All seven matches kick off at the same time this weekend, to ensure fairness, added drama, and plenty of images of coaching teams nervously checking their phones to find out what’s going on elsewhere.
With good reason, even though, at first glance there may not seem there’s much to decide – two of the four semi-final places are taken, five of six play-off places are filled, and one of the two relegation places is confirmed. But, hidden in that apparent order, there’s a lot still to be decided.
Toulouse and newly recrowned Champions Cup winners La Rochelle are guaranteed a top-two finish, which come with a direct pass to the semi-finals in San Sebastian, northern Spain, on June 9 and 10.
The only consideration for the top two – as leaders Toulouse entertain already relegated Brive this evening, and La Rochelle host third-placed Stade Francais – is who will finish the season at the top of the pile, play in the first semi-final and have kit and dressing room preference in the final eight days later.
The odds are in favour of Toulouse finishing in first place. More than one of their players has mentioned it as a major target this week. They’re two points clear of the Rochelais, and there’s, frankly, little advantage for La Rochelle in chasing first too hard on this side of the semi-finals.
Esta historia es de la edición May 28, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 28, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
