© AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS TUCAT

Two tries from Clermont Auvergne's No.8 Camille Gerondeau helped guide his side to a hard-fought 33-16 win at Agen on Saturday.

Agen are rooted to the foot of the Top 14 with just two wins all season but got themselves into a 9-0 lead at half-time through three penalties from Burton Francis. But Clermont started the second-half well and Camille Lopez's boot and the work of Gerondeau saw Clermont score 23 unanswered points in the first 24 minutes of the second 40.

Agen rallied through a try from Francis, which reduced the deficit to 23-16, but their fight back was halted by a red card handed to lock Api Ratuniyarawa in the 71st minute after he dropped his knee on Loic Jacquet. Clermont exploited that numerical advantage with Lopez adding a further two penalties and they forced a late penalty try with one minute left on the clock which gave them a 17-point triumph.

Dan Carter scored 13 points as Racing 92 beat Bordeaux-Begles 23-18 at Stade Yves-du-Manoir. Dimitri Szarzewski and Alexandre Dumoulin scored either side of half-time for Racing while Simon Hickey slotted four penalties and Lionel Beauxis added two more for the visitors.

Elsewhere Grenoble stuck five tries on Oyonnax as they prevailed 42-17 at Stade des Alpes. Maritino Nemani, Hendrik Roodt, Charl McLeod, Gio Aplon and Fabien Alexandre crossed for Grenoble while Silvere Tian and Maurie Fa'asavalu scored for the visitors. And La Rochelle edged past Castres 25-21 thanks to a try from Jone Qovu Nailiko and 20 points from Zack Holmes.

In Saturday's late kick-off, Brive edged Montpellier to claim a 19-18 win. Poutasi Luafutu crossed for the only try of the match, while Teddy Iribaren added another 14 points with the boot. Demetri Catrakilis kicked five penalties for the visitors, but it was not enough to force victory.