1. Toulouse - 71 points
Remaining fixtures: Bordeaux (h), Perpignan (a), Brive (h)
Toulouse are the only side currently to have officially qualified for the end-of-season play-offs. Their target now, regardless of yesterday’s defeat in Dublin, is to make sure they finish in the top two, and win a bye week to the semi-finals in San Sebastian. With two home matches out of their last three, the odds are very much in their favour.
2. La Rochelle - 70
Remaining fixtures: Toulon (a), Montpellier (a), Stade Francais (h)
Last year’s Champions Cup was nothing like enough for La Rochelle. Ronan O’Gara and his squad want it all. Exeter Chiefs this afternoon is their first challenge. Then they resume their fight for a play-off place, and – like Toulouse – seek a bye to the last four.
Their route isn’t as straightforward as the 2021 double winners, but it would probably be foolish to bet against them.
3. Stade Francais - 64
Remaining fixtures: Clermont (a), Lyon (h), La Rochelle (a)
Gonzalo Quesada, in the closing weeks of his second stint in charge at Stade Jean Bouin, is doing all he can to ensure it finishes as successfully as his first, with a title. The truth is, he’s already exceeded expectations this season. Laurent Labit and Karim Ghezal have some big shoes to fill when they join the club after the World Cup.
4. Bordeaux - 58
Remaining fixtures: Toulouse (a), Pau (h), Toulon (a)
Bordeaux – a side awaiting a new coach in Yannick Bru – face a tough end of season fixture list. With current joint interim head coaches
Denne historien er fra April 30, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 30, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
