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There are only three rounds left after this one - three rounds to decide who is in play-offs who will play in the Heineken Cup and who will sink down to Pro D2 next season. There are big matches in theory, especially in Toulon and Perpignan.

France are playing which means that the top teams are weakened. The Auvergnats for example are missing 12 players and have five up from the Espoirs.

The top eight sides would all like to fulfil their ambitions, especially Stade de France and Biarritz who have disappointed this year while relative newcomers recently Toulon and Racing will want a share of the sweet cake.

The last five sides are in jeopardy and will be desperate, except for Albi whose fate is sealed. The other four will battle to avoid coming 13th and dropping down a league. Of the four Bayonne and Montauban are at home. But the Basques are up against Clermont, a tough job even though the men from the Massif Central are weakened. Montauban's job may be even harder as Racing will shed fewer players and be determined to win, The other two are away from home,. Of the two Bourgoin have the easier opponents and should beat Albi who may just be dispirited. Montpellier, who have the Spanish fullback Cesar Sempere in their side as a medical joker, do not have far to travel but they have mighty opponents.

Fixtures, Round 22

Friday, 12 March

19.00: Bayonne vs Clermont at Stade Jean Dauger
19.00: Toulouse vs Montpellier at Stade Ernest Wallon
19.00: Toulon vs Castres at Stade Mayol 
19.00: Albi vs Bourgoin at Stadium Municipal d'Albi
19.00: Brive vs Stade Français at Stade Amédée Domenech
20.45:  Perpignan vs Biarritz at Stade Aimé Giral

Saturday, 13 March

20.45: Montauban vs Racing Métro 92 at Stade Sapiac

Log after Round 21

1. Castres 67
2. Clermont 65
3. Perpignan 62
4. Toulouse 60
5. Toulon 59
6. Racing-Métro  55
7. Stade Français 49
8. Biarritz 47
9. Brive 47
10. Montpellier 42
11. Bourgoin 40
12. Bayonne 39
13. Montauban 37
14. Albi 20

Earlier results

These are the results of Round 9, same teams reverse venues.

Castres vs Toulon , 21-19
Clermont vs Bayonne , 38-13
Toulouse vs Montpellier, 30-12 in Montpellier
Bourgoin vs Albi, 26-16
Racing-Métro 92 vs Montauban , 17-12
Stade Français vs Brive, 44-16
Biarritz vs Perpignan , 27-12

Predictions: Victories for Bayonne, Toulouse, Toulon, Bourgoin, Brive and Perpignan who are in angry mood with the citing of Grégory Le Corvec.

Teams

Bayonne squad: Aretz Iguiniz, Denis Avril, Arnoud Heguy, David Roumieu, Da Ros, Rodney Blake, Ross Filipo, Mikaera Tewhata, Jacques Deen, Guillaume Bernad, Rémy Martin, Jean-Joseph Marmouyet, Dwayne Haare, Julien Puricelli, Mickaël Lopez, Cédric Garcia, Sébastien Fauqué, Manny Edmonds, Jean-Baptiste Peyras, Lionel Mazars, Sam Gerber, Thibault Lacroix, Vincent Iñigo, Pépito Elhorga 

Clermont squad: Vincent Debaty, Marco Ferrer, Clément Ric, Davit Zirakashvili, Mario Ledesma, Willie Wepener, Loïc Jacquet, Thibault Privat, Christophe Samson, Alexandre Audebert, Jamie Cudmore, Kevin Gourdon, Elvis Vermeulen, Ludovic Radosavljevic, Kevin Senio, Tasesa Lavea, Brock James, Seremaïa Baï, Wesley Fofana, Gavin Williams, Napolioni Nalaga, Benoît Baby , Anthony Floch.

Montpellier squad:  Na'ama Leleimalefaga, Juan Figallo, Philemon Toleafoa, Eugene van Staden, Danie Thiart, Joan Caudullo, Sébastien Rofes, Alister  Campbell, Michel Macurdy, Drikus Hancke, Matadigo, Vasili Bost, Marc Giraud, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Mathieu Alcalde, Adrien Tomas, Federico Todeschini, Jacques Schutte, Sylvain Mirande, Florian Nicot, Ollie Smith, Pratmarty, Jacques Boussuge, Benjamin Thiéry, Cesar Sempere

Perpignan squad: Kisi Pulu, Jérôme Schuster, Perry Freshwater, Sébastien Chobet, Guilhem Guirado, Charles Geli, Robins Tchale-Watchou, Guillaume Vilaceca, Olivier Olibeau, Yohan Vivalda, Gerrie Britz, Henri Tuilagi, Damien Chouly, Jean-Pierre Perez, Nicolas Durand, David Mélé, Nicholas Laharrague, Gavin Hume, Maxime Mermoz, Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, Farid Sid, Adrien Planté, Philip Burger, Jérôme Porical, Joffrey Michel

Toulon squad: Sébastien Bruno, Kris Chesney, Joe El Abd, Laurent Emmanuelli, Fernandez-Lobbe, Davit Kubriashvili, Tonga Lea'aetoa, Esteban Lozada, Olivier Missoup, Orioli, Ross Skeate, Jocelino Suta, Saimone Taumoepeau, Joe van Niekerk, Cibray, Felipe Contepomi, Mafileo Kefu, Christian Loamanu, Gabriele Lovobalavu, Clément Marienval, Tom May, Pierre Mignoni, James Robinson,  Luke Rooney, Jeremy Sinzelle, Sonny Bill Williams

Match officials

Montauban vs Racing Metro 92
Referee: Patrick Pechambert
Assistant referees: Hervé Gilard, Sébastien Hebert
Assessor: Francis Coup
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui
 
Bayonne vs Clermont Ferrand
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Assistant referees: Alain Rongier, Jean-Paul Vermande
Assessor: Bernard Bach, Bernard Perez
Television match official: Bernard Dal Maso
 
Brive vs Stade Français
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Jean-François Lavocat, Gilbert Darrieutort
Assessor: Patrick Costa, Patrick Thomas
Television match official: Akim Hadj Bachir
 
Toulon vs Castres
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Assistant referees: Fernand Pereira, Jacques Laplace
Assessor: Jean Izquierdo
Television match official: Laurent Valin
 
Albi vs Bourgoin
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Patrick Bellet, Christophe Malterre
Assessor: Pascal Bouchet, Marc Desclaux
Television match official: Daniel Gillet
 
Toulouse vs Montpellier
Referee: Stephan Pomarède
Assistant referees: Didier Dussaut, Frédéric Gourgues
Assessor: Philippe De Miranda, Daniel Dartigeas
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
 
Perpignan vs Biarritz  at Stade Aimé-Giral
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Assistant referees: Christophe Graviou, Jean-Louis Suau
Assessor: Michel Sicard, Jean-Christophe Gastou
Television match official: Gilles Cogne