The fight for qualification in the final phase of the Top 14 is tough. Before the kick-off of this 25th and penultimate day, Saturday May 21, they were still nine to claim the first six qualifying places. Each match was of particular importance. The two leaders Bordeaux and Montpellier, winners on Saturday, have validated their ticket for this end of the season. Toulon has a sixth consecutive success but remains at the gates of the Top 6, after Toulouse’s victory at Brive despite a red card.
Bordeaux and Montpellier, qualified, aim for the semi-finals
They enforced their rank. Respectively first and second, Montpellier and UBB won against Racing 92 and Lyon. Victories against members of the Top 6, synonymous with qualification for the final phase of the French championship.
In Chaban-Delmas, the Bordelo-Béglais largely dominated the LOU (42-10) thanks to a second period of fire (36-7), allowing him to take the offensive bonus. “Our goal is to stay in the Top 2”, admitted the second line Jandré Marais after the victory. A place that would send them directly to the semi-finals, thus avoiding a dangerous first match. They will go to Perpignan, to fight for maintenance, in two weeks.
⏰ 80′ The UBB returns to victory for this last game of the regular season at home. The well-deserved offensive bonus completes this sublime second half.#ILOVEUBB #UBBLOU pic.twitter.com/b1KrqESoK5
—UBB Rugby (@UBBrugby) May 21, 2022
Same observation in the Hérault. Montpellier, winner of Racing 92 (22-13) recovered its leading position, left a few hours earlier to the Girondins. Their qualification for the semi-finals could be recorded on Sunday in the event of Castres’ defeat on Sunday against the Catalans.
Toulon passes the sixth and offers a final
The story is beautiful. Louis Carbonel, a local child who will leave Var at the end of the season, scored a crucial try in the Rouge et Noir season for his last match at Mayol. A victory, improved in the last moments of the meeting, 37-20 against Pau. A sixth consecutive success in the league for the Toulonnais who are in the process of achieving the feat of being on the way to qualifying for the final phase.
Like a symbol!! Mayol is up for the test @LouisCarbonel #RCTSP pic.twitter.com/6m3jUYfj5d
– Canal Rugby Club (@CanalRugbyClub) May 21, 2022
After a very delicate start to the season and a change of coach mid-season, Toulon was far from hoping to have fate in their hands. Seventh after this victory, the Varois will challenge Racing 92 which is ahead of them by two points in the championship to try to grab the Top 6. The equation is simple: a victory would send them to the final phase.
Toulouse resists Brive despite more than an hour at 2 p.m.
The defending champions had no room for error on Saturday night. Eighth after the afternoon matches, Ugo Mola’s players had to come back from Brive with at least four points. A mission fulfilled thanks to a 26-8 victory. It was Antoine Dupont for Toulouse who started hostilities with a quick first try before being reduced to fourteen after the red card received by Charlie Faumuina.
It’s a red card for Charlie Faumuina! #CABST pic.twitter.com/OMFRWwxyXa
– Canal Rugby Club (@CanalRugbyClub) May 21, 2022
But the players of the Ville Rose were able to dominate the Brivistes despite the numerical inferiority, in particular thanks to an impeccable Thomas Ramos at the foot and author of 16 points. Sixth, a small point from third place, the Toulouse team will receive Biarritz, already relegated to secure a place in the final phase and a chance to defend their title.
La Rochelle wins but does not reassure at the foot
This is the weak point of the Rochelais lately, almost a curse. After Ihaia West’s failures in the Champions Cup semi-final, Jules Plisson was no more successful, missing his three attempts at the start of the match. The only ones he hit because it was the back Pierre Popelin who was responsible for hitting then.
Points left on the way which did not cost the Charentais dearly who won with the offensive bonus against Stade Français (32-13) and returned to the Top 6. But a performance which does not reassure before the deadlines of the end of season. Beaten twice in the final last year by Toulouse in particular because of this clumsiness, the Rochelais will play the final of the CHAmpions Cup next Saturday against Leinster.