion still with a couple of minutes left on there sinin Yan AR the fallback still sitting it out Marano to Lopez missed out MAA straight to mdude MD's off again Tom spring needs to keep it in that's been knocked on [Applause] though well he got a little bit stretched and the support play couldn't arrive in time it's the problem when you go on those great bursts she need the support play to come with it this was another burst by magude he had the support with Tom spring but then Tom spring suddenly found himself on his own and then couldn't stay on his feet after that [Applause] [Music] tackle change of hooker Victor monaya comes on for Peron [Applause] man who made his uh top CAU debut with a single appearance back in the 2021-22 season when he became a France under 20 [Applause] International just the one just the three appearances since [Music] [Applause] then Flex [Applause] [Music] peror lost against to L in a preseason friendly has obviously battle hard on them for what's coming here they're still leading Four Points that's a hit though by MDU MDU takes it and gets possession for by on great work by the left wing Mar though is H he took a little too long there deciding what to do back the other way it comes with Pierre castillon the 20-year-old loose head prop good movement me dude again this time goes into contact Marano to arur iura marau again Lopez Inside by Hil kufner an advantage being played now to Bion [Applause] HEI going well Tom spring good defense at the same time though and there's no Advantage so the referee gives on that up on that piece of play and comes back out and uh Johan orabi will be able to come back on again now after the expiration of his uh 10 minutes off for bad play well a bad boy play and it's just at the end of that Bion are finally going to get a chance to kick for goal and jorus seagon is about to come on as well the new man in from stord fron looks a little bit odd seeing him not wearing pink but we'll get used to it me dude there with the tackle and the steel as well so that was a good period for uh Bion [Applause] and he finishes with three [Applause] [Music] points and joron then comes on for his first appearance in the light blue of [Music] Bion he must be replacing caby Lopez at fly half Here Comes the uh the stalwart in that position for Bion and he's got competition this time around the man who played the most minutes last season but he probably won't this time around with the man the quality of sagon now fighting with him for that position SC spent five years with st fron now though looking for a new challenge that was the try that was scored by Cami Lopez no wonder he was so happy ending that long Baron run as toita veram who looks like he's coming off Tom spring will come off as [Music] well one of the top scorers in Doc C jorus and had a terrific season last season as well [Applause] referee just checking that there are 15 on for each side so the team's back to 15 a piece it's Bion 18 now peror 19 and we are set for a thriller in the last 20 minutes dropped by McIntyre straight away however he finds Tomaso Allen who goes High confirmation of that change at fly half by on flying by great take McIntyre long crossdale was the man who flew back to uh make sure that they could tidy that up [Applause] quickly so then how is this going to affect Bayon so G is terrific in open Play he's a great decision maker however he's coming from from a team who had one of the fewest uh tries scored despite the fact that they finished in the top two their success last season very much built under the uh defensive plan that was put in front of them by Paul gustard the former England defensive coach St FR away at unon Boro that match will be tonight at 9:00 just after will be live as well in English Tom osar looking for the ball Georgie [Applause] barrier placement loose head prop manages to get it back safely Echo Shar it's a decent kick and it's met by jeffson Lee Joseph as well using his speed to get there and perp on the attack and into the 22 meanwhile that didn't look too comfortable for voso poonati anybody's get to know where that ball would have gone if it hadn't got that double deflection paard does not look too comfortable he's going to have to come [Applause] off so back on comes uz cim and we'll be finding himself playing in the second row I think now in it comes from Victor mongaya and it's not straight from the youngster [Music] Set set set what have we talking about by that's Aria who is the captain now that Camy Lopez has gone off so the former Club Captain generally now the captain on the pitch well the demands very very tight there for what's straight and what isn't gelli that's okay though referee is happy with that one sagon off to habal CNA good tackling again though by perp and sagon kicks long big kick oh brilliant well classic sagon and if they keep doing that then those Smiles on those faces will be a lot more regular that's a wonderful ful kick all the way inside his own 22 and suddenly turns what is a chronically defensive situation into an attacking one even managed to bounce it as well not that he needed to from inside the [Music] [Applause] 22 radar well and truly turned on already by the new man mongaya this time straight Echo sharp McIntyre missed pass Here Comes Joseph Joseph still going strong work not just a speed Merchant manages to get an extra 5 meters