Paris (AFP)

Another effort: Toulon and Bordeaux-Bègles, the best French representatives in the European Challenge, must beat their main group rivals, the Scarlets and Edinburgh, on Saturday to ensure their presence in the quarterfinals from the 5th day.

Given their Olympic form, a misstep by the RCT and the UBB so close to the goal would be a disappointment. The fact is that the teams of Patrice Collazo and Christophe Urios have been delighting supporters and amateurs for the past few months and never stop winning: their last defeat dates back to October ...

At the head of their pool, Varois (18 points) and Girondins (17) no longer need much to participate in the final table. But they see further: beating Welsh and Scottish would get rid of a rival and stay in the race to finish among the two best in all pools, which guarantees to receive at home until the final of Marseille.

We must do better than Bristol (19 points), who will have the game a little easier against Brive, and Leicester (18), who will receive Cardiff on Sunday at the end. The two French clubs are in any case one step ahead of the Dragons (15 points), leaders of Pool 1, to finish in the top 4 and receive at least in quarters.

Three other French clubs can still rally the quarters but victory is imperative for them on Saturday: Castres (13 points), 2nd in Pool 1, must just beat the Dragons to take the lead and Pau, 3rd in Pool 5, can take advantage bet on a best second place in the event of improved success at Calvisano. Brive's feat in Bristol, however, seems unlikely.

Like the Corréziens, Stade Français, Agen and Bayonne are more concerned with staying in the Top 14 and will enjoy a match without stakes to turn their squad.

Program

Saturday:

Hen 1

(3:00 p.m.) Castres (FRA) - Dragons (WAL)

(4:00 p.m.) Worcester (ENG) - Krasnoyarsk Enisey-STM (RUS)

Hen 2

(5:00 p.m.) Bayonne (FRA) - London Irish (ENG)

(9:00 p.m.) Scarlets (WAL) - Toulon (FRA)

Hen 3

(1:45 p.m.) Bordeaux-Bègles (FRA) - Edinburgh (SCO)

(3:00 p.m.) Agen (FRA) - Wasps (ENG)

Hen 4

(3:00 p.m.) Stade Français (FRA) - Zebre (ITA)

(4:00 p.m.) Bristol (ENG) - Brive (FRA)

Hen 5

(2:30 p.m.) Calvisano (ITA) - Pau (FRA)

Sunday:

Hen 5

(4:15 p.m.) Leicester (ENG) - Cardiff (WAL)

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