Toulouse and Stade français in the semi-finals, Montpellier in the play-offs, Oyonnax relegated… Lessons from the regular season

The French championship delivered its first verdict on Saturday, during the last day of the regular season. All the participants in the final phase are now known, such as the relegated and the play-off.

It is the beginning of the end. The final whistle of the Top 14 regular season, Saturday June 8, announced the departure on vacation for half of the teams in the French championship. But for the six teams qualified for the final phase, as well as the play-off who will play for their survival in the elite, the most important thing is beginning.

Toulouse and Stade Français were brilliant, Toulon, Bordeaux-Bègles, La Rochelle held their place, Racing passed the bell to the detriment of Castres, Montpellier had a catastrophic season and will have to play for its survival in a play-off against Grenoble , while Little Thumb Oyonnax is already relegated… Franceinfo: sport deciphers all the lessons from the Top 14 regular season.

The Toulouse stadium and the French stadium untouchable

The season promised to be perilous for Stade Toulouse. With the World Cup and Antoine Dupont’s stint in the French rugby sevens team, in addition to the Six Nations Tournament, the Rouge et Noir have been deprived of numerous executives on several occasions this year.

But the depth of the Haut-Garonne squad, filled with talented young people trained at the club (Paul Costes, Mathis Castro-Ferreira), allowed Ugo Mola’s men to keep up the pace to finish in first position in the championship.

The Toulouse residents even achieved some prestigious successes with a reshuffled team (37-33 at Clermont in February, 20-27 against Racing in January), while remaining undefeated at home, with the best attack in the Top 14 (765 points and 99 trials registered). They can now dream of a new double, already achieved in 2021, after winning the Champions Cup on May 25 (31-22 against Leinster after extra time).

Like the Rouge et Noir, Stade français won the privilege of hosting in the semi-finals of the Top 14, by validating its second position on Saturday against Toulon (23-20). The Parisians shone outside their bases (six victories, highest total of the season), relying in particular on a solid defense and a very direct but effective game. With a new coaching duo at the helm, Laurent Labit and Karim Ghezal, who arrived from the French XV after the World Cup, the club will play its first semi-final since the 2015 coronation.

Bordeaux-Bègles, Toulon, La Rochelle and Racing 92 in the final phase

Behind the two Stadiums, Union Bordeaux-Bègles took third place, synonymous with reception for the quarter-finals, relying on a five-star back line. Third best attack (677 points), UBB stumbled at the end of the season with two defeats in its last three matches. Behind, Toulon missed the opportunity to beat Stade Français to the post. Traveling to Jean-Bouin, the RCT could qualify directly for the semi-finals by beating Paris, but failed by three small points (20-23).

As a result, the Toulonnais will host Stade Rochelais for a place in the last four. The Maritimes had a hard time finding their level of play this season, but ended up getting through it. Only winners once away, Ronan O’Gara’s men will not start as favorites in this play-off, but are capable of transcending themselves in the face of the challenge.

In a dense championship, where Perpignan, tenth, finished only four points behind sixth place, it is Racing 92 which took the last seat and will be at the meeting of the play-offs. A qualification snatched thanks to a defensive bonus point recovered in the 78th minute of his trip to La Rochelle (24-19 defeat) on Saturday. Castres, winner 28-17 in Bayonne, was the unfortunate of the evening. The Tarnais, tied on points with the Racingmen, finally finished seventh because of their two defeats this season against the Ile-de-France residents.

Oyonnax does the elevator

Just promoted, Oyonnax returns to Pro D2. Even with a hyperactive Kevin Lebreton, best scratcher (19 balls scratched) and second best tackler in the championship (269 successful tackles), and opener Hugo Domingo Miotti who survived, the Oyomen were not sufficiently armed to fight with the armadas of the Top 14. With the most permeable defense in the championship (790 points conceded), Joe El Abd’s men give up their place in the elite to RC Vannes, winner of the final phase of Pro D2, and first Breton club in the history of the elite.

Montpellier on the edge of the precipice

Champions of France in 2022, the Montpellier residents have experienced a nightmarish season, like their 52-15 defeat at Clermont on the last day, finished in 13th place despite a still rich squad. Red lantern from the 7th to the 14th day, the Hérault club quickly abandoned its hopes of the final phase to concentrate on its survival in the Top 14.

If a series of four victories in February and March saved the club from direct relegation, the arrivals of Bernard Laporte (director of rugby) and Patrice Collazo (sports manager) did not make it possible to sufficiently redress the situation. The club will play for its place in the elite on the pitch of FC Grenoble, in the Top 14 accession match, Sunday June 16.