Three tickets will be given away at the end this last act of the regular season. They are for the following six competitors: La Rochelle (4th 67 points), Racing92 (5th 66pts), Toulouse (6th 66pts), Toulon (7th 64pts), Lyon (8th 63pts), Clermont (9th 62pts).
In the spotlight: The European Challenge winner takes on the European champion in a gala duel that has multiple stakes.
The Maritimes have set their sights on the double championship / European Cup. They want to achieve the same feat as Toulouse last season.
“This match will be very important, and we will need to turn the page (…) We must manage to refocus, regain power to finish in the Top 6”, says Donnacha Ryan, co-trainer for the La Rochelle forwards.
The Lyonnais, who require a better victory to be able to claim the Top 6, postponed celebrations of their first European title in club history.
Both clubs will face a difficult decision at the Nanterre Arena. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend.
The unfortunate finalists of European Challenge, the Varois, will arrive “with a great deal of desire”, says Gael Fickou. He is the center of Ciel et Blanc and still hopes to save their season. “We are in top five so they’re the ones who challenge us.”
The RCT has been stripped of Gabin Villiere as its winger and wants to end its amazing season (six wins in succession in the Top 14) in order to reach the final stages. This it has not done since 2018.
Stade Toulouse was disappointed to see La Rochelle win the European championships thanks to their win against Leinster last weekend. The Biarrots should be the ones to pay on Sunday.
“We have one thing left to defend, and that is the Shield. We will put 200% of ourselves into the fight with the remaining forces to defend the trophy we won last year,” said Jean Bouilhou (coach of the Toulouse forwards).
The Auvergnats, who are Montpellier’s recipients, seem unlikely to be in the top 6. However, it is difficult to imagine the Auvergnats without their legendary hinge Morgan Parra/Camille Lopez. A place in the 8 qualifying for the Champions Cup seems more realistic.
“There is one final mission. To leave the club in Europe Cup. Lopez says it’s the right place for the ASM to be. His friend will go to France, but Lopez will join Bayonne.
Maintenance operation started for Usap (13th, 39 pts at Aime-Giral), sold out for Bordeaux-Begles. The Catalans must win to be able to pass in front Brive (12th, 42 pts), travel to Jean-Bouin and avoid the play-off against Pro D2’s loser.
The French Stadium, which is finished with its season, won’t overuse the meeting. Laurent Sempere, the coach of Parisian forwards, said that it was not in question to “distort” the championship.
