Toulon snatch second spot in Top 14 ahead of play-offs

Toulon qualified directly for the semi-finals in France's end-of-season play-offs after snatching second spot in the table in a dramatic finish to the Top 14 regular season on Sunday.

A comprehensive bonus-point 44-3 win for Bernard Laporte's side against Bordeaux-Begles combined with a 40-25 defeat for Montpellier -- who had started the weekend in second spot -- away to Racing 92 was enough for Toulon.

Their win, which featured six tries including two from Josua Tuisova and one each by Jonathan Pelissie, Steffon Armitage, Jean-Charles Orioli and James O'Connor, allowed Toulon to finish second behind table-toppers Clermont.
It was the perfect send-off for charismatic Toulon manager Laporte in what was his last match in charge at their Stade Mayol. 

"We have had a very difficult season with lots of injuries, but we are there," said Laporte.

"There are young players who have emerged and they deserve to be congratulated. 

"We owe a lot to this generation that is coming through. They have made Toulon this year. We are among the top four clubs in France. Of course we will try to go as far as possible."

Meanwhile, the defeat for Bordeaux, who had the Fijian Metuisela Talebula red-carded after just 20 minutes, ended their play-off hopes.

Leaders Clermont thumped La Rochelle 57-8 and both they and Toulon now advance directly to the semi-finals in Rennes in two weeks time, the prelude to the final in Barcelona.

- Montpellier denied -

European Challenge Cup winners Montpellier, meanwhile, finish third and will face Castres in the play-offs next Sunday, with the winner of that going on to a semi-final against Toulon.
Racing and Toulouse will also face one another in the quarter-finals for the right to take on Clermont in the last four.

Jake White's Montpellier were looking to avoid defeat away in Paris and secure a direct pass to the semi-finals but they will now have to go again next weekend after a brace of tries from Juan Imhoff and two further efforts from Joe Rokocoko and Bernard Le Roux made the difference for the home side.

Maxime Machenaud added three penalties and three conversions, while Johan Goosen kicked the remaining points, with Akapusi Qera, Pierre Spies and Nicolas Mas crossing for the visitors, ultimately in vain.

"It is disappointing because we wanted to win to qualify directly for the semi-finals and get a rest next weekend rather than play Castres," said White.

"But Racing played very well. We saw that they have learnt their lessons from their failure in the European Cup final."

Toulouse finished the regular season with a convincing 53-14 victory at Grenoble, their sixth straight win, that included eight tries, two of them from Gillian Galan.

Castres secured the final play-off spot by beating outgoing champions Stade Francais 35-14 as Rory Kockott scored two tries while also impressing with the boot.

At Clermont, three of the home side's nine tries against La Rochelle came from David Strettle as they recorded a big victory on Australian fly-half Brock James' final appearance for the club at their Stade Marcel-Michelin.

James will leave the club in the summer after 10 years of his service, with La Rochelle to be his next destination.

"I have loved playing here," remarked James. "There was a lot of emotion this evening. I have rarely seen the stadium like this.

"Now we need to look ahead. We played really well but now it's onto the final stages."

In other games, Brive defeated Pau 46-10 and Agen beat Oyonnax 23-19 in a meeting of the two relegated sides.

Source: AFP