Montpellier secure top spot as Brive suffer relegation

Victorious Montpellier are certain to finish the Top 14 regular season on top of the table, while Stade Francais relegated Brive in Saturday’s action.

Ruan Pienaar kicked 15 points as Montpellier cut loose in the second half to thrash Pau 45-13 and make it 13 straight league victories at home this term.

Toulon booked their place in the play-offs with a 59-13 victory over Castres that lifted them up to second, Josua Tuisova scoring two of their seven tries as they moved ahead of Toulouse and Racing 92, who both play on Sunday.

Lyon still sit fifth despite a 39-18 defeat away at Oyonnax, who remain in danger of featuring in a relegation play-off despite the impressive result in the penultimate round of fixtures.

Oyonnax are 13th in the standings, three points behind a Stade side who condemned Brive to the drop with a 30-22 triumph over the competition’s bottom club.

Jules Plisson scored a try, kicked a conversion and also landed five penalties for the Paris heavyweights, though they are still not certain of retaining their top-flight status.

Agen, however, are safe thanks to a 27-17 win over Clermont Auvergne, who had Sebastien Vahaamahina sent off in the first half.

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