Classic Encounters - All the drama from Toulouse vs Clermont

Earlier in the week we showed you Aurelien Rougerie's two great tries against Toulouse. After many requests for full highlights of this classic match though, I've decided to bring out this extended footage of the two French Top 14 giants in action.

Clermont put themselves in pole position to finish top of the French championship by beating second placed Toulouse 23-11 to record their fifth successive victory and send them five points clear of their rivals.

Toulouse had a nightmare day as star winger Vincent Clerc suffered what looked like a serious knee injury in the 67th minute when he slipped while trying to avoid a tackle from Aurelien Rougerie, who picked up the loose ball, kicked ahead and eased over the tryline for his second touchdown of the match.

There are also doubts over France flanker Thierry Dussautoir, who left the field early in the first-half after a collision with Clermont second row forward Jamie Cudmore.

Despite the defeat, powerful Toulouse look certain to make the top four and therefore a place in the play-offs where the leading four teams contest the title.

NOTE: 9:33 mins

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Top Ten Tries of the French Top 14 this year so far

French running rugby at it's best is unlike anything else you'll see on the rugby field. Sublime, mesmerising, and unpredictable, when the French teams decide to run with the ball you'd better watch out, because anything can happen.

The French Top 14 league is the premier rugby competition in France, and features the top 14 professional rugby clubs from around the country. These days, the league is attracting a lot of overseas players. This has created a lot of interest and focus on French rugby, particularly this season, with the standards of play being right up there with the best.

This year we've seen some great tries so far, and with that, we've brought you this great clip of the best tries from the current 2008 season.

Tries in order:
10 Farid Sid | 9 Fabien Fortassin | 8 Jean-Francois Coux | 7 Francois Trinh-Duc | 6 Bruno Hiriart | 5 Clement Poitrenaud | 4 Juan-Martin Hernandez | 3 Marius Joubert | 2 Joe Tekori | 1 Cedric Heymans

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Cedric Heymans magnificent solo try for Toulouse

On a cold friday night in Montferrand, Clermont-Auvergne managed to defeat an unbeaten Toulouse side 21 points to 17. A game of the highest intensity, quality and physicality, saw a mercurial piece of running for what is in my view, a true contender for Try of the Season so far.

The match took place in the French Top 14. Self explanatory, but to explain, this is the top league in France. The Pro D2 is the Second Division, and features the likes of Toulon, Agen etc...

Cedric Heymans, of Toulouse, received the ball inside his own half from a long pass by All Black Byron Kelleher. It looked as though nothing much was on, but French winger Heymans set off on a slalom run that blew the opposition to pieces.

A brilliant effort against a top quality team, this 55 meter classic will no doubt be one of the best tries we'll see this season.

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