The eight-time world champion came through challenging damp and muddy conditions to preserve his lead, although Ogier's overnight advantage over championship leader Rovanpera was cut by 0.7s to 22.1s.
Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi climbed into the podium positions, 1m18.4s adrift as Toyota’s Elfyn Evans dropped to fourth after losing time navigating a water splash.
Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta headed to midday service in fifth (+2m13.6s) ahead of Hyundai’s Dani Sordo (+2m39.6s), and the M-Sport duo of Ott Tanak (+4m21.1s) and Pierre-Louis Loubet (11m01.4s).
Overnight rain created muddy and slippery conditions, increasing the difficulty for the crews that earmarked Saturday’s stages as the toughest of the rally.
This didn’t halt the rally leader Ogier in the day’s opening Soysambu (29.32km) stage, although it proved to be an eventful test for the Frenchman.
A puncture four kilometres from the end threatened to derail his effort, but Ogier still clocked a time 7.6s faster than nearest rival Rovanpera, who tried to be sympathetic to his GR Yaris.
There was further drama for Toyota as third-placed Evans stalled his GR Yaris following a rough entry to a water splash, an incident reminiscent to that the Toyota driver suffered in Sardinia.
The Welshman managed to reach the stage end, but dropped 45s as a result and slipped to fourth overall.
"I was very slow and tried to lift the front... I don't know," said Evans.
Source: Autosport