Top 14: beware of getting bogged down for La Rochelle, Toulon and Paris
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Paris (AFP)
La Rochelle and Toulon, poorly classified, have no choice but to return to victory under penalty of getting bogged down on Saturday during the 6th day which ends on Sunday with an already crucial match for the Stade Français, last, against Clermont.
. La Rochelle wants to stop repeating
Finalist of the championship and the European Cup last season, Stade Rochelais has not been able to find the right fuel since the resumption. The balance sheet? Four losses in five games and it is not the three bonus points obtained that will mask the situation. The Maritimes are in the penultimate place in the standings and must react to Castres (Saturday at 3:00 p.m.). A delicate challenge since the OC, in full confidence, has suffered only one setback so far. “Last season is over. We have to stop thinking about it and talking about it. It’s a new season, with a new group, a new staff, a new championship. head on the right path and stop looking back, ”said third row Grégory Alldritt.
. Pressure on Toulon
Absent from the last final phase, the RCT wants to forget this fiasco and raise the Brennus Shield, which has eluded him since 2014. But with only one success so far, the Var club is at an eleventh rank unworthy of its triple status European champion (2013, 2014, 2015). President Bernard Lemaître assuredly assured that he did not set “an ultimatum” to the players and to the coach Patrice Collazo, but an assessment would have been made at the end of the following three days. A reaction from his flock on Saturday at home would therefore be welcome. But the opponent, Brive (9:05 pm), is not easy to maneuver. Third in the standings, he is even the pleasant surprise of the start of the season.
. Chasseur inconstancy at Racing 92
The Ciel et Blancs want to stay in the right car, that of the final phase. Problem: Laurent Travers’ men have shown irregularity since the restart. Irregularity symbolized by their melee problems. Receiving Perpignan (Saturday at 3:00 p.m.), reigning Pro D2 champion, seems a good opportunity to get back in the saddle. But the Racingmen have already broken their teeth on a promoted, Biarritz. Their trainer, Laurent Travers, is wary. “We fear Usap very much,” he assures us. “When you are in the euphoria of a climb and a title, automatically you have a group that is created and is still very strong”, adds the coach, cautious.
. Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles to cement
The only club with five victories, the two-time defending French champion from Toulouse can build on his lead (6 points) at the top of the standings with a new success ahead of Pau (Saturday at 5:00 p.m.), a team that is doing well for him. The Rouge et Noir have not lost to the Section since January 7, 2018 and a setback in Béarn (11-10). The UBB will try to reassemble its dolphin chair. But the Bordeaux team will have to scramble with Montpellier, which remains on one side in front of La Rochelle (21-11) and wants to validate its progress with a second consecutive victory. It would be a first for the Hérault club this season.
. Paris finally liberated?
Four small units and one last place a source of serious concern: the Stade Français has no more time to lose. To bounce back, he must negotiate the reception of Clermont (Sunday at 9:05 pm), a formation, it, in search of points to find the first six places. But the capital club must continue to deal with absences. The second line Yoann Maestri, hit in an arm during the defeat at Brive, added his name to the long list of injured (Delbouis, Etien, Castets …). Not ideal before measuring against the “Jaunards”, who remain on a convincing success in front of the Racingmen. But the Stadians have no choice.
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