Many teams of the Top 14 were playing this weekend, without their internationals but the overall quality of the games has been excellent
Clermont Auvergne remains the leader of this Top 14; the expectations prior the game were high, as current leaders Clermont were to play second-placed Montpellier and what a game! Clermont consolidated their lead with a 42-16 victory at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, despite the red card of Parra after having head-butted Ranger.
Toulouse have certainly displayed great talent in Castres, but Castres did manage to scrap a close win with 29-27. This allows them to sit in third place overall in the Top 14.
Another close win; this was on Friday with Stade Français with 29-26 against Oyonnax. However, the other team of the capital, Racing Métro (without the services of Jonny Sexton) lost a crucial game against Bordeaux with 9-25 and sees “once again” the opportunity to reach the play-offs fading away.
Biarritz will leave the Top 14 at the end of the season but they will not leave without fighting, and this weekend, they demonstrated great fighting spirit with their first away win of the season. This was against Grenoble (currently 6th) with 22-20. Needless to say, Grenoble can only be disappointed and will have to bounce back very quickly if they wish to remain within the top six teams which qualify for the play-offs, especially with a team like Toulouse, currently in 7th place and knocking on the door!
Perpignan can be delighted with their 12-6 win against Brive. This is one step in the right direction to avoid relegation for next season.
This was the last game of this 20th weekend in the Top 14, between Toulon and Bayonne. For Bayonne’s fans, there was to be no miracle. Toulon clinically secured this away game with a 15-9 score.
However, this puts Bayonne in the red zone, with only 4 points of difference with Oyonnax but with two more games in hand for Oyonnax, it might soon become mission impossible.
Top 14 Standings – Week 20
Position | Team | Total Points | Bonus Points | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | For | Against | Pts Diff |
1 | Clermont | 60 | 10 | 20 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 543 | 377 | 166 |
2 | Stade Français | 56 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 399 | 354 | 45 |
3 | Castres | 55 | 9 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 434 | 362 | 72 |
4 | Toulon | 55 | 9 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 463 | 340 | 123 |
5 | Montpellier | 53 | 11 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 491 | 418 | 74 |
6 | Grenoble | 50 | 4 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 374 | 433 | -59 |
7 | Toulouse | 50 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 383 | 338 | 45 |
8 | Racing Métro | 48 | 4 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 307 | 341 | -34 |
9 | Brive | 46 | 10 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 369 | 356 | 13 |
10 | Bordeaux-Bègles | 46 | 10 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 448 | 425 | 23 |
11 | Perpignan | 42 | 8 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 381 | 440 | -59 |
12 | Bayonne | 39 | 7 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 296 | 422 | -126 |
13 | Oyannax | 35 | 3 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 300 | 369 | -69 |
14 | Biarritz | 21 | 5 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 254 | 467 | -213 |
good report, like the style.