Last weekend, UBB (1st, 56 points), beaten by Racing 92 in its lair of Chaban-Delmas (16-13), saw its invincibility at home come to an end.
A second consecutive defeat after his fall at Mayol the previous week.
Something to seriously worry Christophe Urios, who admitted last Sunday that the club was "in difficulty", saying he was "impatient to see how (the group) will behave" in adversity and putting staff and players face to face with their "responsibilities ".
Bègles-Bordeaux coach Christophe Urios, before the match of the 12th day of the Top 14 against Toulouse, December 4, 2021 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas ROMAIN PERROCHEAU AFP / Archives
In Toulouse, it's a bit the same song, but worse: diminished by the absence of its internationals (ten), the postponement of matches due to the Covid-19, the defending champion suffered his sixth setback in Pau rank, the worst series in its history in the Top 14.
Unimaginable: the Rouge et Noir have not won in the league since November 27!
"Finding the Path to Victory"
A green setting for the purposes of cohesion and re-motivation was therefore essential and, in the words of the Toulouse rear coach Clément Poitrenaud, this "internship in Soustons (Landes) was good for everyone".
Toulouse backline coach Clément Poitrenaud and coach Ugo Mola before the Top 14 match against Montpellier on February 23, 2019 at Stade Ernest-Wallon REMY GABALDA AFP / Archives
"We have to put everything back in order to find the way to victory," he added at a press conference, saying he expected a "big commitment" to Ernest-Wallon on Sunday.
In addition to this shock, scheduled for the end, this 19th day, placed on the same weekend as the third round of the Six Nations Tournament, offers other posters which will also be crucial in the race for the final stages.
Thus, two teams in full confidence will face each other on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.: Montpellier, the dolphin of the UBB, will receive the French Stadium (7th, 41 points), which passed no less than ten tries at the Biarritz red lantern over the weekend. end last.
The Australian pillar of the Stade Français Paul Alo-Emile loses the ball, tackled by two Montpellier players, during the match of the 24th day of the Top 14, on May 15, 2021 at the Stade Jean-Bouin Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives
Pau (9th, 37 points), surprise faller from Stade Toulouse on the previous day, receives a team from La Rochelle at the Hameau, whose ranking (8th, 41 points) does not reflect its good run last year.
The joy of the Palois, after a 2nd try scored at home against Toulouse, during the 18th day of the Top 14, February 19, 2022 at the Stade du Hameau GAIZKA IROZ AFP / Archives
Finally, Toulon (12th), which has just won two consecutive victories after falling very low, will try, in Brive on Saturday evening, to steal eleventh place from the Corréziens, or even join Clermont (10th), which for its part will open this 19th day by receiving Usap (13th) at Marcel-Michelin.
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The program of the 19th day
Saturday:
(5:15 p.m.) Clermont - Perpignan
Lyon - Biarritz
Racing 92 - Castres
Pau - La Rochelle
(21h05) Brive - Toulon
Sunday:
(5:30 p.m.) Montpellier - French Stadium
(21h05) Toulouse - Bordeaux-Bègles
Ranking: Pts JGNP pp pc dif Good
1. Bordeaux-Bègles 56 17 12 1 4 415 303 112 6
2. Montpellier 51 16 10 2 4 413 290 123 7
3. Lyons 49 18 10 0 8 448 340 108 9
4. Castres 49 18 11 1 6 370 393 -23 3
5.Racing 92 47 18 11 0 7 434 404 30 3
6. Toulouse 44 17 9 0 8 391 300 91 8
7. French Stadium 41 18 9 0 9 403 409 -6 5
8. La Rochelle 41 17 8 0 9 422 301 121 9
9. Pau 37 18 8 1 9 385 459 -74 3
10. Clermont 35 17 7 0 10 405 400 5 7
11. Brive 33 18 6 1 11 315 426-111 7
12. Toulon 31 16 6 2 8 284 337 -53 3
13. Perpignan 29 18 6 0 12 333 464-131 5
14. Biarritz 24 18 5 0 13 341 533-192 4
Editor's note: Victory = 4 pts, draw = 2 pts, defeat = 0 pt
Bonus: 1 pt for a win with 3 tries more than the opponent, 1 pt for a loss of 5 pts or less.
In the event of a tie in the final standings, the "field points" (victory, draw, bonus) recorded during direct confrontations prevail then, if the tie persists, the general difference in "scoring points" (cumulative scores).
The first 2 qualified for the semi-finals which take place, like the final, on neutral ground.
The clubs ranked 3 to 6 play a play-off for the semi-finals on the ground of the highest ranked.
The last is relegated to Pro D2.
The 13th plays a barrage against the loser of the Pro D2 final on the latter's field.
© 2022 AFP