During the first leg, the Montois had played a very bad joke against the Bayonnais by winning against Jean Dauger (33-14). This Friday, April 1, the Bayonnais would like to return the favor. But beyond the Basque-Landes rivalry, and the revenge to be taken in relation to the first leg won by the Mons, this meeting is all the more crucial as the Montois have the opportunity to really distance Bayonne and Oyonnax – at least 11 points difference with Bayonne in case of victory – and therefore to lock in their first place.
Conversely, the Bayonnais can close the gap and stay within reach of Stade Montois, and above all keep their second place, while Oyonnax, in ambush two points behind, receives the penultimate of the championship, Bourg- in-Bresse. For this perilous journey, Yannick Bru and his staff made only one small change compared to the starting XV which had won against Oyonnax: absent because of illness, Rémy Baget regains his place on the wing, at the expense of Arthur Duhau who leaves him out of the group.
The composition of Bayonne: