Top 14 Preview: Round 26
The final week of the regular season sees Racing 92, Toulouse and Toulon battle it out for second and automatic qualification for the semi-finals.
La Rochelle and Pau will be hoping to pounce and snatch a place in the top-six should Lyon and Castres falter, while in the fight for survival, Brive have already been demoted to Pro D2, but Stade Francais and Oyonnax are seeking to avoid the relegation play-off.
Saturday
Brive vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Castres vs Oyonnax
Clermont vs Toulouse
Lyon vs Montpellier
La Rochelle vs Stade Francais
Pau vs Toulon
Racing 92 vs Agen
Brive vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Amedee-Domenech
This will no doubt be a sombre affair for the Brive supporters having seen their team succumb to the relegation trapdoor last weekend.
Even a victory on the final day is unlikely to lift the mood with the side ruing their poor start and end to the campaign.
They played relatively well leading up to Christmas and in the early stages of 2018, but it has been an awful final few matches for the basement-dwellers.
Brive may well end on a positive note – the visitors themselves have struggled for form – but it has ultimately been a disastrous campaign for the Stade Amedee-Domenech outfit.
Last season’s result: Bordeaux won 22-19
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
Assistant referees: Cedric Clave, Thierry Guilloton
TMO: Eric Gonthier
Castres vs Oyonnax
Stade Pierre-Fabre
A significant game for both, with Castres looking for the victory to secure their top-six place, while Oyonnax are hoping to avoid the relegation play-off.
Irrespective of what happens on Saturday, it has been a remarkable turnaround for the visitors. At one stage, all looked lost but they have been hugely impressive in the latter part of the campaign, lifting themselves off the bottom and away from Brive.
Even a defeat would not be catastrophic for Adrien Buononato’s side – the new system allowing the 13th placed finisher a potential reprieve when they take on the runner-up of the Pro D2 final.
That will not be concerning Castres, however, who know a victory at the weekend will secure their position in the barrages.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre, Akim Hadj-Bachir
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Clermont Auvergne vs Toulouse
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
Usually, this encounter would be a titanic clash of huge importance, particularly at this time of the year, but Clermont’s awful season means that it is only Toulouse who have something to play for.
Ugo Mola’s men have already secured their play-off place but they will be seeking a position in the top two, with them only one point behind Racing 92.
It might be a tall order, though. The Parisians have the much easier task of having to dispatch Agen and a bonus-point victory over the strugglers would rule Les Rouge et Noir out of the equation, irrespective of what they do at Auvergne.
Last season’s result: Clermont won 29-25
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Tual Trainini
Assistant referees: Laurent Millotte, Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin
Lyon vs Montpellier
Matmut Stadium de Gerland
Montpellier can relax for a week having sealed top spot and a position in the semi-finals, and that may help Lyon going into this match.
Pierre Mignoni’s men may have done enough already to reach the play-offs, but a victory would make certain of their place in the barrages.
They have endured an inconsistent second half of the season but it has nonetheless been an impressive campaign from a side who were only promoted to the top-flight in 2016.
Despite being aided by significant backing, this would still be an excellent achievement should Lyon remain in the top-six on Saturday night.
Last season’s result: Lyon won 16-3
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Jonathan Gasnier, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Eric Gauzins
La Rochelle vs Stade Francais
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Patrice Collazo will no doubt be querying what has happened to his side after a disappointing second half of the campaign has left them outside the play-offs.
They could still reach the promised land but it appears unlikely, with Lyon and Castres both having home matches in the final round of the regular season.
Collazo’s men were the standout team for much of 2016/17 but injuries, combined with the added pressures of the Champions Cup, has seen them falter since the New Year.
A bonus-point victory at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre would give them an opportunity of sneaking in and it would also harm Stade Francais’ survival hopes, but both are effectively relying on the Castres-Oyonnax outcome.
The hosts want Adrien Buononato’s men to emerge triumphant, while the Parisians will hope that Christophe Urios’ charges do the business in a result which would assure their place in the Top 14.
Last season’s result: La Rochelle won 37-18
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Adrien Descottes
Assistant referees: Julien Castaignede, Arnaud Blondel
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Pau vs Toulon
Stade du Hameau
Much like La Rochelle, Pau are relying on other results to go in their favour for them to move into the top-six picture.
They have ultimately been left to rue their shock home defeat to Agen and, after playing so well in the second half of the campaign, successive defeats have come at the wrong time.
Meanwhile, Toulon are hoping to sneak into the top-two. That appears unlikely, however, with Racing 92 and Toulouse standing in their way but, even if they fail to automatically make the semi-final, a win at the Stade du Hameau would continue their good form.
Fabien Galthie’s men have been excellent over the past few weeks, producing some fine displays in the Top 14, and will duly be a threat to anyone in the play-offs.
Last season’s result: Toulon won 22-18
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas, Sebastien Hebert
TMO: Maxime Chalon
Racing 92 vs Agen
Stade de la Rabine
With Toulouse unable to get the bonus-point last weekend and Racing 92 securing the full five at Bordeaux, the Parisians are well placed to garner the second semi-final slot.
They are just one dominant victory away from the last four and that should come against Agen, who sealed their Top 14 status by defeating Clermont Auvergne.
Philippe Sella’s men have enjoyed a successful season, considering their financial restraints, but his players may already be thinking about their holidays.
It would certainly be a shock, having done the hard work against Bordeaux in Round 25, should Racing fail to join Montpellier in the knockout stages.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Cedric Marchat, Eric Soulan
TMO: Patrick Dellac