Top 14 wrap: Round 24
Star of the day: Christophe Dominici made his final appearance at Jean-Bouin
The Top 14 once again lived up to it's reputation for being unpredictable as the top two teams, Clermont and Toulouse both lost - to Montauban and Brive respectively.
Biarritz kept their slim semi-final hopes alive while Montpellier stayed in the race for Heineken Cup qualification.
Results:
Brive 15 - 12 Toulouse
Auch 13 - 25 Perpignan
Biarritz 30 - 10 Bourgoin
US Dax 16 - 36 Montpellier
Albi 13 - 6 Bayonne
Stade Français 44 - 15 Castres
Montauban 18 - 16 Clermont
Table after Round 24
1 Clermont Auvergne 91
2 Stade Toulousain 82
3 Stade Français 75
4 Perpignan 66
5 Biarritz Olympique 64
6 Castres Olympique 61
7 Montauban 58
8 Montpellier 53
9 Bayonne 49
10 Bourgoin 48
11 Albi 46
12 Brive 45
13 Dax 34
14 Auch 19
If ever there was a game that proved that rugby is played on grass, and not paper, this is it. Toulouse dominated the possession and territory stats. The team they brought to Brive was close to their strongest. Man for man, on paper, Toulouse were in a different league. But in real world Brive and Toulouse are in the same league - it's called the Top 14, where anything is possible.
Brive had exactly two chances to score tries - and did on both occasions. One got the distinct impression that notions like 'kicking for territory' and 'structure' were forbidden in the Toulouse camp as ran the ball from anywhere and everywhere, often showing glimpses of what a class team they can be. Unfortunately those moves, almost with exception, were interrupted by handling errors or a lack of communication. The losing Heineken Cup Finalists brought their running shows, but seemed to have left their heads in Cardiff.
The result assures Brive of their place in the Top 14 next season and after beating Stade Français a fortnight ago, they're finishing the season on a high. Try scoring flank Antonie Classen had a super game - in stark contrast to the Toulouse loose trio who had a night to forget. Classen's try game just six minutes from the end when Toulouse seemed to have the game wrapped up. Jean Baptiste Elissalde missed a penalty in injury time to send the home crowd into a frenzy and Toulouse home with nothing more than a losing bonus point.
Toulouse travel to Perpignan with a second string side on Tuesday in an attempt to avoid their third consecutive defeat. An almost unheard of situation for the giants of French rugby. To make matters worse, star full-back Cédric Heymans is expected to be out of action for a least two weeks with knee and shoulder injuries.
Perpignan got their busy week of to a solid start by winning the first of their three games in ten days. A workman like display brought them a step closer to the semi-finals.
Auch are looking to leave the Top 14 with their heads held high. After beating Stade Français last week they were out pick up another big scalp and started the encounter off in typically aggressive style. Fly-half Frédéric Couzier had a great game and scored the game's first try.
But Perpignan were always going to have more fire power and slowly but surely took a hold of the match. In the absence of Percy Montgomery, full-back Jérôme Porical contributed twelve points, including the first of the Catalans' three tries. South African fly-half Gavin Hume had an equally impressive performance as he was involved every one of the visitors' points scoring moves.
With a two point cushion on Biarritz and visit from Toulouse on Tuesday, the pressure is on Perpignan in the race for the semi-finals. So far, so good.
Biarritz 30 - 10 Bourgoin
Biarritz have not yet said their last word. After four consecutive defeats, they seem to have found the winning path again with a second 20 point home victory after beating Montpellier last week. The Basques produced one of their best matches of the season to keep the pressure on Perpignan. Four tries and a bonus point mean that Biarritz have secured Heineken Cup qualification and are with striking distance of the semi-finals.
Biarritz captain Imanol Harinordoquy scored the home side's fourth try in the 80th minute as a just reward for the Basque pack that has slaved away all season and was clearly superior to their Bourgoin counterparts who suffered without stalwart Olivier Milloud.
Dax 16 - 36 Montpellier
It's the end of the road for Dax. Mathematically they have no chance of avoiding relegation and joining Auch in the ProD2 other than the League National de Rugby rejecting Albi's appeal against the demotion for financial irregularities. Both clubs will now anxiously await the verdict to be delivered on June 10.
Montpellier's bonus point victory (their first offensive bonus point of the season) means that they keep the pressure firmly on Montauban as they vie for European Cup qualification.
After a tight opening period the visitors slowly imposed their rhythm on the game. Led by an inspired performance from fly-half Federico Todeschini, Montpellier ran in five tries as they held the upper hand in the physical confrontations.
The team from the Herault will head back to the Mediterranean coast satisfied with 80 minutes of rugby that saw them as solid in defence as they were incisive in attack. A very encouraging display for a team that has been plagued by inconstancy ahead of their vital showdown with Montauban
Albi 13 - 6 Bayonne
Albi have done all they can do now as their future now lies in the hands of men in suits in Paris. Four consecutive home victories have been enough to keep Eric Béchu's men in the top flight - at least as far as point on the table are concerned.
The home side scored two tries in the first fifteen minutes thanks to their domination up front and led 13-3 at half time. Carried by the support of their home crowd, Albi shut their Basque visitors down to grind out a precious victory. Few can deny that they've earned their place in the Top 14. All they can do now is wait.
Stade Français 44 - 15 Castres
Stade Français earned a place in the semi-finals on an emotional day that saw Christophe Dominici play his last game at Jean-Bouin stadium.
After two humiliating defeats, five points will do the Parisians' confidence the world of good before the play-offs.
It was their visitors though who applied the early pressure. Castres could have - should have- opened the scores but some solid Stade Français defending was followed by an excellent individual effort from Julien Saubade, who touched down for the home side after 12 minutes. The rest of an very equally balanced first half saw a place kicking dual between Castres full-back Romain Teulet and Stade fly-half Lionel Beauxis end in the Parisians holding a 16-12 lead at half time.
The second-half saw Castres camped in the Stade 22 before completely running out of gas. It was one way traffic in the last twenty minutes as the defending champions ran in three more tries - two for replacement Boela du Plooy on either side of one from Mirko Bergamasco.
More good news for Stade Français as David Skrela came on for the last ten minutes, linking up well with Brian Liebenberg outside him and adding the conversion for Du Plooy's last try.
Montauban 18 - 16 Clermont
Yet another heavy weight bites the dust at Sapiac!
An penalty in the 80th minutes from Montauban full-back Fabien Fortassin, who scored all his sides points including two drop goals, sealed memorable victory for the home side over the championship leaders.
The win is worth it's weight in gold for Montauban who saw Montpellier move to just one point behind then earlier in the day - threatening their hold on the last European qualifying position.
Clermont arrived with a below strength team and coach Vern Cotter said after the game that he was satisfied with his side's performance despite the narrow loss.
The leaders weren't without ammunition though as French internationals Anthony Floch, Junlien Malzieu and Elvis Vermeulen were out to catch the coach eye before the play-offs after not being regular starters of late. (In a bizarre turn of events, when Vermeulen limped off he was replaced at number eight by none other than Fijian wing Napoliani Nalaga!)
Floch and Malzieu both showed good form and Floch was at the origin of the game's only try, scored by Mirko Lozupone.
Clermont won't be too concerned by the loss. Already qualified for the semi-finals a well clear at the top of the table, their heavy artillery will no doubt return next week to warm up for the play-offs.