Racing 92 and Stade Français meet on Sunday for the 22nd day of the Top 14 before meeting in the European Cup, in the round of 16 first leg (April 9) and return (April 17).

Same program for the UBB, which receives La Rochelle on Saturday in the league, then a week later on the continental scene before going to get its ticket for the quarterfinals at Marcel-Deflandre (April 16).

Three rank matches on which a season can be played: if Stade Français (11th, 45 pts) is almost out of the race for the final phase, Racing 92 (7th, 51 pts), like La Rochelle (4th, 54 pts) and Bordeaux-Bègles (2nd, 62 pts), who reached the European quarter-finals last season, are still in the nails.

The preparation will therefore necessarily be special for this astonishing triptych.

"Honestly, I've been wondering for a while: I have no idea how we're going to do it. It's so out of the ordinary, so weird... I don't know how we're going to approach it but I think that the chef has already planned all this", hopes the third Girondin line Mahamadou Diaby.

"The Chief", however, doesn't really seem more advanced.

"If you know, you will tell me about it because I don't know...", smiles Christophe Urios.

"Playing La Rochelle three times is not easy," admits the UBB manager.

"It's a very strong team, which we haven't been able to beat lately. We're already going to take care of the first, in the Top 14. Then afterwards, we'll take care of the second. Finally, we'll will occupy the third".

Stade Français opener Joris Segonds kicks a penalty against Union Bordeaux-Bègles in Paris, March 26, 2022 Bertrand GUAY AFP / Archives

In La Rochelle, Jonathan Danty evokes him "a really important triple confrontation for the rest of (the) season", three matches "with a huge stake".

"I'm in a club where there is no dead end. Every weekend, you play to win," said the international center to AFP.

"Never seen"

Same story for another fresh "Chelemard", Uini Atonio: "It's weird. It's unheard of, except when you go on tour in the southern hemisphere with your national team. In any case , I have never played the same team three times in a row".

"The best way to approach it is to win the first: afterwards, you have less pressure", explains to AFP the pillar of the Blues.

On the side of Ile-de-France also we wonder.

After two consecutive defeats, including a 19-0 which left a mark in front of La Rochelle, Racing 92 went to spend a few days on the Var coast, just to recharge its batteries before facing the Parisian neighbor.

The French stadium, almost out of the running in the league, plays its season on these three meetings.

"It happened to me against Montpellier with Toulouse (in 2019): you have to take the matches one by one. Already, because it's not the same competition. And then it's a derby so it still has a flavor more particular", affirms the Parisian pillar Clément Castets.

Lucas Da Silva's Stade Français (ball) and Racing 92 in the Ile-de-France derby played on September 4, 2021 in Paris GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT AFP / Archives

On the other side of the ring road, Racing 92 takes this trilogy seriously.

"We are going to study them, know their weaknesses ... but them too!", Confesses second line Victor Moreaux to AFP.

"In each match, we will have to find a new approach to block them, to find their weak points because they are not going to keep their system of play," he adds.

"The errors that we will have seen this week, they will rectify them the following week. We will have to rack our brains to find opportunities."

In two shakes of a lamb's tail.

© 2022 AFP