Toulouse look set to lead from the front

AS the French Top 14 takes a week’s break for the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals, here’s a look at the remainder of the domestic campaign for every team.

- JAMES HARRINGTON

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