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Clermont confirm play-off spot and relegate Grenoble
By Peter Hanson
Clermont secured their place in the Top 14 play-offs with a 59-18 battering of Grenoble, whose inevitable relegation to the second tier was confirmed.
It has been a season to forget for Grenoble, who knew a defeat would consign them to the drop, but second-placed Clermont only led 17-6 at the break with Alexandre Lapandry and Fritz Lee touching down.
The floodgates opened after the break, though, and Damian Penaud scored twice, while Ludovic Radosavljevic, John Ulugia, Alivereti Raka, David Strettle and Setariki Tuicuvu were all on the scoresheet in the nine-try romp that ensures a play-off spot for the visitors.
Grenoble, meanwhile, can no longer accumulate enough points to reach 12th, meaning they join Bayonne in dropping down a division.
Runaway leaders La Rochelle suffered a first league defeat since November after going down 29-25 at play-off hopefuls Lyon, who move up to fifth in the table.
In a back-and-forth encounter it was the visitors who earned the victory, with Facundo Isa touching down twice in the closing stages.
Stade Francais simultaneously boosted their own top-six hopes and damaged Pau's chances with a 51-16 hammering.
Geoffrey Doumayrou and Julien Arias each scored twice as the 2015 champions put in one of their best showings of the campaign.
Tries for Josua Tuisova and Bryan Habana along with 13 points from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny helped Toulon cement fourth place in a 23-14 triumph over Castres.
Bordeaux-Begles are one of five teams on 53 points and they needed a late try from Nans Ducuing to earn a 22-19 win at Brive, who are one point off the top six, despite residing in 11th.
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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