Paris (AFP)

Toulouse and Racing 92 are one victory away from winning their qualification for the European Cup after their victory with the offensive bonus Friday and Saturday on the 4th day, which also allows them to hope to receive in the quarterfinals.

+ Toulouse, the return of strength

The qualification is not in the pocket but it is just like: after its success obtained with realism in Montpellier (26-18), the Stade Toulousain (18 pts) has nine steps ahead of the group 5 on Gloucester and ten on the Connacht, while there are ten points to distribute during the last two days.

A success on January 11 on the Irish field or the following weekend against the English at home and the Red and Black, semi-finalists of the last edition, will validate their ticket mathematically, knowing that a bonus point should even be enough .

If they continue, after the holidays, on their current dynamic, they have nothing to worry about and can even consider a quarterfinal at home (unlike last season), which would be achieved with two wins.

After a sluggish start to the season without their internationals, the defending champions of France have in fact just won six straight. They have regained their strength from last season, a pack of iron forwards to resist Saturday the assaults from Hérault, and rear fires to plant banners in attack.

+ Racing, hot January

To finish in the first four all pools and thus receive in quarters, the Toulousains are in competition with the Leinster (19 pts, group 1), first qualified after having again dynamited Northampton (50-21), Exeter (14 pts in Pool 2, one game less), Ulster (17 pts) and Clermont (11 pts, one game less) in Pool 3 and Racing 92.

The Parisians (17 pts in pool 4), who had just welcomed Toulouse in quarters last season, are also a success in qualifying after easily dominating the Ospreys Friday (40-27): they are seven points ahead of the Saracens and six lengths Munster, which they will receive on January 12.

An adversary undoubtedly tougher than that of Toulousains. To host in the quarterfinals, the Ile-de-France residents will a priori have the more complicated task, since they should also have to take one or more points during the last day on the Saracens' lawn. Or the title holder who, after remaining alive by overcoming Munster on Saturday (15-6), will play his qualification.

In view of this double confrontation, Racing will have to climb the cursor, after having further blown the hot (in attack) and the cold (in defense) against the modest Welshmen. And make sure not to lose too much influx in the league, where, currently outside the quota of six qualified, he can afford to run less than Toulouse (4th).

+ La Rochelle, for the future

Unlike Lyon (beaten 25-22 in Pool 1 in Treviso) and Montpellier, who could still hope to snatch a ticket for second best in case of victory on this day, La Rochelle had nothing to play for in Glasgow on Saturday. If not for honor, after three defeats, and gain confidence for the next rounds in the championship.

Mission accomplished (12-7), what is more with a revamped and rejuvenated team. After four defeats in five games, this prestigious success should do great good for the Maritimes of the duo Jono Gibbes-Ronan O'Gara, sluggish since the start of the season and launched (like Racing) in a race to catch up with the Top 6 in championship.

© 2019 AFP