The leader: Bordeaux-Bègles on a thread
A point in the standings separates Bordeaux from its runner-up, Montpellier, which has one game less. Suffice to say that the position of the Girondins hangs by a thread. Indeed, Saturday afternoon in Chaban-Delmas, the men of Christophe Urios suffered a fourth defeat in a row (16-23) against Pau. It’s starting to get messy. Especially since the Championship leader conceded three tries from Pau to register only one. The absence since January 16 of Matthieu Jalibert, his playing master, cannot on its own explain this drop in speed. Morale at half mast, will the Girondins take advantage of their trip to Clermont in a late match to widen the gap in the lead? Answer this Saturday, at 9:05 p.m.
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The feat: Pau, it’s beautiful to see
After having contained Stade Toulousain on their Hameau lawn when they were playing at thirteen in the last thirty minutes, the Palois brought down the leader at home with panache (16-23), forcing fate in the last two minutes with the test of their back Antoine Hastoy, usually opener. A conquering pack, a solid defense and offensive inspirations: six days to go, Section Paloise could well start aiming for the top of the table with ambition, rather than looking down.
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2
The number of away victories during this 20th day (Pau in Bordeaux, Toulon in Biarritz).
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Frustration: Toulouse leaves Paris with the drone
While they had a draw in their pocket (16-16) and regulation time was over, Toulouse were unable to keep this honorable result for Jean-Bouin. An action where Yannick Youyoutte fought to recover the ball on the ground on the last ruck. The referee let play and at the end of this last action, while the bell of Notre-Dame resounded, the Parisian rear Kylan Hamdaoui scored the try for the Parisian victory (23-16), depriving Toulouse of a defensive bonus, which leaves Paris with the bumblebee.
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4
The number of offensive bonuses (Castres, Toulon, La Rochelle, Perpignan) collected.
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The question: who will compete in the jump-off?
With only five wins in twenty games, Biarritz has already taken over the management of the Pro D2. It remains to be seen who will play the accession-relegation play-off match against the unfortunate finalist of the Pro D2. Perpignan, Toulon and Brive have only seven successes but the Varois, currently twelfth, have two matches behind which could allow them to move up the rankings to ninth place. Less than a stroke less well from Stade Français, which currently seems unlikely, Brive and Perpignan seem condemned to fight from a distance to avoid this ax match.
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193
The total of the Lyon opener Léo Berdeu, author of eleven points in Clermont, and still leader of the ranking of the best directors.
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The statement: “We have heroic boys”
Pierre-Henry Broncan, manager of Castres, victorious in numerical inferiority of Montpellier (25-9): “In the locker room, at half-time, we had confidence in ourselves because we had a big bench, but still had to he will score two more tries, take the offensive bonus and defend at 13 at the end of the match… I think we have heroic boys at the end of the game, like Thomas Combezou (author of the third Tarn essay at the 50th). Now players will have a week-long family vacation. It will do them good to clear their heads. »
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The next day: UBB put to the test by volcanoes
Long break in the Championship which will not resume until March 26 and gives way to the last two days of the Six Nations Tournament, to the point that the NRL has not yet announced the dates and times. We know that Clermont, in the ascending phase, will go to Mayol to face Toulon who, too, are raising their heads. The Stade Français will welcome Bordeaux-Bègles, in difficulty, while Racing 92 is moving this time to La Rochelle, anything but a sinecure. Pau, which receives Perpignan, should continue its march forward. In the meantime, two late matches will be played: Montpellier – Toulon (Saturday, 9:05 p.m.) then Clermont – Bordeaux-Bègles (Sunday, 9:05 p.m.).
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