The Bordelais and the Lyonnais have already won their tickets for the final phase. But this last day is not without challenges. UBB needs a point to secure a round of 16 at home. To bring back from the long trip to South Africa against the Pretoria Bulls. An advantage that the LOU can also obtain, provided they win on the pitch of the London Saracens and hope for a defeat without bonus from the UBB. Random but sport is never short of surprises…
Stade Toulousain, like Bath and Harlequins, have already won their ticket to the final phase. Toulouse, which hosts Bath, must win to be assured of reaching the semi-finals. The Ile-de-France residents no longer have their destiny in their hands. If Ulster win against the London Quins, Racing 92 will be eliminated before even playing their last match. If the Irish province does not win, Gaël Fickou and his teammates will have to beat Cardiff in their Paris La Défense venue to snatch the last folding seat for the round of 16. Not glorious but a lesser evil given the high ambitions displayed at the start of the season.
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In this group, the two English representatives, the Northampton Saints and the Exeter Chiefs, are already qualified. The Irish from Munster are almost there, with one last bonus point to go for. Behind this trio, the winner of Glasgow-Toulon will qualify. The composition of the Var starting XV questions the real desire of the Toulonnais to win in Scotland. A defeat for the RCT which would also eliminate… Bayonne! To qualify, Rowing must therefore hope for a victory for Toulon then beat the Exeter Chiefs on Sunday and thus… eliminate Toulon! An objective far from being a priority if we are to believe the manager of the Basques, Grégory Patat. “There may be an opportunity to qualify but, today, we are not invited at that level. We need to grow…”
Leinster is qualified and Stade Français Paris already eliminated (the only one of the 24 clubs involved in this case…). There is therefore room for the double title holder, Stade Rochelais who after two defeats got back into position thanks to their improved victory against the Leicester Tigers. A victory for the Maritimes against the English of Sale would ensure that they continue their dream of a treble. But their opponent is under the same obligation: victory or nothing. A draw (or a double bonus) could also qualify Ronan O’Gara’s squad, counting on a defeat by Leicester (who host Leinster) and/or the Stormers (who travel to Paris).
The French club program Friday, 9 p.m.: Glasgow-Toulon Saturday, 2 p.m.: Bulls- UBB Saturday, 4:15 p.m.: Racing 92-Cardiff Saturday, 6:30 p.m.: Stade Français-Stormers Saturday 9 p.m.: Saracens-Lyon Sunday 2 p.m.: Sale-La Rochelle Sunday, 4:15 p.m. : Toulouse-BathSunday, 6:30 p.m.: Bayonne-Exeter
