The public of Chaban-Delmas will have to wait until next season to vibrate in front of the swaying races of Penaud but his signature, when he was particularly in demand, testifies to the attractiveness of the UBB despite the last difficult months.

The eviction of his versatile manager Christophe Urios seems to have been digested.

Now seventh after having chained two successes for the first time this season, the Girondins have returned to the race for the final phase.

A dynamic that Matthieu Jalibert and his teammates will put to the test of the MHR, reigning French champion, a week after having surprised on his ground the European champion, La Rochelle (12-8).

How will Penaud be received, Sunday evening (9:00 p.m.) against Toulouse, the supporters of Clermont, who would have preferred to see their protege extend his lease in Auvergne?

"I am aware that my choice will not be accepted by everyone. I can understand that some are disappointed," replied the international winger in an interview with the newspaper L'Equipe.

"A page will turn, but I will keep a lot of affection and respect for the club and the supporters".

The Michelin stadium will await a reaction from its Jaunards against the Toulouse leader after their defeat at the end of the suspense in the Massif Central derby at the red lantern, Brive (20-16).

"There will be frustration after their last match," anticipates Rouge et Noir full-back Melvyn Jaminet.

"Now it's up to us to respond in the commitment. It will go through that as a priority".

Program for the 14th day of the Top 14 2022-2023 © Vincent LEFAI / AFP

"Playing in Clermont is never easy," he recalls.

"It's been 20 years since Toulouse won at the Michelin (in the league). We know what to expect".

- Racing K.-O.

standing?

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Five of the seven matches of this 14th day will be played on Saturday afternoon before going to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

Starting, at 3:00 p.m., with the confrontation between the spoilsport of the first part of the season, Bayonne (6th), still undefeated in front of his fervent public of Jean-Dauger, and an RC Toulon (8th) still in search of regularity.

Castres have yet to lose a home game this season either.

A series, started more than two years ago, that the Tarn club, only 12th, must continue against Racing 92 under penalty of accumulating too much delay on the top 6.

"A huge challenge awaits us. It will be important to close the year with a big match. We owe it to our fans to be present at Pierre-Fabre even if sometimes we are bad away," admits the Castres coach Pierre-Henry Broncan.

Reassured by the good resistance of his team in Toulouse - "we are in the process of crossing a small plateau" -, he hopes to deliver the coup de grace to a Racing undoubtedly still a little sounded by the slap received in his Arena on December 24 against Stade Français (48-10).

Clermont star winger and future Bordeaux-Bègles player Damian Penaud scores a try during a Top 14 match between the two clubs at the Marcel-Michelin stadium on October 22, 2022 © THIERRY ZOCCOLAN / AFP / Archives

The Parisian club, faced with numerous absences in the second line, will have the opportunity against Pau (11th) to confirm this coup in the derby and consolidate its second place, seven lengths from Stade Toulouse.

Capable of the best and the worst, La Rochelle will want to redeem themselves in Perpignan for their misstep last week at home against UBB, which pushed them back to fifth place.

But the Usap, penultimate, is always difficult to maneuver at Aimé-Giral, especially since its main competitor for maintenance, Brive, is now blowing in its neck, a small point behind.

© 2022 AFP