after the contact McIntyre again good take by mongaya barrier barrier brought down by taggy McIntyre decides he's going to kick this time over the top oh he didn't get the bounce he wanted though see there the way was trying to rotate that ball he wanted it to kick forward and instead it went the other way safely in the hands of kazer then chance to run now me dude he's looking more and more dangerous the more this game goes on Marano seon flattened line there though and there was no way through so now they go to the power game ball has gone backwards says the [Applause] referee I didn't see [Applause] it's going to be a scrum I was listening to the referee there I got to be honestly I didn't really understand what he was talking about Tom spring is about to come on again though okay first you lost control and after tou I [Music] know so time off because uh yoan Arabi who's not long been back on again after his yellow card is going to be [Music] replaced by a man even younger than him spring who came on a couple of moments ago and is now on properly four tries last season fact six tries two in each competition he played in top catss then the Champions Cup whilst Bayern was still in it before they went down to the challenge cup where he scored a couple more tries no Champions Cup for B this time around it will be the challenge cup all the way cim little bit high for seagon who took it well MAA marsho recycles sagon once more Bion being pushed backwards though despite the clean take by bat's hegy he's got away though and has got it off to Rodrigo bruny the Argentine feeds It Off by look for the line that went forward though and all of the great play comes to nothing for Bion a real chance to go in front encouragement for the crowd but they are still one down and patat who had a great view of that from where he's standing down that line MAA here great [Applause] work heggy got away and then Rodrigo bruny stayed on his feet got the offload but they just lost control of him after that cam Lopez encouraging from the [Applause] [Music] sideline well those young fans being inspired by what they see in front of them they'll be even more inspired if Bayern can turn this around nine points down at one stage only one point down now with 13 well 12 and a half minutes to go fle we're being treated to a good one here to open up the new season plenty at stake not least the bragging right between catalunia and the B country however they' thrown that chance away have B on and it's a penalty to pep [Music] Pier Caso is the one who's been penalized the replacement loose head prop for Bion Jake McIntyre can create some distance between their team and the tri line an unusual position here for Lopez he's going to have to watch on and watch maybe his Hair Apparent J sigon in his first appearance 2023 was Top Cat as his top scorer with 240 points however they still lost in The Barrage against rassing that year this is Lucas valat B back inside and that's knocked on loose now from perol and a chance here for Hab kufner to bring Bion forward go little chip over the top however Jake McIntyre takes it he's been taken down though that looked like a high tackle and the referee signals to that effect crowd don't think it was though all they saw was a chance here to hunt down the ball and maybe score a [Applause] try it was definitely High evat the guilty party creating the seat belt over the shoulder of McIntyre however Lopez I think thinks that it was a obstruction against perol stopping segon get through but a big kick out of Defense from Perino relieves the pressure [Applause] [Applause] osar had to get rid of it quickly osar again McIntyre goes high this time chasing after it is Joseph Tom spring will take it though Tomaso Allen meets him and wraps him up oh away comes MAA that was very neatly done oh he's run man out though good defensive covering by Ali crell that was very nippy though from the fian he almost managed to escape everybody worth the [Applause] risk very similar to what antoan dupon did in the final of the rugby sevens against Fiji all of a sudden the smiles not quite as uh large on the traveling support a little bit of nerves now Georgie barrier going in off his feet in support there are Victor Mong you've still got to stay on your feet whether you're a defender or an attacker when you go into that rck situation see there stopping The Jacka come across and being able to fight for the ball cleanly and uh Bara knows the mistake he's made so hard when you're trying to drive forward in support of your teammate and then he goes down and then suddenly you've got to stop that for momentum and stay on your feet and he was unable to [Applause] jorus sigon then with a chance to put Bion in front for the first time in the match and he's well he's hooked [Applause] it well Lopez did miss one himself but that's not the way you want to get off to your new career with your new team by missing your first kick at goal [Applause] [Music] come so Perot still hanging on to their onepoint lead it's the narrowest it's been in the entire gameart from when it was nil nil at the beginning [Music] [Applause] [Applause] black told to play and he does he manages it to get it over the top there of the oncoming Lucas bashali tagi loses it well all that weight doesn't really serve much purpose if you don't take the ball with you me [Applause] dude Maro to