Paris (AFP)
At the top, Lyon and Bordeaux. At the bottom, Stade Français. And between the two, all the others: eleven teams are separated by five small points before the 10th day of Top 14, which can redistribute the cards and opens with Racing 92-Bordeaux on Saturday.
The 2019/2020 vintage of the Top 14 has body. A density that is measured at the gap between the third Pau (21 points) and 13th and barrage Agen (16 points), five points, is the lowest between these two positions at this stage of the season for ten years.
The opening match of this day (Saturday, 15.30) is a good example of the paradox of this championship: if successful, the Racing (10th, 18 pts), just out of the red zone thanks to his improved victory in the Parisian derby, can temporarily climb to the 3rd place and stand behind his opponent of the day the UBB (2nd, 30 pts).
"We can be in the top four as we can be in the last four," warns the coach of Racing Laurent Travers. "It's up to us to do what it takes to get into a comfortable situation that leaves more room for confidence and serenity."
Doing what is necessary is to take care of the UBB, one of the two good students of the first third of the season with the LOU and decided, under the command of Christophe Urios, to finally climb up to a final phase that has refused the Girondins since their accession in 2011.
- Toulouse and Clermont in the retro -
But in case of defeat, Bordeaux would find himself in turn in the traffic and could see return finalist Clermont, which receives Agen Saturday at 18:00, and the defending champion Toulouse, which hosts Bayonne Sunday at 16h50.
Against the Agenais barragistes, the ASM (6th, 20 pts) is more than favorite, especially as two "Jaunards Bleus" are back: the center Wesley Fofana and winger Damian Penaud, despite two teeth less.
Except Antoine Dupont always injured back, Toulouse has on his side already recovered his French mondialistes and it shows: the Stade can chain against Bayonne a second win in a row in the Top 14 after the demonstration against the ASM (34-8 ) and a fourth in a row, including the two European Cup successes (Gloucester, Connacht).
A success and Stade Toulousain (8th, 19 pts) would pass Aviron Bayonnais (4th, 21 pts) and restore the hierarchy with the promoted squatting until then the first places.
- The Lyon ogre threatened? -
At the top, it's a pedestal that the LOU scrutinizes for the moment the chaos of the championship, with 35 points and a single defeat (in Clermont).
But at the time of a dangerous trip to Montpellier, will the confidence be at the rendezvous, after two losses in the European Cup in Northampton (25-14) and Leinster against (13-6)?
This poor start in the European Cup shows Lyon, which has lost eight out of eight matches since its debut in the event last season, all the way to go to reach the top continental level.
It remains to be seen which face will offer the LOU, the pale version Europe, or the colorful top 14, the best attack and best defense of the Hexagon, Saturday at 20:45 in Montpellier at the doors of the podium (7th, 19 pts) .
- Match of fear in Brive-
Far from the problems of rich Lyon, at the other end of the rankings, Stade Français no longer has the right to make mistakes.
Last (9 pts) with two wins for seven defeats and a difference in points abyss (-149), the men in pink go to Corrèze (Sunday, 12:30) for a match of fear against a direct opponent for the maintenance, Brive ( 12th, 18 pts).
Surprising third, Pau will try to preserve this place against Toulon, Saturday at 18h. Same day, same time, in another game of the peloton, La Rochelle (9th, 18 pts) receives Castres (11th, 18 pts) for, like everyone, hoping to take the good escape.
© 2019 AFP