How long was this Top 14 season. As viewers, we got to see an almost usual storyline. But the pandemic has forced the NRL to remain on its guard and revise its schedule at all times. We don’t think much about it and although we talk about sponsors, stadiums, supporters and others, the players are the ones who have suffered the most from the crisis. Having to be careful all week to be able to do your job on weekends, avoid infecting your teammates and their families, allow an entire club to play. So many sacrifices that were quickly forgotten in the general mind.
This Saturday, June 5, the end of the championship will finally take place. A week before knowing the lucky ones who will go to the finals and the unfortunate ones who will have to save their skin in Top 14. We already know the relegated in Pro D2 with SU Agen who has no victory in 25 games. The fate has been sealed for a long time for the Agenais, but the 26th day is synonymous with the end of the ordeal and above all, with a last stand so as not to end without any victory.
The classification at the 25th day:
- Toulouse, 77 pts
- La Rochelle, 77 pts
- Racing 92, 73 pts
- UBB, 72 pts
- Clermont, 67 pts
- Toulon, 66 pts
- Stade Français, 66 pts
- Castres, 64 pts
- LOU, 60 pts
- Montpellier, 54 pts
- Brive, 51 pts
- Bayonne, 45 pts
- Pau, 41 pts
- Agent, 2 pts
1st / 2nd place: Stade Toulousain and La Rochelle
The championship leader and European champion will have to put everything in place to keep his place and qualify directly for the semi-final. Obviously, second place is also a qualifier for the semi-finals, but the trip to Bordeaux-Bègles will be a golden opportunity to launch a typical team for the final stages.
The Champions Cup finalist will also have to keep his second place in the championship to go straight to the semi-final and thus avoid one more game. The Maritimes will move to Clermont, and a victory is required to achieve the objective. Indeed, behind, it is Racing 92 and its 73 points. The Parisians will receive Brive which has nothing more to play. If they win with a bonus and La Rochelle fails, it will take an extra effort to reach the final.
3rd / 4th place: Racing 92 and UBB
Third place is hotly contested. It is synonymous with the best draw for the jump-off: the 3rd meets the 6th. The Racingmen (73 points) will therefore receive Brive while the UBB (72 points) will welcome the Toulouse leader. A more complicated task for the Bordelais who finally qualify in the top 6. Racing can hope to keep its third place and even better, aim for one of the first two places with an offensive bonus point (+ 5 points) if Toulouse or La Rochelle fails. Bordeaux will also have to ensure the best possible play-off place by overcoming Toulouse.
5th / 6th place: Clermont, Toulon, Stade Français and Castres
These will be the teams to follow closely this Saturday during the multiplex. Two places for only 4 teams: Clermont (67 pts), Toulon (66 pts), Stade Français (66 pts) and Castres (64 pts). As we know, Clermont has a strong opponent with La Rochelle aiming for the first two places. Toulon and Castres will face each other in a final day at the pace of qualifying for the jump-off. The Stade Français will, however, have to overcome a team that has character and which will play its home maintenance: Bayonne (12th with 45 pts).
13th place: Pau and Bayonne
A remote duel for the maintenance. On the one hand, Pau (13th) will go to Montpellier (10th), definitively saved with his 54 points (+12 points). On the other hand, Bayonne (12th) will receive Stade Français (7th) which wishes to recover a play-off place. The Bayonnais are only 4 points ahead of Pau and the victory will ensure their maintenance in the Top 14 for next season. But the Parisians will not come to Jean-Dauger with the state of mind of a last game of the season without a stake.
The matches to follow:
- UBB vs Toulouse
- Clermont vs La Rochelle
- Toulon vs Castres
- Bayonne vs Stade Français
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