Only the Ile-de-France clubs will be missing. Following the heavy defeat of Toulon on the Sale Sharks pitch, Racing 92 is, like Stade Français, eliminated from the Champions Cup, and will not play in the round of 16. The Racingmen will nevertheless console themselves with a place in the Challenge Cup, while the Parisians, last in Pool C, will have to be content with the Top 14. Six other French clubs however continue the adventure, an excellent record which proves the domination of the championship national.
After a particularly unbalanced group phase, with a few defeats like those of Union Bordeaux-Bègles against the Sharks (66-12) and Stade Toulouse against Leicester Tigers (80-12) this Sunday, it is now time for the phase to direct elimination. Five French clubs will host in the round of 16, scheduled for April 4, 5 and 6, after the Six Nations Tournament. A hell of a performance which promises very interesting Franco-French clashes throughout the competition.
Several big posters are to be noted from the round of 16. We are thinking in particular of the duel between the Sale Sharks, Toulon scorers this Sunday, who will travel to the Toulouse pitch. The Toulonnais will challenge Saracens. The winners of these two posters will then face each other in the quarter-finals.
-At the top of the table, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, best team in this group stage, will host Ulster. If successful, it will be Stade Rochelais or Munster. This therefore makes four big names from the Top 14 in the same part of the table, with only one place in the final.
At the bottom of the table, Castres will host Benetton Trévise while ASM Clermont will go to Northampton. The winners will face each other. No French club appears in the last quarter of the table, where we find the Leinster-Harlequins and Glasgow-Leicester posters.
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