Two days from the end of the regular season, the verdict begins to emerge.
For five clubs - Toulouse, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Racing and Clermont - qualification is practically acquired (it remains to be determined which two will go directly to the semi-finals and the next two which will receive play-offs).
The sixth and last ticket will be played between four teams, Stade Français, Toulon (62 points each), Castres and Lyon (60 points).
Suffice to say that this direct confrontation between the 6th and the 9th will leave the loser on the floor.
“There is still hope, we are still alive, summarizes Pierre Mignoni, the manager of LOU.
We have two finals games left. ”
The first to Jean-Bouin this evening (9 p.m.).
Faced with an opponent who came back from afar to invite himself into the fight, carried by a dynamic - 4 consecutive victories against Pau (46-32), Racing 92 (35-29), Brive (31-28) and Montpellier ( 32-10) - and increased confidence at the time of packaging, when the Lyonnais are on AC in recent weeks (2 home wins, two away losses).
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It is often when we have no choice that we make our best matches
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Lyon's second line Félix Lambey
“We know very well that we will have to put out a great performance against a difficult team.
Above all, I want us to end this match without regret, ”hopes the former scrum half.
For this, the three-quarter center Thibaut Regard indicates the procedure to follow: “you have to give everything, not to calculate and to send yourself thoroughly.
It will be a match of duels against Parisians who have great physical qualities.
But I feel a good collective energy.
Everyone believes in it, no one has given up. ”
Like Félix Lambey.
“I noticed that we were capable of great performances when we were down to the wall.
It is often when we have no choice that we make our best matches, ”tries to reassure the second row.
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“The two teams are in '' Cup '' mode, warns Parisian manager Gonzalo Quesada.
When we look at the last seasons of the LOU and their ambitions, we know that we will have a determined team against us.
The experience will be more on their side in view of the last seasons.
But, ours, we have this need to win to stay alive for several weeks and, for the moment, that gives us a boost… I feel a lot of enthusiasm in the group.
It's a chance to play a game like that.
It's a bonus.
We still want to dream. ”
Wisniewki, surprise return for the LOU
An impression confirmed by Kylan Hamdaoui, back from injury for this decisive face-to-face. “The group is motivated, there is no other word! For some time now, we've been playing our season in every game. What is beautiful is that we have our destiny in hand. But that only requires victories, ”confided the Parisian rear. He did not forget the scenario of the first leg, where the LOU had won on the wire, 20 to 19, thanks to a try scored by the pillar Demba Bamba five minutes from the end. “We made progress on that side. We still have great fears, as against Racing. But, even if we are afraid, these matches, we manage to win them now. Before, we had the game in hand and we let it slip away… ”
Better to avoid repeating these approximations, these trembling hands, facing Lyonnais with their backs to the wall.
And who, surprise, will be able to count on their master to play, Jonathan Wisniewski.
Hit in the shoulder against La Rochelle on April 17, we feared not to see the opener again on a field who announced to hang up the crampons at the end of the season.
Finally, he will replay.
At least one game.
Maybe two.
More, it will depend on the outcome of this decisive Paris-Lyon.
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