“Brive’s Last Hope: Can They Maintain Their Top 14 Status? Montpellier Match Preview”

Last three days from the end, the Brivistes still believe in maintaining. A hope that goes through a result in Montpellier this Saturday, May 6.

The equation is ultimately quite simple. There are a maximum of 15 points left to distribute, the CAB is 8 behind Perpignan and 13th place. Mathematically, everything is still possible, although they will have to win two matches more than the Catalans. Elements of language or the Coué method, the Corréziens ensure that they have not let go mentally. Even those not at all accustomed to playing the maintenance, like the Toulousain Arthur Bonneval.

Admittedly, last season, the Brivistes fled on the last day, at a then rather complacent Stade Français, but this year, they are starting from much further. And the MHR, reigning French champion, is not yet demobilized. 10th, the Héraultais are far from their objectives, but still have a slim chance of grabbing the top 6, it is therefore hard to see them abandoning the meeting. Already beaten four times at homePhilippe Saint-André’s men are undoubtedly more “taken” than last year, but not from there to make the Corréziens the favorites of the match, far from it.

ProD2 or not, several positive signals have occurred in recent weeks at the CAB, such as the arrival of the super-powerful Welsh international Ross Moriarty, player of a caliber more seen in Brive for a long time, and already perfectly integrated into his new formation, and author of devastating percussions in training. Or even contract extensions in shambles, like the South Africans Marcel Van der Merwe (right pillar, 2025) and Retief Marais (3rd line, 2026), described by his manager Patrice Collazo as essential, and one of the best players in the Top 14 in his position.

After defeating Pau, and putting an end to his terrible series of seven consecutive defeats, and three days from the end, no more scholarly calculations to be made, the best possible XV will play this Saturday, is the same as against the Pau Section. With the energy of despair, and with an attentive ear to the results of Perpignan (13th), which moves to Lyon, and Pau (12th), which receives Castres. The lot of teams who no longer have their destiny in hand, but continue to believe in miracles…

The titular Brive XV:

15 Laranjeira, 14 Bonneval, 13 Tuicuvu, 12 Olding, 11 Müller; 10 Sanchez (cap), 9 Ferté; 8 Bruni, 7 Moriarty, 6 E. Abadie; 5 Paulos, 4 Marais; 3 Van der Merwe, 2 Matu’u, 1 Tapuelelu

The bench: 16 Da Silva, 17 Brennan, 18 Delannoy, 19 Kunavula, 20 Hirèche, 21 P. Abadie, 22 Lee, 23 Ceccarelli

24th day of the Top 14, Montpellier – Brive, to follow on Saturday May 6 from 5 p.m.