The three qualified French teams – Toulouse, Clermont and Racing 92 – all finished first in their pool, but that was not enough to avoid a 100% tricolor poster in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup, which will take place on 4 and April 5.
- Qualified French clubs
Toulouse has successfully completed the perfect course. Six games, six victories and a last recital on Sunday January 19 against Gloucester, who could still qualify in the event of a victory at Ernest-Wallon (35-14). But the semi-finalists of the last edition, led by Romain Ntamack, author of two essays, made the English dizzy with their game of movements and won the offensive bonus. Little regret: the Toulousains failed to win more than 25 points, which would have allowed them to double Exeter at the average point. If the two teams qualified for the semi-finals, Toulouse would therefore move to the English. But before that it will be necessary to beat the Irish province of Ulster.
Clermont also fulfilled its mission: by winning 26-19 among the English Harlequins, the Jaunards overtook Racing 92 in the race for the best four first of group, which receive in the quarterfinals. ASM had a lot of difficulties against an opponent who had already been eliminated but who played without complexes and scored another try. The Clermontois will find the Francilliens in quarters, against whom they have a revenge to take: in 2018 the Ciel et Blanc won it to Marcel Michelin at the same stage of the competition.
Racing could have received Clermont in the event of a victory against the Saracens, but success slipped through their fingers on Sunday. Title holders and winners of three editions in four years were reduced to 14 just before the break, for a dangerous tackle from Will Skelton. The Racingmen, who returned to the match after a bad start, were largely ahead of 24-17. It was without counting on the pride of the English, who wanted to snatch their ticket for the quarters. A penalty three minutes from the end gave them the victory (27-24) which allowed them to be the eighth and last qualified.
- The other shift teams
The Saracens now only have the European Cup to play: the English rugby league decided on Sunday to demote them to the second division next season due to a new breach of the salary cap. They're going to come across a very big piece: the Irish Leinster, winners of the competition in 2018 and … unhappy finalists against the Saracens the following year (20-10). Another revenge, but where the Irish seem better armed, after flying over group A, with six wins. They haven't lost since the European Cup final.
The other team in good shape is Exeter. The English are also unbeaten in the group stage, even if they conceded a draw. Also first in the English championship, they will face their dolphin Northampton.
- The other French teams: hard learning for Lou
The only other French team that still had a tiny hope of qualifying, La Rochelle only held a half against Exeter (14-14), before sinking 33-14. The Maritimes were already eliminated anyway after the first results of the sixth day. Starting with the defeat of Lyon against Northampton. For the LOU, learning the European Cup was tough again this year. After the zero scored last season, Pierre Mignoni’s men won only one game, and even lost to the modest Italians of Treviso. Against the English, however, they had started perfectly and led 17-5 at halftime. They then collapsed, ultimately losing 36-24. Also eliminated before the day, Montpellier concluded on a high note his European campaign: with a victory against Connacht (35-29), thanks to a test two minutes from the end of Yvan Reilhac.
In the small European Cup, the Challenge Cup, three French clubs also qualified for the quarter-finals. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, second in the Top 14, will receive Edimbourgh while Toulon, 3e in the championship, will face the Welsh Scarlets at home. Last qualified French team, Castres will go to England, against Leicester. The last poster will pit the British from Bristol against the Welsh Dragons from Newport.
