. Return to Earth

Their unexpected victory in Montpellier (27-26) last weekend had given the Brivistes the right to dream of an almost unthinkable maintenance a few weeks ago.

Their insipid defeat against Castres (16-13) abruptly brought them back down to earth in front of their home crowd.

With seven points behind one day from the end of the regular season, the Corréziens, who played in the elite since 2019, can no longer mathematically return to the 13th, Perpignan.

Usap had put pressure on them by winning a little earlier against the leader, Toulouse (26-21), in the warm atmosphere of its Aimé-Giral stadium.

The Catalan club "was hungrier than us", acknowledged Jean Bouilhou, the coach of the forwards of the Stade Toulousain, already qualified for the last square.

. The impasse of La Rochelle

Stade Rochelais, second, needed only one point to punch their ticket to the semi-finals of San Sebastian next month.

But a week before his Champions Cup final in Dublin against the Irish Leinster, he had clearly not made his trip to MHR, victorious (42-31), a priority.

La Rochelle scrum-half Jules Le Bail (center) on May 13, 2023 during the Maritimes' 42-31 loss in Montpellier on the penultimate day of the Top 14 regular season. The Stade Rochelais had rotated its squad a week before its European Cup final against Leinster © Pascal GUYOT / AFP / Archives

Of the fifteen starters lined up in the Hérault, only the international center Jonathan Danty, lacking playing time after an injury, should be again next weekend at the Aviva Stadium.

Montpellier, without Paul Willemse or Mohamed Haouas, punished by the staff because of tensions in the dressing room after the home defeat against Brive, took the opportunity to bring a little serenity.

For the Maritimes, it is probably only part postponed. Their place in the semis could even be assured on Sunday if Stade Français does not win with offensive bonus against Lyon at the end of this 25th day.

. Racing 92, UBB and Stade Français qualified

Racing 92 made a triple blow: by outclassing Toulon (43-7), the Hauts-de-Seine club qualified for the final phase, where it also sent Stade Français and UBB.

Racing 92's Argentine winger Juan Imhoff on May 13, 2013 during the victory against Toulon (43-7) on the penultimate day of the regular season of the Top 14 © Lou Benoist / AFP / Archives

These three teams can no longer be dislodged from the Top 6. The last ticket for the play-offs will therefore be played between three teams: Lyon (6th, 60 pts with one game less), Bayonne (7th, 58 pts) and Toulon (8th, 57 pts).

Earlier in the day, Bordeaux-Bègles signed an improved and without appeal victory against Pau (28-0).

The Section will be under pressure from Perpignan on the last day to avoid the penultimate place, synonymous with a maintenance play-off.

Finally, Bayonne has retained until the end its invincibility this season in its Jean-Dauger stadium, against Clermont (21-18).

A victory once again acquired on the wire, with pride, thanks to the foot of the former Clermontois Camille Lopez, great craftsman of a memorable season for the Basques.

The 25th matchday ends Sunday with a clash between ambitious: Stade Français hosts Lyon at the Jean-Bouin stadium.

© 2023 AFP