“Top 14: A Big Month to Decide the Season”

A big month is all that remains to decide the season. The Top 14 is getting closer to its first outcome. Not the eternal one, towards the Brennus. But the one who will decide the way to get there. Four days before the end of the regular season, the first lessons are taking a little more shape. But there are still many hot spots and undecided during this last month and a half of competition before the final stages at the top, as well as at the bottom of the table.

The fight for the Top 2: Toulouse is heading towards the semi-finals, La Rochelle has followed suit

• 1er : Toulouse, 71 points
  Schedule: at Stade Français, against UBB, in Perpignan, against Brive

• 2nd: La Rochelle, 65 points
  Schedule: against Clermont, Toulon, Montpellier, against Stade Français

This is perhaps where there is the most certainty. At the top of the Top 14, almost logically, Toulouse and La Rochelle took their ease to secure their direct ticket to the semi-finals. For Stade Toulousain, it is the reward for a long-term effort with 20 of the 22 days spent at the helm of the classification. And even when they are jostled, like at Racing in early March, or when everything seems to be going wrong at the start of the match against Lyon on Sunday evening, Ugo Mola’s men are advancing tirelessly towards 1st place.

Behind, La Rochelle will have taken its time to digest its historic 2021-2022 season. In 2023, the Maritimes have rediscovered this look of senators, without shaking. The calendar for the end of the season also leaves enough to see coming to Rochelais, with matches against Clermont and Montpellier, called to finish in the soft underbelly. There may then be a possible final at home against Stade Français to close the deal. With their five consecutive victories, the players of Ronan O’Gara offered themselves a luxury for this sprint: to have their destiny in their hands.

The fight for the play-offs: four teams in three points, the Stade Français referee at the top of the table

• 3rd: Stade Français, 60 points
  Schedule: against Toulouse, Clermont, against Lyonin La Rochelle

• 4e : Toulon, 57 points
  Timetable: in Castres, opposite La Rochelle, au Racing 92, facing the UBB

• 5e : Lyon, 56 points
  Calendar : at UBBfacing Perpignan, at the French Stadium, facing Bayonne

• 6e : Racing 92, 56 points
  Timetable: in Perpignan, opposite Bayonne, against Toulonin Clermont

• 7th: Bordeaux-Bègles, 54 points
  Calendar : against Lyonin Toulouse, opposite Pau, in Toulon

• 8e : Bayonne, 50 points
  Calendar: against Montpellier, au Racing 92facing Clermont, In Lyon

Each match now looks like a potential seesaw, starting with the move of LOU to Bordeaux-Bègles next weekend. The 25th day with Stade Français – Lyon and Racing 92 – Toulon on the bill could weigh very heavily. The RCT has the palm of the dynamics with three consecutive victories. But his schedule – plus the Challenge Cup semi-final – leaves him no room for error, especially in Castres next Saturday. Current third, the Stade Français is not badly off either with the two leaders still on the program. For Bayonne, eighth and with a bonus victory, the bad pass of the moment and the cascade of injuries should be expensive.

The fight to maintain: Brive must hope for a miracle, Pau has given himself some air

• 12e : Pau, 41 points
  Calendar : in Brivefacing Castres, UBB, facing Montpellier

• 13th: Perpignan, 35 points
  Calendar: against Racing 92, in Lyon, against Toulouse, in Castres

• 14th: Brive, 27 points
  Calendar : facing Paulin Montpellier, opposite Castres, in Toulouse

Perpignan may have thought that their irresistible comeback could continue until the end of the season. But the USAP is marking time with two defeats in a row… when Pau finally finds its colors. The Section has won as many matches in the last three weeks as in the previous three months, beating Bayonne and then Clermont. The Béarnais have a golden opportunity to surf on their upturn by facing the red lantern Brive next Saturday.

For the CA, which remains following eight losses in a row, this will be the last chance match to still hope to hang on to the accession match. His defeat on Saturday with the honors and the defensive bonus, against Stade Français, should show him the way forward. Still it will be necessary to hope that the Perpignanais do not sign the exploit of affording Racing, the LOU or Toulouse, its calendar au gratin these next weeks.