100 per cent: David Skrela helped to Toulouse to victory in Paris
Toulouse hammered Stade Français 29-0 on Saturday while a late comeback from Toulon effectively ended Biarritz's hopes of making the playoffs.
A bonus-point win for Castres over Brive saw the Tarnais regain the lead in the Top 14 after Clermont briefly moved to the top thanks to their win over Perpignan on Friday.
Two yellow cards in the last ten minutes saw Biarritz lose by a single point meaning they, like Brive, are unlikely to make the cut for next season's Heineken Cup.
Montauban were the other big losers of the day, going down to Bourgoin and dropping into the relegation zone in the process while Bayonne got a full-house at home to Albi.
In the weekend's final game, it took a 80th minute penalty to win it for Montpellier in a ding-dong battle with Racing Metro that could have gone either way.
Results
Castres 35- 10 Brive
Bayonne 46-13 Albi
Bourgoin 22-14 Montauban
Toulon 21-20 Biarritz
Stade Français 0-29 Toulouse
Montpellier 22-19 Racing Metro
Standings:
1 Castres 67
2 Clermont 65
3 Perpignan 62
4 Toulouse 60
5 Toulon 59
6 Racing Metro 55
7 Stade Français 49
8 Biarritz 47
9 Brive 47
10 Montpellier 42
11 Bourgoin 40
12 Bayonne 39
13 Montauban 37
14 Albi 19
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Castres Olympique 35- 10 CA Brive-Corrèze
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres
Another dominant performance from Castres as their bonus-point win confirms their status as serious contenders for the title.
The home side led 23-7 at the break thanks to tries from Joe Tekori and Romain Teulet. Lachie Mackay touched down for Brive, but there was only really one side in it.
Two more tries from Gonzalo Garcia and Chris Masoe in the second half secured the bonus point to put Castres in a clear lead at the top of the standings.
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Toulon 21-20 Biarritz Olympique
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon
Biarritz led for almost the entire game until the wheels came off in the dying stages.
Two yellow cards in the final ten minutes cost the Basques dearly as replacement hooker Jean-Charles Orioli scored for the home side in the 77th minute with Filipe Contepomi's conversion handing Toulon a one-point win.
Toulon were first to cross the white wash through Fijian wing Gabiriele Lovobalavu but Biarritz led 10-8 at the break thanks to a try from Damien Traille and Dimitri Yachvili's early penalty.
Yachvili touched down soon after the break and BO looked to have the game sown up before Fabien Alexandre was sent to the bin for a tackle without the ball and then Romain Terrain joined him for an intentional knock down.
With thirteen men, Biarritz had no chance of surviving and had to watch as Contepomi's extra two points effectively ended their chances of making the play-offs.
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Aviron Bayonnais 46-13 SCA Albi
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
Just what the doctor ordered for Bayonne as six tries - including a double for Lionel Mazars - and a bonus point lift the Basques out of the relegation zone.
The home side led 10-3 at the break thanks to a 39th minute try from hooker Arnaud Heguy before the flood gates opened in the second half with centres Thibault Lacroix and Sam Gerber both getting on the score sheet.
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Bourgoin-Jallieu 22-14 Montauban
Stade Pierre Rajon, Bourgoin
A huge result for Bourgoin who move away from the relegation zone with their second win in as many weeks.
We predicted a fight and that's what we got as no less than four yellow cards were dished out.
Bourgoin replacement Wessel Jooste score the only try of the first half to give the hosts a 13-9 lead as Benjamin Boyet and Len Olivier cancelled each other out from the kicking tee.
Montauban hooker Gregory Arganese scored early in the second half but Argentine full-back Alberto Di Bernardo added two more penalties and a drop to secure the win for Bourgoin and send Montauban into the red zone.
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Stade Français Paris 0-29 Stade Toulousain
Stade de France, Paris
Toulouse dominated from start to finish but were unable to finish off a number of opportunities in the first half. David Skrela's three penalties nevertheless gave the visitors a 9-0 lead at the break.
The home scrum was being hammered and the Toulouse backs were running with venom.
Toulouse lock Gregory Lamboley was first to cross the whitewash after Ollie Phillips spills Skrela's high ball - Lamboley was first onto the seen, selling a cheeky dummy before twisting and turning his way over the line.
Another Skrela penalty put Toulouse 19-0 ahead prompting the hosts to start giving the ball plenty of air. The TMO denied Rodrigo Roncero a try but the Parisians were unable to cope with Skrela aerial bombs and Clement Poitrenaud's lethal counter attacking.
The Toulouse fly-half continued with his perfect record from the kicking tee with another penalty before prop Cambell Johnston barged his way over from close range after a break by Maxime Medard and Yann David to put Toulouse 29-0 ahead.
Toulouse plied the pressure in the closing stages in search of the bonus point, but were unable to crack the resilient home defence.
Bad new for Toulouse and France however was the sight of Fred Michalak being carried from the field in the opening minutes with a serious knee injury.
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Montpellier HRC 22-19 Racing Metro 92
Stade Yves Du Manoir, Montpellier
It took a 80th minute penalty to win it for Montpol in a ding-dong battle that could have gone either way. It's a precious result for Montpellier - as they stay clear of the relegation zone - but also for Stade Français who are now still within striking distance of their Parisian rivals.
Racing led 9-6 at half time thanks to an early drop from fly-half Jonathan Wisnsiewski plus two trademark long-range penalties from Francois Steyn.
Montpellier's Argentine full-back Frederico Todeschini added two penalties in the second half to his two from the first while Steyn slotted another drop to leave the teams level going into the last quarter.
Racing went ahead when scrum-half Jerome Filliol broke the Montpellier line and offloaded to Sireli Bobo, who turned on the after burners to score 50m later.
But Montpellier replacement Eugene Van Staden to scored two minutes later thanks to a break by François Trinh-Duc, setting up a grandstand finish.
Todeschini was the home side's hero, keeping his calm to nail a last minute penalty to win it after the hooter.
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