Top 14 - Final Round Wrap

Round 26, the final round, of the French Top 14 was played on Saturday, confirming Brive´s relegation to the Pro d2 along with Lyon and confirming Racing Métro as the sixth placed French side joining Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse, Toulon, Castres and Montpellier in the Top six and therefore qualifying for the 2012-2013 Heineken Cup. As such Racing Métro will take on the third placed Toulon in one of the two barrage play-off matches scheduled for May 26 while the fourth placed Castres will host Montpellier in the other, one day earlier in what is a rematch from last seasons barrage match when Argentina´s Martín Bustos Moyano eliminated Castres. By virtue of finishing first and second in the regular season, Clermont Auvergne and Toulouse are rewarded with automatic qualification for the Semi Finals and will face the winners of the barrage matches. The exit of Brive to the second division continues a tradition of Southwestern French sides exiting as the competition is increasingly being spread to more areas of the country and is also seeing the small town teams benig replaced by big city teams. 

The final round was another case in point of why Rugby World Cup 2023 ought to take place in Argentina as Pumas players both experienced and young were on show in large numbers, scoring tries and putting in solid performances. Moreover, Argentine players were joined by players from Canada, Uruguay and the USA as the Americas, the last frontier for Rugby World Cups, continues to contribute greatly to the global game.

Agen 25-22 Racing Métro

The new sensation, Juan Imhoff scored a try playing on the left wing and was joined in the backthree by  Juan Martín Hernández. Backrower Alvaro Galindo joined the pair in playing the full match. Juan Orlandi was a 54th minute replacement. None of Agen´s three Pumas featured. 

Bordeaux Begles 37-29 Perpignan
Former Pumas winger Rafael Carballo played outside centre for Bordeaux, scoring a first half try.

Clermont Auvergne 57-14 Brive

Canadian Jamie Cudmore played secondrow for the winners. Three former Puams played for Brive with Agustín Figuerola playing scrumhalf and scoring a try. Pablo Henn started atr loosehead prop and tighthead prop Pablo Cardinali played the full secondhalf.

Toulouse 20-13 Montpellier

Pumas secnodrower Patricio Albacete played 67 minutes for Toulouse but scurmhalf Nicolás Vergallo did not feature. Lucas González Amorosino played fullback for Montpellier and Martín Bustos Moyano was the left winger, kicking one penalty and a conversion. Juan Figallo started in his Pumas position of tighthead prop and Agustín Creevy at hooker. Pumas inside back Santiago Fernández came on in the 56th minute while Maximilano Bustos was unused from the bench.

Lyon 5-29 Toulon

The man expected to lead Los Pumas, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe played the full match for Toulon, scorign a try. His Pumas backrow colleague, Juan Manuel Leguizamón did not play however.

Castres 31-29 Bayonne

Uruyan international, Rodrigo Capó Ortega started for Castres.

Biarritz 15-6 Stade Français

USA winger Taku Ngwenya played in the 14 shirt for Biarritz and Pumas centre Marcelo Bosch played fullback. Francisco Gomez Kodela came into the frontrow in the 49th minute while secondrower Manuel Carizza entered in the 62nd. Pumas legend Rodrigo Roncero played his final game of French rugby and Felipe Contepomi played at inside centre and Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga was a 54th minute replacement. 

Top 14 Barrage
Friday May 25 Castres vs Montpellier, Stade Pierre-Antoine
Saturday May 26 Toulon vs Racing Métro, Stade Féliz-Mayol


Final Standings
1 Clermont 87
2 Clermont 87
3 Toulon 73
4 Castres 69
5 Montpellier 67
6 Racing Métro 64
7 Stade Français 58
8 Bordeaux 53
9 Biarritz 52
10 Agen 52
11 Perpignan 49
12 Bayonne 48
13 Brive 42
14 Lyon 31

* Semi Finalists
* Barrage
* Relegated to Pro d2

Agen vs Racing Métro

SUA v RM 92 - Le résumé en vidéo por racingmetro92

Bordeaux vs Perpignan

Résumé du match Bordeaux vs USAP - Mai 2012 por USAP_Communication

Clermont vs Brive

ASM-Brive : Le résumé por asm

Toulouse vs Montpellier


Lyon vs Toulon

Fernández Lobbe to start for Toulon

Fernández Lobbe leaves Wellington injured

For the first time since September, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe willl start a rugby match. The Pumas World Cup exited the tournament early due to a major knee injury suffered in the first half of the crunch pool match against Scotland in Wellington. His rehabiliation was handled correctly to ensure he returned at 100% and he has been used by Toulon on two occassions from the bench in Top 14 matches vs Agen and Castres. His return to face Toulouse is  great timing for both Toulon and Argentina as there is one month to go in the French season and Argentina have a challenging set of matches next month which will see Los Pumas host Italy in San Juan for a one off match before tacking on France in Córdoba and Tucumán.

Fernández Lobbe is the leading contender forthe Pumas captaincy now that Felipe Contepomi is set to retire from international duty. The other player seemingly in the running to lead Los Pumas is Patricio Albacete who will be playing secondrow in this match.

Toulon
15 Lapeyre
14 Palisson
13 Messina
12 Giteau
11 Smith
10 Wilkinson
9 Tillous-Borde
8 Fernández Lobbe
7 Armitage
6 van Niekerk
5 Samson
4 Botha
3 Hayman
2 Bruno
1 Lewis-Roberts

Juan Fernández Lobbe returns for Toulon

After over 200 days of rehabilitation following his World Cup ending knee injury during Argentina´s third pool match of last years World Cup, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe is set return to action. He has missed the entire season thus far for Toulon and was replaced by fellow Argentine, Leonardo Senatore as a medical joker at the club. His return has now been confirmed with him named in the group of players to face Agen on Saturday in a round 23 match of the Top 14 Orange.  

Fernández Lobbe has played 51 times for Toulon so far and previously played 46 times for the Sale Sharks in England. He has captained both teams and, now aged 30, is expected to take over the Pumas captancy from Felipe Contepomi and lead Argentina into the next World Cup. Having earned 43 caps since making his debut vs Uruguay in 2004. Santiago Phelan and Pumas fans are eager to see him return and be in good fitness ahead of The Rugby Championship, where he should earn his 50th cap.