In the evening, it's time for the clash of titans between the Toulouse leader (71 points), also already qualified, and Stade Français (3rd, 60 pts), in a Jean-Bouin of the big days, and sold out please.

. La Rochelle ensures before Exeter

The Stade Rochelais (2nd, 70 pts), author of an improved victory over Clermont (26-13), marked by a cold realism Saturday in its stadium of Marcel-Deflandre, has well prepared its semi-final of Champions Cup against Exeter, next Sunday in Bordeaux, ensuring its qualification for the final phases of the championship.

The Maritimes, thanks to four tries and despite a reshuffled team, chained a sixth success in a row, but without shining, somewhat heckled by Christophe Urios' men before the depth of their bench restored logic.

Clermont scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium during the Top 14 match against La Rochelle © XAVIER LEOTY / AFP

Clermont (11th, 46 pts) conceded a second failure in a row, before receiving Stade Français on the next day: hard, hard.

. Castres confirms its awakening

Finalist last season, Castres (9th, 49 pts) confirmed to Pierre-Fabre his awakening, certainly late, by chaining a fourth victory in a row at the expense of Toulon (31-18), surely already the head at his semi-final of Challenge Cup next Sunday in Mayol.

Quickly deprived of his international hooker Gaëtan Barlot, out on stretcher in the 2nd minute, the OC benefited from the red card of the second line of RCT Matthias Halagahu, to grant himself his third try, synonymous with offensive bonus.

Castres' Argentine opener Benjamin Urdapilleta (centre) during the Top 14 match against Toulon at the Pierre-Fabre stadium on April 22, 2023 © Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP

. Brive and Usap give themselves air

Last in the championship, Brive (31 pts), by narrowly dominating Pau (22-17) in Corrèze, the first victory of Arnaud Mela's men after seven defeats in a row, gave itself a little air, allowing to dream a little more of the maintenance.

As for the Section, this defeat is all the more expensive as Emilien Gailleton's teammates are now only three points ahead of Perpignan, penultimate team, who for his part won with panache in Aimé-Giral over Racing 92 (30-21).

Brive Argentine opener Nicolas Sanchez (centre) during the Top 14 match against Pau on April 22, 2023 © DIARMID COURREGES / AFP

The Catalans can breathe, but not too much, because they will have the heavy task of moving to Lyon on the next day.

. Montpellier falls to Bayonne

Finally, in Jean-Dauger, the hero of the day is called Camille Lopez: the opener of Aviron Bayonnais, thanks to a magnificent drop of which he has the secret in the 76th minute, allowed his teammates to win once again at home (33-30), against the defending champion Montpellier, who never stops sinking (10th, 49 pts).

Bayonne opener Camille Lopez (centre) during the Top 14 match against Montpellier at the Jean-Dauger stadium on April 22, 2023 © GAIZKA IROZ / AFP

The Basque club (8th, 54 pts) is thus closer to the Top 6 and can see coming with a little more serenity its trip to Racing 92 on the 24th day.

Sunday evening in closing, Bordeaux-Bègles (7th, 54 pts) receives the LOU (5th, 56 pts), in a decisive match for the race to the final phases.

© 2023 AFP