Toulouse look set to lead from the front
AS the French Top 14 takes a week’s break for the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals, here’s a look at the remainder of the domestic campaign for every team.
Remaining fixtures: Bordeaux (h), Perpignan (a), Brive (h)
Toulouse are the only side currently to have officially qualified for the end-of-season play-offs. Their target now, regardless of yesterday’s defeat in Dublin, is to make sure they finish in the top two, and win a bye week to the semi-finals in San Sebastian. With two home matches out of their last three, the odds are very much in their favour.
Frederic Charrier and Julian Lairle also set to leave to rejoin Urios at Clermont next season, there’s a lot of change coming at Stade Chaban Delmas, but a run into the Top 14 play-offs and a Champions Cup place will be a perfect way for the current staff to leave despite questions over performances.
Remaining fixtures: La Rochelle (h), Racing 92 (a), Bordeaux (h)
Toulon have added no silverware to their trophy cabinet since the Champions Cup in 2015, so they are taking today’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Benetton very seriously indeed. After that match – and either side of a hoped-for final in Dublin – their Top 14 run-in is about as tough as it gets.
Every one of their upcoming French opponents wants a spot in the top six. They have Gabin Villiere and Cheslin Kolbe coming back to fitness at just the right time for the run-in.
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Remaining fixtures: Racing 92 (a), Clermont (h), Lyon (a)
Veteran ‘rookies’ Camille Lopez and Maxime Machenaud have been lords of the stage at Stade Jean Dauger in what has been a remarkable return to the Top 14 for the Basque club.
But it’s honestly hard to see them managing the remarkably difficult promotion-to-play-off trick last pulled off by Racing 92 back in 2009/10. Do, however, watch out for them in 2023/24. They look to have recruited well enough to make relatively light work of what should be their difficult second season.
Remaining fixtures: Brive (h), La Rochelle (h), Pau (a)
No one ever pretended keeping hold of their Top 14 title would be easy – no side has retained the Brennus since Toulouse in 2012 – but Montpellier will be disappointed they have not been able to take the defence of their first-ever Brennus into the play-offs.
Survival isn’t yet assured, but it will be with a bonus point win over Brive next weekend, allowing Philippe Saint-Andre to plan for a new assault on the league early.
Remaining fixtures: Stade Francais (h), Bayonne (a), Racing 92 (h)
As recently as two matches ago, Clermont still had a puncher’s shot at the Top 14 play-offs. But that faint chance evaporated in back-to-back defeats on the road against Pau and La Rochelle. This season is pretty much a write off. Next season is what matters now. difference. Two of Pau’s remaining matches are at home as they seek another season in the top flight – Stade du Hameau is not the fortress it perhaps should be, but the players will be happier in front of their own fans when it matters.
Remaining fixtures: Lyon (a), Toulouse (h), Castres (a)
Perpignan became the first Top 14 side to survive trial by relegation play-off since it was introduced in 2018. And, despite last weekend’s win over Racing 92, two away matches in their last three regular season games makes it seem likely they will have to do so again. Outgoing manager Patrick Arlettaz would prefer just three more matches. But he’ll take four if it means handing over a Top 14 club to incoming boss Franck Azema.
Remaining fixtures: Montpellier (a), Castres (h), Toulouse (a)
Ross Moriarty has made an immediate impression since joining from Dragons, crunching into 23 tackles on his first start last weekend to help the bottom side to a 22-17 victory over Pau, their first win since January 21. It still seems just too little too late, however. The plan, now, has to be to prepare for a season in the ProD2 with the intention of coming straight back up.