Reigning French and European champions Toulon defeated arch-rivals Clermont 27-19 to move top of the Top 14 on Saturday.
Clermont had held a three-point advantage over Toulon going into the top-of-the-table clash at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.
But in an intense game, Toulon prevailed largely thanks to three tries -- from New Zealand winger David Smith (14, 73) and Maxime Mermoz (37) -- with the France centre also instrumental in two decisive passes.
The clash lived up to expectations as the champions had trouble pulling ahead of a tenacious Clermont, who scored two tries from Fritz Lee (31) and Aurelien Rougerie (60), and only caved in following the second late Smith try.
"We were able to level the score during the first 20 minutes of the second half," lamented Clermont manager Franck Azema, whose side are now a point behind Toulon after 12 games.
"But then we suffered too much, we took knocks and we were too naive about certain defensive actions with several missed tackles."
Clermont, with 36 points, could be joined in second spot on Sunday by Stade Francais, who have 31 points and host Brive in Paris.
Toulon took the lead after less than a quarter-of-an-hour with a spectacular 40-metre sprint from Mermoz, serving wing Smith two metres from the line and he crossed despite pressure from Clermont's Jean-Marcellin Buttin.
Clermont got their hand on the ball with Lee scoring a try on the half-hour mark following a move initiated by Australian centre Benson Stanley to make it 10-8.
In response, Mermoz built on good work by the forwards and a long pass from scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde as Toulon led 17-8 at half-time.
Toulon seemed to lose their way just after the break, allowing Clermont back with Stanley breaking through and Rougerie crossing for a try.
With just one point separating the rivals at 20-19, a Steffon Armitage break, well relayed by Smith, led to the New Zealand winger's second try on 73 minutes, assisted on the inside by Mermoz.
A Nicolas Sanchez penalty and Smith's try closed down the tie as Clermont were hit by the late sin-binning of Julien Bonnaire for a dangerous tackle two minutes later.
The win is a boost for Toulon ahead of their upcoming European Cup clash at Leicester, as Clermont look to bounce back against Irish side Munster.
Elsewhere, Racing-Metro provisionally moved up to third place with 33 points, ahead of Stade Francais, after a 14-9 win at 2013 champions Castres.
Grenoble are just one point behind Racing-Metro in fourth after a 25-22 win ended hosts' Toulouse's run of six straight victories in all competitions.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, failed to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at home to Toulouse, losing 28-23 at Oyonnax, despite leading for most of the match.
Bordeaux failed to score in the second half and were in the end frustrated by Argentine centre Benjamin Urdapilleta who accounted for 23 of the hosts points, after Ivory Coast winger Yves Donguy had opened the scoring with his 11th minute try.
The visitors however went away with a bonus point.
Montpellier remain locked in their current crisis which resulted in forwards coach Mario Ledesma resigning, losing 23-20 at Lyon.
Fabien Galthie's side were deprived of victory through Fijian Mosese Ratuvou five minutes from time, suffering a fifth straight loss in all competitions.
They remain in eighth position with Lyon moving off the bottom of the table, to sit 11th ahead of La Rochelle and Castres.
In a bottom table clash, La Rochelle and Bayonne played out a 19-19 draw.
Source: AFP