Big weekend 6 points separating pos 3 to 8 for top6 which is hugely important for play offs and euro qualification ...

As I speak ...Ashton breaks Top14 try scoring record and Toulon go 12/0 up against Mop at Marseille

Big fight at the bottom too to stay up....

Toulon win it 32/17, shoddy at the finish ...missed BP ...could prove important

Toulon up to 3rd with other all others to pkay ....they could slip to 4th if Tlse win

PS Cruden passing a lesson to any youngsters watching, should have mom imo

Good gate 49k+ wouldve been more, transpirt strike ....

Agen beat Pau at Pau 22-33 means Pau unlikely to get top 6 and Agen will survive, they've played really well in recent games

Oyonnax beat Brive 40-17 means Brive near the scaffold and Stade Français in danger now ... away at Lyon tonight and Lyon have a chance of Top6

Clerm beat Bordeaux 33-3

Lyon / Stade F tonight

La Rochelle/Castres tomorrow both going for Top6 tomorrow and

Toulouse/Racing also .. Both going for Top6 and, of course, Racing in Euro Champs semi. Both Toulouse and Racing have a chance at 2nd with a free game and home semi as the prize. If Toulouse don't win and don't get a BP they will have to fight to stay in Top6

Adrenalin flowing ..

Lyon demolish Stade F 44/3 who are now in danger of relegation given both Oyonnax and Agen won. They also get a BP and have promoted themselves in the top6 competition.

2 more games tomorrow and I'll post the table then with 2 games to play ...

Last 2 matches today :
Vito,
La Roc v Castres ..12:30 Fra time k off

Important game ... both need points to stay in top 6

LR currently 7 and Castres 8 but this game in hand

La Roc have some v important players back from absences incl Doumayrou and Vito. They are usually strong at home

The other one

Toulouse v Racing

Toulouse currently 4 and Racing 2

It's on Sky (k off UK time 15:50)

Toulouse fielding the best team available ex injuries

Racing field a mixture given their Euro semi next w/end (they will be a day down compared to Munster)

Racing safer than Toulouse but a loss could make them vulnerable in last 2 matches. Important to get top 2 for home semi and a day off play offs.

Teams

La Roc lose 18/26 and go to 8th and very unlikely for top 6, Castres go to 6th and have to fight on to stay there


all on Tlse v Racing to complete the round

La Roc certsinly lost impetus and could well be a disappointing Season for them that promised so much ....

Weird game

Racing field 12 changes

Tlse race away 5 tries ahead ...

then Racing score 2 tries and a truly bizarre 3rd ....from nowhere and requiring a tmo on 2 aspects ...

.....given and Racing dreny Tlse a vital BP 5 t to 3 ...need 3 clear tries for top14 bonus

Tlse won 42/ 27

They have La Roc at home and Clermont away

TABLE WITH 2 GAMES TO GO

Based on that table, Clermont can no longer even qualify for the Champions Cup, let alone the domestic play-offs!

That has been obvious for a long time

But even with injuries they have a very formidable squad even by Top 14 standards, and this season they managed to do the double on the Ospreys and even the Saracens.

I think that you and others dont realise that whilst the strength of their squad is very strong .....you dont realise that the size is limited. The LNR regs limit squad sizes...it was with the intention of trying to ensure a broader spread of available players that didn't work because the composition of squad was based more on capability to spend.

In fact the squad size is formally limited as follows ..

32 full pro contracts
+
# of players on their first year of 1st year pto contract players
+
# of p,ayers in the 2nd year of their pro contract providing they were developed by that Club
+
Injury jokers who replace players under long term onjury ...this is mutually exclusive

(there are exfeptional circumstances when 'Espoirs' ie development players can be used.

Clermont injuries were way out of norm .... at one time e.g they lost at the same time ...their 3 10s , 3 centres, 2 wings and a utility back and 2 scrum halves These were all ace players.

There were other absences in the forwards ..no 8, hooker, second row, etc

These injuries also affected french selection especially half back and 3/4s

Injury jokers were sometimes employed but are difficult to find in mid Season.

They still got out of the euro qualifying and demolished Saracens away. Key injuries happened in parallel e.g both Penaud and Raka were long term injured in the same match.

There isnt any crisis at the club, they will be up there next Season without doubt.

Shit happens