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The Top 14 enters its final weekend of the season and as in the Aviva Premiership, there are any number of permutations that may arise based on results. La Rochelle have clinched the regular season title and a spot in the Semi Finals, while Grenoble and Bayonne have both been relegated to Pro D2. The second bye to the Semis is up for grabs between Clermont Auvergne and Montpellier, with the former ahead by just two points in second spot.
Toulon and Castres are both safely into the Barrages round and also the 2017-18 Champions Cup, but 6th place on the log – the final spot in the Barrages and a guaranteed place in the Champions Cup – is wide open with five clubs capable of claiming it. A consolation entry into the Champions Cup repechage playoffs is also available to the team that finishes in 7th. Teams in contention include Racing 92, Stade Français , Pau, Lyon, and Brive.
A heap of Americas players will take part across the seven games, all to be played on Saturday. All but three are of Argentine origin, with one each representing Chile, Uruguay, and the USA. Eagles winger Taku Ngwenya is named on the right wing for Brive against former Teros lock Rodrigo Capó Ortega and Castres, who also feature in-form flyhalf Benjamín Urdapilleta in their lineup.
Flying the flag for Los Cóndores is Pablo Huete, who starts in the Bayonne second row with Martín Bustos Moyano named at fullback. Huete will line up opposite Pumas legend Patricio Albacete, who will be making his final appearance for Toulouse after more than a decade with the storied club.
Patricio Fernández is selected to start for Clermont in the No 10 shirt against La Rochelle, who have Argentine-born Italian international Leandro Cedaro as a reserve lock. Another Azzurri with Argentine origins, the venerable Sergio Parisse, is surprisingly named on the bench for Stade Français for their road match against Montpellier.
Racing 92 host Bordeaux at Yves-du-Manoir with Juan Imhoff on the wing, while two Pumas, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Santiago Fernández, will be on opposite benches as Toulon welcome Pau to Stade Félix Mayol. A fourth Puma, scrumhalf Agustín Figuerola, is handed his first start for Lyon since December as they travel to Grenoble.