kazim kazim decides to keep and rumbles over the halfway line that was briefly out to Joseph MAA just about keeps it this side of the sideline carried on [Applause] melandre seon that was [Applause] bruny and I think is that knock on was that an arm out there for an advantage ITA oh not bad for a flanker that's little side step to try and make his way around a RICO bully ruu cassim likewise steps inside Marano pressure [Applause] building ref's going to come back though for the knock on [Applause] before well as if sagon didn't feel enough pressure already the director is just making sure that you can see everything the two fly halves are doing the one that's on the pitch and the one that's watching from the sideline now the word with Anthony Diaz by Gregory patat and they're going to go well this is sort of Cami Lopez territory when you're out by the halfway line Ricardo bruny that was the deliberate knock on that was seen by the referee against Rico bully Ruru [Applause] they not been the easiest kicks actually at the start of his new uh career here with Bion and sagon will make himself as something of a hero if he manages to slot this one up from a meter inside the halfway line Camy Lopez has now decided he can't watch can he get there this time it's a long way out needs to put his boot through it he's hit it hard the crowd are roaring it might be over it is and four minutes from time debut boy jorus zon puts Bion in front for the first time in the match and Camy Lopez the man he replaced in the game is as happy as anybody inside the St je du [Music] well we're all set now for a thunderous [Applause] finish can peror come back then they've LED for 76 minutes pretty much once they went in front of course with the first score of the game seon's kicks well if he does win it that Miss with his first kick for Bion nobody will remember they only remember the one that won the game it's a two-point game a drop goal still enough for perp a penalty still enough it's on the sharpest of knife edges as we head into the last three minutes great start to the new Top Cat All Season here in France that's bulu Rua trying to punch a hole through the defenses McIntyre feated it out to Allen fullback though is taken down osar back inside to mongaya mongaya followed in by barer who stays on his feet this time poo tragi also manages to hold on to the ball better from pero McIntyre oh there's a big hit by Marano coming right through R bulua they've still got it though pero still driving osar into Kieran Brooks in the English tight head prop just recycled play to lagi bumping players off but not making any ground osar is there again McIntyre Allen little what ball route to the man who scored the first try of the game Ali Croswell crossdale doesn't make any progress though eaar they just recycling without really making much ground at the moment as jono delente the captain tries to drive forward mckintyre toaso Allen again cross Dale Van tonder outside him just comes into support McIntyre once more barrier coming up to the final minute poo trii with a Bion man MAA hanging off him Allen well match day one and look at the intensity already burier to lagy they're trying to get the ball to him now at every possibility to try and run over these tired Bion bodies eosa bully Rua Rua no way through OSHA these are slow inches going forward at the moment big hit great tackle from kandre Taken up though by vat B needs support osar is there hey thought he was impeded however the referee just carries on McIntyre another big hit sending D Fuente backwards picked up though by jeffon Lee Joseph and the Olympic champion can't find a gap either eosa trundles back he looks a little tired now Kieran Brooks The Who to goes we're on borrow time now for the men in gold and red McIntyre phase after phase Vana no noar slow to get there [Applause] McIntyre again they try and come forward for lat is brought down big hitting here in the counter rcking aasha manages to get there in time McIntyre recycles crosell onto Jefferson Lee Joseph and he's hit now another big hit this time by sagon doing his bit in defense and per are going backwards oh big hit on to Eli [Applause] they can't kick it if they kick it it's over you saw the Instinct there from the flurry half McIntyre wanted to kick it and then realized he couldn't and they're back inside their own 22 this is terrific defense from Bayon and you can hear the home crowd here in the St Jean do they sense a victory and in the end they're going to get it what a comeback for Bayern on day one of Top Cats a terrific match when they came from behind and they win it by the slimmest in margins 21 points to [Applause] 19 and jorus zagon the man who came in for Cami Lopez in that second half gets the match winning kick on his debut for Bon well if that's the portent for what's to come in this tap cutter season then bring it on brilliant game right up to pace and Bay on show their character hard hitting and bruising between the bass and the the catalon and it's won by the Bas and joris sigon missed his first kick at goal with his new club but it won't matter because he'll be remembered for the one he did put over but won the game nerve-wracking all around for Gregory patat his side we're trailing for 76 minutes and Frank AER they get the defensive bonus point but they'll feel that they should have had a lot better [Music] [Music]