Facing South Africa's Kolisi day 'to remember'

Montpellier skipper Lenni Nouchi said facing South Africa's two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi in the Top 14 was a day "to remember", made extra special by a 44-20 win over Racing 92.

Nouchi was leading his team for the first time on Saturday and they ran in five tries from wingers Ben Lam and Gabriel Ngandebe, back-rower Nico Janse van Rensburg, scrum-half Cobus Reinach and prop Christopher Tolofua.

It was Montpellier's first away win in the Top 14 this season.

"We wanted to win but with style," said No 8 Nouchi. "With a bonus point in my first game as captain, I couldn't dream of better.

"I didn't really think that I was facing Siya Kolisi, I wanted to stay focused on my match. But I'm going to remember it. It was great."

🔵⚪️ L’adversité n’y peut rien. Quand le reste de la végétation est à l’agonie, quand tout le monde abdique, le 𝑪𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆, lui, sort de terre, croît, défie l’adversité et la domine.#TeamMHR #R92MHR pic.twitter.com/1FU6SMtTg1

— Montpellier Rugby (@MHR_officiel) February 17, 2024

Toulouse were the day's biggest winners with a 61-34 rout of Oyonnax despite missing a host of players away on Six Nations duty.

Toulouse called up Paul Graou to replace Antoine Dupont at scrum-half and the 26-year-old shone with four of the champions' nine tries.

Stade Francais stay top following a 32-19 win over Perpignan with Mathieu Hirigoyen and Rory Kockott scoring key tries in the last quarter of an hour.

Double European champions La Rochelle missed the chance to break into the top six when they slipped to a 28-17 loss at Lyon.