Racing and Toulouse off to a good start, UBB and Clermont between two waters … The challenges of the 3rd day for French clubs

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In normal times, it is already not easy to decipher the convoluted format of the European Cup and its two groups of twelve teams. With the Covid-19, the case is more complicated. Between the postponed matches transformed into draws and the meetings settled on a forfeit, it would become almost easier to understand the rules of the closed scrum. Inevitably, the question of sports equity arises. “This competition today no longer makes sense”, swept the Bordeaux manager Christophe Urios.

The third day should take place more or less normally, starting on Friday January 14. The seven French clubs will be on deck throughout the weekend. And two deadlines from the end of the hens, they are all still in the game. Overview of the different issues.

Racing, Toulouse and La Rochelle in the right wagon

In delicacy in Top 14 (8th), Racing 92 is less worried in the European Cup. Laurent Travers’ players, finalists in 2016, 2018 and 2020, prance at the head of Pool A. A large victory at Northampton (14-45) followed by a “success” on the green carpet against Ospreys allows them to post ten points on the counter. “We’re not far away but we’re not there yet. We have to win this weekend”, all the same warned the center Gaël Fickou. A victory in Wales, Saturday at 4:15 p.m. (live on France 2), would definitely qualify Racing.

La Rochelle and Toulouse definitely never leave each other. The two finalists of the last edition have a similar record: a victory on the first day (7-39 in Cardiff for the Red and Blacks in pool B; 20-13 against Glasgow for the Maritimes in group A) then a draw on green carpet. Both occupy fourth place in their pool, with an extra bonus point for Toulouse. If they beat Bath, last in the Premiership, at Deflandre on Saturday (6.30 p.m.), the Rochelais will take a step towards the eighth. The same goes for Stade Toulousain, deprived of Antoine Dupont for his trip to Wasps, Saturday at 2 p.m.

UBB and Clermont between two waters

Was it a simple accident for the Bordeaux-Bègles Union? Semi-finalists last year, Cameron Woki’s partners were trapped by Leicester in December (13-16). Deprived of the second day at Llanelli, the Bordelo-Béglais, 7th in Pool B, receive these same Scarlets on Sunday at 4:15 p.m., live on France 2. The obstacle is not likely to scare Christophe Urios, but the UBB has every interest in aiming for the bonus victory to afford a “final” in Leicester next Saturday.

The scenario is equivalent for Clermont. Dried by Ulster at the start (23-29), ASM could not play Sale. The reception of the English will take place on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., at the Michelin, in a cleaver match within the reach of the Jaunards. Even if Camille Lopez “don’t know if that rhymes with much”, the Auvergnats, 9th in Pool A, cannot afford any missteps.

Montpellier, Castres and Stade Français no longer have a choice

Just ahead of Clermont in the standings, Montpellier benefited from a boost from the EPCR. By decreeing a package from Leinster before canceling the meetings of the second day, the body offered the MHR an enhanced victory on the green carpet. It will undoubtedly be difficult to display the same balance sheet after the trip to Dublin, Sunday at 2 p.m. Not varnished by the draw, they will then receive Exeter, winner in 2020 and clear winner of the first leg (42-6). It will take one, or even two exploits, to see Montpellier, whose last meeting dates back to December 27, in the next round.

The feat, Castres titillated in Munster in December. Beaten by a hair at Thomond Park (19-13) after falling against the Harlequins (18-20), the Castres, the only French team to have played two “regular” matches, no longer have much choice. 8th in Pool B thanks to his two defensive bonuses, the CO receives the Munstermen on Friday at 9 p.m. In great form in the Top 14, Castres does not seem to make this European Cup a priority objective. The Tarnaise vendedi evening composition, very reworked, will in any case not silence the most skeptics.

Two points is also the record posted by Stade Français, 10th in Pool B. Suffocated at Connacht on the first day (39-6), the Parisians got a draw behind the scenes against Bristol. They travel on Saturday at 9 p.m. to Bears in difficulty in their domestic championship, but with seven points in the Champions Cup… without having played a single match! This is also the charm of this European Cup Covid version. Paris has in any case no calculation to make: any other result than a victory in England would seriously reduce the hopes of the stadium.


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