In Top 14, Aviron Bayonnais will try to regain its combat values in the harbor, in a catch-up match to start to get out of the red zone, while the Section Paloise is preparing a difficult series. In Pro D2, the BOPB wants to resume the forward march against a big team, while the Stade Montois will have to confirm a return to form. The match against Scotland having been postponed, the internationals will return to their clubs pending the Crunch (March 13).
–Toulon-Bayonne: to forget the humiliation inflicted on Clermont
Friday February 26 at 8:45 p.m. (Canal + Décalé)
With two games late, theBayonnais rowing has its destiny in hand, but no longer has the right to make mistakes. This trip to the harbor will be a good test, before receiving Lyon (6 mars), Agent (March 13) and Racing (March 27), then go to Pau (17 avril).
On the menu for the home stretch: the receptions of Castres (April 24) and Bordeaux (May 8), then two trips to Toulouse (May 15) and to Montpellier (May 29), before ending the regular season by receiving the French stadium (June 5).
The Basques will be deprived of many injured players, to which Gaëtan Germain has been added. The staff can count on the return of several executives left to rest last weekend: Guillaume Ducat, who will wear the captain’s armband, John Ulugia, Mariano Galarza, Manuel Ordas, Matt Luamanu or Yan Lestrade. The last two recruits Amosa and Pelo hold.
The starting XV : Duhau – Ravauvou, Costossèque, Lestrade, Baget – (o) Ordas, (m) Rouet – Héguy, Amosa, Luamanu – Mikautadze, Ducat (cap) – Nixon, Ulugia, Pelo.
The substitutes : Delonca, Perchaud, Galarza, Duputs, Zabalza, Dolhagaray, Robinson, Cormenier.
On the Toulon side, many executives are still absent: a good fortnight between the internationals and the injured. The staff present a team close to the one who won in Pau.
The starting XV : Cordin – Moyano, Heriteau, Nonu, F. Du Plessis (o) Takulua, (m) Meric; Rebbadj, Lakafia (cap.), Ory – Halagahu, Alainu’uese – Gigashvili, Etrillard, S. Taofifenua.
The substitutes : Tolofua, Devaux, Jolmes, Le Corvec, Ikpefan, Datchary, Robert, Tchelidze
Pau at rest, to get off on the right foot
For the Section Paloise, the next few days should help to digest the disillusionment of the defeat against Toulon at Hameau. He must, in fact, intensively prepare two complicated trips to Bordeaux (March 6) then to Castres (27 mars).
The following will follow: the reception of Bayonne for the derby (April 17) which could be decisive; then trips to French stadium (April 24) and at Agent (May 8); the reception of Racing (May 15), shipping to La Rochelle (May 29) and finally the reception of Montpellier to close the regular season (June 5).
Late matches
Friday February 26: Toulon-Bayonne (8:45 p.m., Canal + Décalé)
Saturday February 27: La Rochelle-Toulouse (9:05 p.m., Canal +)
Top 14 ranking
Three clubs have escaped in the race for a direct qualification for the semi-finals. Four more are well placed for the final stages, while 4 more are in ambush. 3 teams are in a fight to avoid the relegation play-off. Agen is almost doomed to Pro D2.
- Direct qualification for the semi-finals: La Rochelle (58, 1 match less), Racing (58)
- Qualification for the play-offs: Toulouse (57, 1 match less), Clermont (50, 1 match less), Bordeaux (49), Toulon (47, 1 match less)
- Ranking midpoint: Lyon (43), Stade Français (40), Brive (39), Castres (39), Montpellier (32), Pau (31)
- Relegation: Bayonne (26, 2 matches less), Agen (2, 2 matches less)
18th day of the Top 14
Friday March 5 : Montpellier-Clermont (8:45 p.m., Canal + Sport)
Saturday March 6 : Toulouse-Brive (2:45 p.m., Canal + Sport); Bayonne-Lyon, Bordeaux-Pau, Castres-La Rochelle, Stade Français-Agen (5 p.m., Rugby +); Racing-Toulon (9:05 p.m., Canal +)
Biarritz-Grenoble: take the forward step
Friday February 26 at 6:45 p.m.
After his defeat in Carcassonne, the Biarritz Olympique intends to regain victory against one of the big teams in the championship. It will chain it with a trip to Valence (March 5) and the reception ofOyonnax (12 mars).
The staff continues its rotation policy to mobilize a maximum of players. Deon Fourie will wear the captain’s armband, while Steffon Armitage will be on the bench.
The starting XV : Lucu – Barry, Saili Lebraud, Stark – (o) Bosch, (m) Couilloud – Jalagonia, Dyer, Hirigoyen – Furno, Aliouat – Millar, Ruffenach (cap.), Synaeghel
The substitutes : Da Ros, Watremez, David, Armitage, Hart, Du Plessis, Plessis-Couillaud, Akhobdaze.
Mont-de-Marsan-Carcassonne: confirming better form
Friday February 26 at 7 p.m.
The staff have decided to trust the team which went to win a bonus victory in Valencia. A victory of Stade Montois against the Audois would allow the Landais to move away a little more from the red zone, before going to the leader Vannes (March 5) then to receive Grenoble (12 mars).
Only one change was made at the substitute level, with Rey returning from injury, replacing young Bruinsma on the second row.
The starting XV : Laousse-Azpiazu – Naituvi, Wakaya, Torfs, Lestremeau – (o) Bell – (m) Loustalot – Lisena, Montagner, Brethous – Cedaro, Voss – Laval, David, Innocente.
The substitutes : Gonzalez, Bultel, Rey, Muarua, Saubusse, Goneva, De Nardi, M. Lalanne.
21st day of Pro D2
Thursday February 25 : Nevers-Colomiers (15-23)
Friday February 26 : Biarritz-Grenoble (6:45 p.m.); Mont-de-Marsan-Carcassonne, Angoulême-Vannes, Aurillac-Montauban, Béziers-Provence, Perpignan-Valence, Rouen-Oyonnax (7 p.m.).
Pro D2 ranking
The Pro D2 is split into 4 groups. First, Perpignan, Vannes and Biarritz who took the lead. Four well-placed teams follow for the finals. Then, 4 teams remain in contention to try to qualify. Finally, 5 teams are in a fight for maintenance, even if Mont-de-Marsan with 2 games late can hope to take a little air.
- Direct qualification for the semi-finals: Perpignan (71), Vannes (71)
- Qualification for dams: Biarritz (63), Oyonnax (57), Colomiers (53), Nevers (52),
- Ranking medium: Grenoble (47), Montauban (43), Provence (39), Carcassonne (38), Béziers (37), Aurillac (36), Mont-de-Marsan (33, 1 match less), Rouen (30)
- Relegation: Valence Romans (27, 1 game less), Angoulême (20)
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