One semi-final slot, four playoff places, Top 14 safety and both relegation-zone places were all still very much in play at the start of the penultimate weekend of the regular season.
Some sides had more sums to do than others. On Saturday night, Toulon faced the first of two season-defining Top 14 matches, which sandwich the Challenge Cup final against Glasgow in Dublin.
Make no mistake, Toulon will be up for Friday's match at the Aviva and not just because they came up short last year against Lyon and in 2020 against Bristol. They haven't opened their trophy cabinet since winning the Champions. Cup for a third time in 2015, and desperately want to start adding to their collection again.
And then there's the small matter of their Top 14 challenge, which is overshadowed by a problem entirely of their own making. Toulon have made no secret of their play-off ambitions. Three matches ago, they were fourth and well-placed for the final phase. They headed into Saturday evening's match against Racing 92, in Le Havre, having dropped provisionally to eighth in the table on the back of two defeats in as many matches.
But trying to fight their way back into the top six wasn't Toulon's only problem as the Top 14 season draws to a close. Their squad for the first of two vital domestic games against top six sides and their own play-off hopes at stake was almost unrecognisable.
There was no Cheslin Kolbe, Jiuta Wainiqolo, or Dan Biggar. Sergio Parisse was a notable absentee, as were Waisea Nayacalevu and Facundo Isa.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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.
