Pro D2: Montauban vs Béziers

Pro D2 Approaches Climax In Playoff, Promotion Race

Pro D2 Approaches Climax In Playoff, Promotion Race

The French Pro D2 has four weeks left and plenty to consider in the playoff hunt.

Mar 15, 2018 by Alex Goff
Pro D2 Rd 26 Montauban Vs Angouleme

The French Pro D2 heads into its final four games of the season with much at stake.

Of course, there's a league championship to play for, and earning one of the top two spots in the standings gets you an advantage—a bye to the semifinals.

Pro D2 Game of the Week

Montauban vs. Beziers | Friday, 1:15 PM CT | WATCH LIVE on FloRugby

But there's also the fact that four other teams can secure playoff spots. And the prize is not only a potential championship but also ascension into the Top 14. The Pro D2 champion automatically replaces the last-place Top 14 team, while the second-place Pro D2 team plays off with the 13th-place Top 14 team.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the league, the 15th- and 16th-place Pro D2 teams will automatically be relegated to Federal 1.

So how does it look right now?

Perpignan

Sitting in first place, Perpignan is just about guaranteed a bye to the semis. To miss out, Perpignan would have to lose at least two out of its next four and see Mont-de-Marsan win out (or maybe go 3-1). These two teams play in two weeks.

What Perignan did accomplish this past weekend was to clinch a playoff spot by beating Biarritz 56-3 in dominating fashion. 

(The game was marred by the worrying sight of Biarritz prop Mathieu Giudicelli being stretchered off after suffering a neck injury in a collapsed scrum.  Giudicelli, who has had neck issues before, reported lack of feeling in his legs, and while sensation is returning, say reports, he is out for the season and his condition is uncertain.)

Montauban

A 36-21 defeat of Angouleme kept Montauban in second place and in control of its own destiny and a relatively easy run for the rest of the season. That makes a first-round bye that much more likely—but first Montauban has to get by Beziers this Friday at 1:15 PM CT.

Watch Montauban vs. Beziers LIVE on FloRugby!

Mont-de-Marsan

As we spelled out, MDM still has a shot at the top two. To get there, it would love a Montauban loss, and if Perpignan could slip up against Massy (unlikely) or Angouleme (less unlikely), the MDM faithful would really appreciate it.

Pro D2 Round 26 Highlights: Vannes vs. Mont-de-Marsan

Pro D2 Rd 26 Vannes Vs Mont de Marsan


Grenoble 

A shock loss to Colomiers shown LIVE on FloRugby puts Grenoble a bit behind the eight ball in terms of making the top two.

But the top six is likely.

Pro D2 Round 26 Full Replay: Colomiers vs. Grenoble

Pro D2 Round 26 Colomiers vs Grenoble

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Biarritz and Beziers

These two teams sit at fifth and sixth, respectively, and will be looking over their shoulders at Bayonne and (thanks to that upset over Grenoble ) Colomiers. Beziers plays Montauban LIVE on FloRugby and Beziers really needs at least a couple of bonus points from this game.

Then the week after, Beziers plays Colomiers, and that could be a game for sixth place.

Notes: Jonathan Bousquet of Perpignan continues to lead the league in tries, with eight. Montauban boasts the top scorer in Jerome Bosviel, who has scored 268 points, including six tries.