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Top 14 Wrap: Round 22

Saturday 17th May 2008

Cedric Heymans was on song as usual for Toulouse

In another weekend of upsets, Biarritz's season went from bad to catastrophic on Saturday as the went down to second-from-bottom Dax while lowly Brive beat Stade Français on Friday.

In true Top 14 form, the relegation battle has turned the tables on the big clubs as all three clubs involved won and prolonged the intrigue for another week. In fact five of the weekend's seven winners were from the bottom half of the table.

Clermont inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Perpignan in the battle of the big guns while Toulouse joined the leaders in securing a guaranteed spot in the semi-finals.

Results:

Brive 11-3 Stade Français
Dax 17-12 Biarritz Olympique
Montpellier 12-6 Bourgoin
Stade Toulousain 28-6 Montauban
Bayonne 27-16 Castres Olympique
Albi 29-0 Auch
Clermont Auvergne 29-15 Perpignan

Table after Round 22

1 Clermont Auvergne 85
2 Stade Toulousain 81
3 Stade Français 69
4 Perpignan 62
5 Castres Olympique 56
6 Biarritz Olympique 55
7 Montauban 50
8 Montpellier 48
9 Bayonne 47
10 Bourgoin 44
11 Brive 41
12 Albi 41
13 Dax 34
14 Auch 15

Brive 11-3 Stade Français

Brive must be wondering what they need to do to drag themselves out of the relegation battle. One would have thought that victory against the Top 14's defending champions would have been enough. But no, with both Albi and Dax winning, Olivier Magne's team are still far from safe with some intimidating opposition on the horizon.

A shocking day at the office for Stade who were totally dominated up front and were beaten to the ball more often than not.

Brive might have spent almost the entire first period in the Parisians half, but they only managed to gain five points for their efforts. Only a late drop goal from Fabrice Estebanez and a last minute penalty from Maxime Petitjean sealed the game for the home side.

Dax 17-12 Biarritz Olympique

It's not over until the fat lady sings. And the fat lady lives in Dax! Albi and Brive must have thought their worries were over when they won their games and saw former champions Biarritz up 12-6 at half-time against their lowly hosts. Dax had other ideas though a showed enormous strength of character to fight on and upset a star studded Biarritz team.

It was a 'last chance' match for both sides as BO needed a win if they going to have any chance of making the semi-finals. Two tries in the first-half for the visitors should have been enough to killed off the contest but Les Landais slowly grappled their way back into the match through the strength of their forwards and some sterling defence - two traits normally associated with Biarritz.

When Dax's diminutive Argentinean wing Horacio Agulla scored a try against the run of play to make it 12-11, the home team got their tails up. Antoine Vignau-Tuquet rewarded his team for their domination of the last twenty minutes with a penalty and then a drop goal which sent Biarritz on their short journey home with no more than a single bonus point.

Montpellier 12-6 Bourgoin

A fabulous result for Montpellier who move within two points of Montauban and Heineken Cup qualification. 'Fabulous' would however not be the word to use to describe a less-than-exciting match. Despite controlling most of the game, Montpelier were unable to cross the opposition try-line and Bourgoin could do no better.

Irish full-back Mark McHugh scored all the hosts points from the kicking tee as did Benjamin Boyet for Bourgoin. The score is probably a far reflection of a game as dour as the weather.

Stade Toulousain 28-6 Montauban

Toulouse took their time about getting on top of their visitors from down the road. As expected Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde was at fly-half but Valentin Courrent played inside him since Byron Kelleher was not risked as he has a slight thigh strain.

6-6 at half-time the crowd at Ernest Wallon must have been a little unsettled to see their team unable to turn their possession into points.

The second-half was a different story though as three unanswered tries assured Toulouse of the win, a bonus point and their place in the semi-finals.

South African wing Bertus Swanepoel scored the hosts first try just after the break. With the rain pouring down, Cedric Heymans adding another with twenty minutes to play which signaled the exodus of Toulouse's big guns who needed to keep their powder dry for their Heineken Cup Final against Munster next Sunday. A Courrent intercept put Yannick Jauzion away for the third to finish the game off.

If they match was a little closer than the hosts would have liked, they would have been pleased by the form of Florian Fritz who might well have given Guy Novès some food for thought before he selects his team for next weekend.

Montauban might have lost their local derby, but to be honest few expected them to win and they certainly played better than the scoreline would lead one to believe. They remain in pole position for the last Heineken cup spot.

Bayonne 27-16 Castres Olympique

Bayonne have turn their season around. Threatened by relegation not long ago they now have hopes of making it into Europe. A win against Castres, one of the championship's form sides is no small result especially concidering the manner it which it was achieved. Three tries from the light blue jerseys had Castres looking a pale shadow of the team that beat Clermont.

A try form Anthony Lagardère five minutes from the final whistle gave the Castres scoreline a semblance of respectability and denied Bayonne a bonus point. Castres would have hoped for more and with Perpignan losing, they missed out on a golden opportunity to move within striking distance of the semi-finals.

Albi 29-0 Auch

No surprises here. Albi have been playing some decent rugby and Auch are headed back from whence they came - the ProD2. Albi scored their third try in the 79th minute to secure a bonus point and make life very hard for Dax and Brive.

Clermont Auvergne 29-15 Perpignan

Clermont booked their place in the semi-finals with a win over their most likely play-off opponents. The game however was not worthy of the teams' lofty standings on the Top 14 table. Riddled with handling errors, the first-half was a disappointing affair which saw Clermont's ever consistent fly-half Brock James keep l'ASM ahead.

After leading 12-9 at half-time, Clermont scored the first of their two second-half tries shortly after the break. Despite being under no significant pressure, Percy Montgomery dropped a high kick from James, handing Clermont possession which they used to send Italian centre Gonzalo Canale over the try line.

Another try late on, this time from lock Loïc Jacquet denied Perpignan a bonus point as James, accurate as ever, converted from the touch-line.