Two rounds before the end of French Top 14 regular season those six teams which will play in playoff are known.
It is pleasant that five from six teams are of the Georgian legionaries. It is not known which team will host the first stage of play off among the third-sixth placed teams. According to the regulations, the first-second placed teams rest at the first stage of the play off. The third-placed hosts the sixth-placed and the fourth-placed hosts the fifth-placed. It is a great advantage in rugby.
The match of “Montpellier” of Mamuka Gorgodze, Mikheil Nariashvili and Giorgi Jgenti caused a great interest of the Georgian fans. “Montpellier” hosted “Toulouse” of Vasil Kakovin and Jaba Bregvadze.
Before the match “Montpellier” was in a tough situation. It has some difficulties in the back line. Two debutants played in lineup. “Toulouse” had the strongest staff and hoped to win. It is pleasant that all five Georgians played in the previous match. Gorgodze was in lineup and played for the whole match. Nariashvili played for the first 56 minutes. Jgenti started playing at the 63rd minute. Kakovin showed up at the 45th minute and Bregvadze – at the 68th minute.
The hosts had advantage at the beginning but they could not use it and earned only 3 points. The guests restored balance at the beginning of the second half. However, Nagusa scored try and after conversion the score became 10:3. After that “Toulouse” gained advantage and two minutes before the final whistle, the team scored try but could not use conversion. Finally, “Montpellier” won 10:8.
“Toulouse” gained one bonus point and is in the 3rd place with 74 points. It is 8 points behind the second place. The team has to fight for keeping this place. As for “Montpellier”, it is in the 6th place with 67 points and is only one point behind the fourth place. The team is 6 points ahead of “Perpignan”. In the next round “Montpellier” will play against “Bayonne” and in the last match it will host “Perpignan”. In case of winning both matches, “Montpellier” has a chance to take the fourth place.
The central match of the round took place in Toulon and 36 000 spectators attended it. “Toulon” of Davit Kubriashvili, Levan Chilachava and Kote Mikautadze hosted “Clermont” of Davit Zirakashvili and Vito Kolelishvili. “Clermont” has 82 points and is in the second place. The match finished 26:26 and the difference is only 2 points.
Kubriashvili was not on the list. Neither Mikautadze was on the list. Chilachava was a substitute but did not play. Zirakashvili got injured before ¼ final match of “Heineken Cup” and is not on form yet. Kolelishvili showed up on the field for the fourth time in this season. He substituted the injured teammate at the 13th minute and played till the end.
The hosts opened the score but the guests advanced in the first half 20:10 and won the first half 20:13. In the second half “Toulon” advanced 23:20. The guests restored balance with penalty and then advanced with 3 points. But “Toulon” equalized the score.
Another match of the Georgian legionaries ended up draw. “Castres” of Anton Peikrishvili could not beat “Bordeaux” of Zaza Navrozashvili – 23:23. Peikrishvili was on the list and he played for the last 20 minutes. The hosts advanced with 10 points at the beginning of the second half but the score was equal at the 61st minute. They advanced by penalty at the 68th minute but were scored penalty at the last second and the match finished draw. “Castres” earned 2 points and is in the 4th place with 68 points. In the next round it will host outsider “Mont-de-Marsan”.
“Stade Francais” of Zurab Jvania visited “Agen” and won 28:20. The young Georgian showed up at the 52nd minute. The guests had advantage for the whole match. The Paris club has 50 points and is in the 9th place. It cannot get in play off. “Mont-de-Marsan” of Tamaz Mchedlidze is in the last place with 15 points. The team lost to “Racing” 9:34 without the Georgian legionary. The next round of Top 14 will be held on April 20-21.
Zura Ksovreli
