Thanks to a wide success against Bayonne, Castres approaches the qualification for the final phase of the Top 14. Vannes, dominated by Pau on his lawn, is closer to a relegation.
Final phases that stretch out the Olympic Castres! Opposed to Bayonnais rowing, a direct opponent for the qualification in play -offs, the Tarnais took the time but ended up having the Basques at wear. Led 3-0 shortly before half an hour of play, the men of Xavier Sadourny scored eight points in two minutes, including a test by Nathanaël Hulleu, on the edge of the touch (27th). A sequence with the appearance of a launch ramp.
After a penalty by Julien Dumora, who allowed them to lead 11 to 3 at halftime, the locals went on the return from the locker room, with three new tests, signed Rémy Baget (43rd), Baptiste Cope (68th), and Nathanaël Hulleu, for the double on an interception (74th) and especially the test of the offensive bonus. Castres has taken a very big step towards qualification, which the CO will have to validate on the lawn of the Stade Français.
For its part, La Rochelle also has its destiny in hand, in the perspective of the playoffs. But that it was hard for Rochelais too often penalized during the first act! Despite a double of the scrum half Tawera Kerr-Barlow (8th, 28th) in the first period, the players of Ronan O’Gara constantly offered ammunition at Tommaso Allan on penalty. The score is only 17 to 15 in the 50th minute, when the Maritimes find themselves reduced to 14 against 15. A yellow card with the appearance of an electroshock, because the reaction is not long behind. Three following trials, signed Pierre Bourgarit (51st), Thierry Paiva (68th) and Dillyn Leyds (78th) to glean a crucial offensive bonus in the race for the final stages (38-15) and sow doubt in the head of Perpignanais at the gates of relegation.
Valves near the abyss
Fortunately for USAP, Vannes did not weigh very heavy against Pau, at home (26-52). If the Bretons struck, on a test by Matthieu Uhila (4th), the Béarnaise liveliness quickly made the difference for the locals. After Fabien Brau-Boirie (9th), it was Emilien Gailleton who concluded a superb collective movement at the quarter of an hour (16th). 17 to 12 for Pau at the break, before a surge from the section on the return from the locker room. Five trials in total, flattened by Reece Hewat (45th), Gailleton, again (54th), Théo Attissogbe (66th), Thomas Jolmès (70th) and Thomas Souverbie (80th) on a personal feat. A striking force that compensated for the three tests granted to the Vannetais to stay in contact with the Top 6 before receiving La Rochelle, for a grand final next week. Vannes is not yet in Pro D2 but the room for maneuver is tiny.
In the last afternoon match, only disappointed but a moral winner. If Racing 92 and Montpellier are both eliminated from potential playoffs, the MHR has made it a point of honor to end its exercise. Reduced to 14 after the final exclusion of their captain Billy Vunipola (35th), the Héraults conceded a test of Nolan Le Garrec in stride (37th) to let the Racingmen dominate at the break (15-7). However, in the second half, and after the farewell of Captain Henry Chavancy at La Défense Arena, the Ile-de-France residents completely exhausted, first leaving the Montpelliérains going before on a test of the hooker replacing Lyam Akrab (61st), then scuttled just before the mermaid with a yellow card and a penalty of Anthony Bouthier facing the post (25-27). A match to be quickly forgotten for the Racingmen, which should end the season behind their executioner of the day!
