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Montpellier, now or never

It's a bit of a last chance match for the MHR: a victory and the Hérault club, only 10th, ten points from 6th place, would keep a slight hope of qualifying for the final phase;

one defeat and he could already say goodbye to his Shield of Brennus.

"The team that wins will look up. The one that loses will look down," summarized before receiving Clermont, not much better off (9th), Montpellier manager Philippe Saint-André.

"The post-title is always complicated. Apart from Toulouse or the great Toulon, all the clubs that have been champions have had difficulties," added the former coach of the Blues, forced to deal with numerous injuries.

Good news for the outgoing champion: the English third line Zach Mercer, best player in the Top 14 last season, is back.

Enough to end a black series of four losses in a row?

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Dunces at home

Chance of the calendar, the four clubs in the fight for maintenance will all play at home on Saturday at the same time (5:15 p.m.).

Program for the 20th day of the Top 14 © Vincent LEFAI / AFP

Castres (11th), for the first at the Pierre-Fabre stadium of its new manager Jeremy Davidson, will try to break the dynamics of the team in form at the moment, Lyon (3rd), winner of its last five matches.

Pau (12th) will also tackle a mountain, Stade Rochelais (4th), European champions, who probably still have their defeat in the first leg at the Deflandre stadium (38-21) in their throats.

Perpignan (13th), after having made a "stalemate" last weekend against Bordeaux-Bègles (43-7), will play the blow this time at Aimé-Giral against the surprise team of the season, the promoted Bayonne (5th).

Brive (14th), red lantern, has not won for almost two months before hosting UBB (6th).

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A dolphin in danger

The second place of the French stadium is in danger with a trip to Toulon (8th), always difficult to maneuver in front of its public.

"The recipe for winning at Mayol, I would like to know it", did not hide the Parisian rear coach Julien Arias.

"What we are sure of is what we will find opposite: a very high level Toulon team, with very good players in each position, incredible individuals".

The Italian third line Sergio Parisse, suspended for three weeks, will not be one of them, but the RCT will be able to count on another glorious former member of the pink house, the Fijian center three-quarter Waisea Nayacalevu.

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The Arena in show mode

The indoor Racing 92 Arena, which can be converted into a concert hall, should go into show mode for the reception of the leader, Toulouse.

Even if the Hauts-de-Seine club, 7th, is on alternating current this season and many internationals will be missing on the Toulouse side, "it can be a match with a lot of points" between two very playful formations, has anticipated the second line of the Red and Black Joshua Brennan.

Racing "is a team that averages 33 points per game at home, but also takes 27. It's the Arena that wants that, a field with + accidents + which favors turnovers, counter-attacks, duels", analyzed the coach of the Haut-Garonne rear Clément Poitrenaud.

Stade Toulouse, decimated in this position, will once again field an experimental third line with the usual three-quarter center Pierre Fouyssac.

© 2023 AFP