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Bayonne-French stadium, unexpected shock

Who would've believed that ?

When approaching the home stretch, Stade Français, 11th last season, and Bayonne, promoted from Pro D2, are in the fight for the final phase.

Now installed at the forefront, the Basques (6th, 41 pts) rely on their invicibility at home, which dates back to January 2022 in the league, to continue to play spoilsports.

Especially since the Parisians (2nd, 50 pts) have not won far from their bases since a trip to Pau … in October.

But a question of overusing this last bend.

"They are not second for nothing: they do things well and prove it. They have improved since we faced them. It will be a good challenge but we are ready. The guys are prepared, there will be sun... It's going to be a complicated match but we're going to work hard," South African Rowing Uzair Cassem told AFP.

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Toulon-Toulouse, all beautiful

Even without the French internationals, even if the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille should not be full, the poster relocated between Toulon (8th, 39 pts) and Toulouse (1st, 58 pts) remains attractive.

The Rouge et Noir de Haute-Garonne, reinforced by third row François Cros and full-back and scorer Melvyn Jaminet, have started the doubles period well, with two successes at home against Montpellier (23-9) and Bayonne (21- 16) who increased their lead on third place to 14 points.

A hole.

"This is perhaps the moment when we are most in danger", is nevertheless wary of the Toulouse defense coach Laurent Thuéry.

"It's never good when you're patted on the back, it's duplicates and you're told that everything is fine (...) There is confidence, the results are very positive. But we don't want to take 40 against Toulon," he insists.

“We are not going to have to rest on our laurels”.

The Rouge et Noir du Var, who also remain on two victories, can count on a "very enthusiastic" Cheslin Kolbe at the idea of ​​facing his former team for the first time since his surprise departure in the summer of 2021.

South African winger from Toulon, Cheslin Kolbe, during the Top 14 match against Aviron Bayonnais, in Bayonne, December 31, 2022 © GAIZKA IROZ / AFP/Archives

"I know a lot of players, I still have a lot of friends," the South African winger told AFP.

"They're a great team, well trained, with great players. It's an opportunity for us to measure up to the best club in the league at the moment."

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The CO on the verge of the K.-O.

The click or the slap.

Finalist last season, Castres (11th, 32 pts) is obliged to extend against La Rochelle (4th, 43 pts) his series of invincibility at home under penalty of being definitively condemned to fight for maintenance.

Having left for three days on training on the shores of the Mediterranean, the players were put under pressure by their president Pierre-Yves Revol: "We must not close our eyes. Time is running out. I have often spoken of the strength of resilience of the CO, that is to say its ability to overcome difficulties and to bounce back. But the click has not yet occurred".

“Success is collective but failure is often individual,” continued the leader.

"I know that I will be the first responsible if it happens and therefore it is up to me in the first place to seek to activate all the right springs in this difficult period in terms of management and players".

The accounting situation is better at Stade Rochelais, but the reigning European champion, defeated in his last two matches, is looking for more consistency.

Lyon's French coach Xavier Garbajosa before the start of the Top 14 match against La Rochelle, in La Rochelle, February 4, 2023 © XAVIER LEOTY / AFP/Archives

The 18th day of the Top 14 ends on Sunday with a reunion between Bordeaux-Bègles (7th, 40 pts) and Clermont (10th, 36 pts), the last two clubs of Auvergne coach Christophe Urios.

The day before, Racing 92 (5th, 42 pts) will try to find colors while closing the floodgates in front of Brive (13th, 26 pts).

SATURDAY:

(3:00 p.m.) Bayonne - French Stadium

(5:00 p.m.) Perpignan - Pau

Lyon - Montpellier

Racing 92 - Brive

Castres - La Rochelle

(9:05 p.m. at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille)

Toulon - Toulouse

Sunday:

(9:05 p.m.) Bordeaux-Bègles - Clermont

© 2023 AFP