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The regular season of the French second division concludes today. Week 30 will confirm the teams who vastly shape the make-up of the 2019-2020 season. Teams are playing for (a) promotion to the Top 14, (b) to remain in the Pro D2, and (c) to avoid relegation to the Fédérale 1.
With it being the final round of the regular season all eight league matches will be played simultaneously. This will ensure no team has the advantage of knowing precisely what they need from their match in terms of points.
Heading into week 30 in top position are Brive. The club has a proud history of being a Top 14 side though has been relegated on occasion. In 2012 they were relegated only to bounce straight back to the Top 14 in 2013. With a win over Bayonne today Brive will confirm their place in the winner-takes-all Pro D2 Final. Brive have named Argentine 2016 Olympian Axel Muller to start on the left wing.
A pivotal match sees Vannes playing host to Mont de Marsan. They go into week 30 with 76 and 78 competition points respectively. With only the winning side likely to have enough points for the play-off’s it is do-or-die. Named on the bench for Mont de Marsan are Uruguayan scrum-half Agustín Ormaechea, and Argentine tight head prop Jerónimo Negrotto.
Charente will not be involved in the Pro D2 play-off’s though Oyonnax will. A win will set-up a promotion final against Brive. The fixture will feature a Chile vs Uruguay match-up with Pablo Huete and Manuel Leindekar locking the scrum for the respective teams. Charente also have named two Argentine players with Lucas Caneda starting on the left wing, and Joel Sclavi at tight head prop.
Aix en Provence completed their mission of successfully avoiding relegation this season. They play host to Colomiers today, a side given a major scare only to secure their place in next season’s Pro D2 last weekend. The match today will involve three Argentine players. Leandro Mario Assi will play on the bench for Aix en Provence; Sebastián Poet will do so for Colomiers; while starting at flanker will be Martín Chiappessoni.
In 15th place are Bourg en Bresse. The club must complete a bonus point win over Béziers today or it will join Massy in being relegated to the Fédérale 1. Béziers are in 6th spot and can make the play-off’s with a win and other results going their way. Starting for Bourg en Bresse will be Argentine Victor Damian Arias prop at tight head.
Tied with Béziers are Nevers. Should they defeat Aurillac in their home match then they may also qualify for the play-off’s. Aurillac go into the game on 60 points, just five more than that of Bourg en Bresse. One competition point will be sufficient for Aurillac to avoid relegation.
