The last day of the regular Top 14 phase will take place this Saturday evening (9:05 p.m.), with a final multiplex which promises to be hot. Before the last battle, analysis of the different issues in the ranking.
Scheduled for this Saturday evening (9:05 p.m.), the last day of the Top 14 promises to be full of emotions. Several teams still have something to play for, whether for direct qualification to the semi-finals or for a place in the play-offs. Overview.
• At the top, a huge shock between Stade Français and Toulon
At the top of the rankings, Stade Toulousain is already assured of playing in the semi-finals. The Stadistes are 8 points ahead of Toulon, 3rd, and 5 over Stade Français, 2nd, in addition to a largely favorable goal average. Barring an unlikely turn of events, the Rouge et Noir will finish the championship at the top of the standings. Ugo Mola should therefore take the opportunity to rest his executives this weekend, in anticipation of the final stages.
As for 2nd place, 3 points currently separate the Parisians from the Toulonnais. Irony of the calendar, the two teams will face each other this Saturday evening in a clash at the top in Jean-Bouin. As a reminder, only the first two in the ranking will be directly qualified for the semi-finals. The 3rd and 4th will receive the 5th and 6th during the play-offs, scheduled for next weekend.
• Six teams still in the race for the play-offs
For the moment, the UBB is 4th in the ranking with 64 units, or 4 less than the RCT. The Bordelais will host Oyonnax, already relegated, this Saturday evening, and will have their sights set on 3rd place, which they will win in the event of an improved success combined with a defeat for Toulon.
Then follow La Rochelle (62 points) and Racing (61 points). Before the last day, these two teams are in pole position in the race for qualification… but will challenge each other in a crucial match this weekend, at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium in La Rochelle. The winner of this clash will be assured of qualification while the loser will be under threat from Perpignan, Castres, or even Pau and Clermont.
With 58 points, Perpignan and Castres will have to win away, respectively to Pau and Bayonne, while hoping for a misstep from their direct competitors. The situation is even more complicated for the Palois and the Clermontois, who, with 56 points, will have to hope for a miracle to obtain qualification.
• Below, Oyonnax and Montpellier are already fixed
Finally, the fight for maintenance has already delivered its verdict. Once threatened, Aviron Bayonnais and Lou are out of the woods. Oyonnax is already assured of relegation and Montpellier will play a play-off against a Pro D2 club to avoid falling into the antechamber of the Top 14. The Héraultais will play against the loser of the Pro D2 final, which pits Vannes against Grenoble this Saturday afternoon.
The Top 14 play-offs will take place on the weekend of June 15, the semi-finals on the 23rd in Bordeaux, before the grand final, scheduled for Friday June 28 at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille.
The complete program for the 26th day:
– Bayonne-Castres
– Bordeaux-Bègles-Oyonnax
– Clermont-Montpellier
– La Rochelle-Racing 92
– Lyon-Toulouse
– Stade Français-Toulon
– Pau-Perpignan
