Only three tickets will be distributed at the end of this final act of the regular season, for six contenders: La Rochelle (4th, 67 points), Racing 92 (5th, 66 pts), Toulouse (6th, 66 pts), Toulon (7th, 64 pts), Lyon (8th, 63 pts) and Clermont (9th, 62 pts).
Lyon-La Rochelle, meeting the stars
In the spotlight: the winner of the European Challenge takes on the reigning European champion in a gala duel with multiple stakes.
The double championship / European Cup: achieving the same feat as Toulouse last year is now the stated objective of the Maritimes, who chained three days of celebration after their victory on Saturday in Marseille.
“This match is going to be very important, we will have to turn the page quickly (…) We have to manage to refocus, regain strength to finish in the Top 6”, hopes Donnacha Ryan, the co-trainer of the La Rochelle forwards .
For their part, the Lyonnais, who need an improved victory to hope to grab the Top 6, have postponed the celebrations of the first European title in the history of the club.
Racing 92-Toulon, at loggerheads
Make or break: at the Nanterre Arena, where more than 20,000 spectators are expected, the stakes will be clear for both clubs.
The Varois, unfortunate finalists of the European Challenge, will arrive “with a lot of desire”, predicts Gaël Fickou, the center of Ciel et Blanc, who still hope to save their season: “We are in the top five so they are the ones who come challenge us”.
Deprived of its winger Gabin Villière, the RCT for its part wants to conclude its fantastic end to the season as well as possible (six wins in a row in the Top 14) to finally reach the final stages, which it has not succeeded since 2018.
Toulouse, a title to defend
If Stade Toulouse saw La Rochelle succeed them as European champions last weekend thanks to their victory against Leinster, there is no question of experiencing the same disappointment with their title of champion of France. And it is the Biarrots, already relegated, who should pay the price on the first Sunday.
“We still have one thing to defend, and that’s the Shield. We are going to throw ourselves 200% into the battle with the forces that remain to go and defend this trophy hard won last year, ”said Jean Bouilhou, the coach of the Toulouse forwards.
Clermont, for Parra and Lopez
For the Auvergnats, who receive Montpellier, a place in the top 6 seems out of reach. But to say goodbye to their legendary hinge Morgan Parra / Camille Lopez, who should be aligned for the 93rd time on Sunday, a place in the 8, qualifying for the Champions Cup, is a more realistic objective.
“There remains one last mission: to leave the club in the European Cup. Because it is the place where the ASM deserves to be, ”says Lopez, who will join Bayonne this summer while his friend will go to the French stadium.
Perpignan and Brive, duel at a distance
Maintenance operation initiated for Usap (13th, 39 pts) at Aimé-Giral, sold out for the reception of Bordeaux-Bègles: deprived of their international back Melvyn Jaminet, the Catalans must absolutely win to hope to pass in front of Brive (12th, 42 pts), traveling to Jean-Bouin, and avoiding the play-off against the loser of the Pro D2 final.
The French Stadium, whose season is over, will not overuse the meeting: out of the question to “distort the championship”, promised the coach of the Parisian forwards, Laurent Sempéré.
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