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.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin May 14, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin May 14, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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.
