Frans Steyn scored two tries to guide Montpellier to a thrilling 28-24 win over Clermont, while there were also Top 14 victories for Toulouse, Castres, La Rochelle, Racing 92, Agen and Brive.

It was a round full of upsets in the French top division, as Stade Français, Toulon, Lyon and Bordeaux slumped to defeats against teams positioned below them on the log.

Montpellier hosted Clermont and overturned a three-point half-time deficit to win the match, despite conceding three yellow cards.

Converted tries from Steyn and Nemani Nadolo accounted for Montpellier’s 14 points, but Clermont took a 17-14 lead into the break with two converted tries of their own and a penalty.

But while Clermont added another try to their tally after the break, Steyn and Nadolo both dotted down again to complete their doubles, which set Montpellier on course for the victory.

In other results, Cheslin Kolbe scored one of five tries as Toulouse pipped Bordeaux 38-37, Castres recorded the biggest points margin when they beat Oyonnax 32-19, La Rochelle edged Lyon 19-15, Pat Lambie came off the bench to slot the match-defining conversion in the 78th minute as Racing defeated Pau 23-20, Agen registered a shock 26-24 victory over Toulon, and Brive snuck past Stade Français 20-19 despite Morné Steyn’s 11-point contribution for Stade.

Round nine results:

Montpellier 28 Clermont 24
Toulouse 38 Bordeaux 37
Oyonnax 32 Castres 19
Lyon 15 La Rochelle 19
Racing 23 Pau 20
Agen 26 Toulon 24
Brive  20 Stade Français 19

Photo: Pascal Guyot/Getty Images