Castres and Montpellier directly in the semi-finals, Racing 92 saves its place in the play-offs, Perpignan on borrowed time

The last multiplex of the season promised to be hot, it was stunning. And it almost cost Racing 92 dearly. The Racingmen overthrew Toulon (21-16) at home on Sunday June 5, allowing Laurent Travers’ men to stay in the Top 6 on the last day.

At the top of the standings, Bordeaux-Bègles may also regret their defeat in the evening, in Perpignan (22-15), since Castres steals a place in the Top 2, and the direct place for the semi-finals with. Montpellier accompanies the CO in this direct wagon. USAP, despite its evening victory, remains 13th and will have to play the accession match, Sunday June 12, against Mont-de-Marsan to save its place in the Top 14.

The race for the Top 2: Castres reverses everything, the UBB downgraded

They were three for two direct tickets for the semi-finals. And it was the third, Castres Olympique, who hit the jackpot. The Castrais signed a big blow by winning in Pau (16-23), while their two opponents away from the evening, Montpellier and Bordeaux-Bègles, bowed. As a result, a perfect shot for the CO, finally first in the regular season ahead of Montpellier.

The Héraultais suffered in Clermont (20-15), for the last of Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez with the Jaunards. But this defeat is ultimately without effect, since the UBB also lost, more surprisingly, on the ground of Perpignan (22-15), which was struggling to maintain it. The players of Christophe Urios, leading the Championship for almost half of the season, finally remained at the dock and finished third, just one point behind Montpellier.

The race for the play-offs: Racing saves its place in extremis, Toulon and Lyon just fail

The Toulonnais believed they had achieved one of the most beautiful comebacks of the season. Last in the Top 14 on the evening of the 17th day, the Rade players led for an hour, before cracking at Racing (21-16). The yellow card received by their captain Charles Ollivon on the hour mark got the better of their Top 6 hopes, unlike the Racingmen, saved in extremis after a very lucky try from Juan Imhoff in the 63rd minute.

With the exception of Bordeaux-Bègles which demoted to third place, no change in casting for the Top 6 and the play-offs with the qualifications of La Rochelle and Stade Toulousain. The Rochelais experienced a delay in ignition, before overthrowing Lyon (26-29) thanks to the contribution of their executives, who generally started on the bench after the coronation in the European Cup last Saturday . The LOU had to win with the offensive bonus, without leaving points to the Maritimes to hope to upset the hierarchy. Toulouse for its part signed the card of the evening against the relegated Biarritz (80-7) with 12 tries, including that of Maxime Médard for his penultimate match at home.

The play-off posters will therefore see Bordeaux-Bègles (3rd) receive Racing 92 (6th), and the last two European champions, La Rochelle (5th) and Stade Toulousain (4th) meet for a revenge of the 2021 final .

The race to maintain: Brive does the job, Perpignan will have to go through the accession match

The Corrèze can blow. In balance for the place of 13th and the jump-off with the finalist of Pro D2 Mont-de-Marsan, Brive ensured its place among the elite by winning on the ground of the French Stadium (17-33), which had nothing more to play. Perpignan, which also triumphed on Sunday evening against UBB, will have to play one more game. A life-to-death accession match in a week, against Mont-de-Marsan, severely beaten on Sunday by Bayonne, which has already ensured its promotion.


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