The Top 14 has reached the semi-final stage and it is fair to say few would have predicted these last-four contests.
While Montpellier and Racing 92 – two of the biggest spenders in the competition – have unsurprisingly made their way into the penultimate week, Lyon and Castres have had to do it the hard way, by going through the barrages and upsetting two giants of French rugby, Toulon and Toulouse respectively.
Montpellier vs Lyon
Groupama Stadium
After securing automatic qualification for the semi-finals, Montpellier are meant to have a distinct advantage and, in many ways, they do, but certain aspects also favour their opponents.
By going into extra time and defeating Toulon on tries scored – the game ended in a 19-19 draw – Lyon will be more tired than Vern Cotter’s men, who have had three weeks break, but peculiarly it might not be too much of an issue for Pierre Mignoni’s charges.
With the match taking place at the Groupama Stadium, coincidently the new home of the Lyon football team, travel will not be a factor and they will be backed by a vociferous support.
All the pressure will also be on the side that finished at the summit. Cotter’s outfit have enjoyed an excellent domestic campaign and are effectively a top international team with the ability they have throughout their squad, but their opponents do not care much for reputation.
That was shown in the remarkable triumph in the barrages, where few gave them a chance against the three-time European champions. However, given the quality of Montpellier and the fact Lyon have already made history by winning their first ever match in the Top 14 play-offs, it may ultimately be a game too far.
Mignoni’s side will not be discounted but the league leaders should have enough to make their first domestic final since 2011.
Date: Friday, May 25
Kick-off: 21:00 local (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Assistant referees: Romain Poite, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin
Racing 92 vs Castres
Groupama Stadium
Montpellier may have finished top of the table but Racing, who were one point below them in second, ended the campaign as the form side. It therefore makes Castres task harder, but they have already shown their resilience in the play-offs.
Like Mignoni’s outfit, Christophe Urios’ men produced an incredible result by overcoming Toulouse 23-11 in the quarter-finals, despite spending the final quarter down to 14 men after Jody Jenneker’s sending off.
They are one of the league’s most consistent teams having won the title in 2013 and reached the top-six in four of the five years following that triumph. However, the question still remains as to whether they have the top-end talent to challenge the financial giants of the Parisians.
Castres will be boosted with the knowledge that both Dan Carter and Pat Lambie are out of the contest, leaving 34-year-old Remi Tales to steer the ship from fly-half, but the pivot does not lack ability having garnered 24 France caps.
Tales can also call on Teddy Iribaren to help take the pressure off following the scrum-half’s outstanding display in the European Champions Cup final.
Racing have a 23 stacked full of talent and, as a result, the 2016 champions are clear favourites to move into the final yet again.
Date: Saturday, May 26
Kick-off: 16:45 local (14:45 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Laurent Cardona, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
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