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The arduous adventure that is the Pro D2 regular season comes to a close on Sunday with all eight games set to kick off at the same time. Unlike other divisions there is still a significant amount to be decided on the final day, with teams fighting to avoid the drop to Federale 1 and another three in the running for the final playoff spot and a chance at promotion to the Top 14.
Albi are favorites to face the axe but a win over Aurillac could put either Vannes or Narbonne up for elimination. At the other end Oyonnax have claimed the title and assured their promotion, so will be playing for pride only against Montauban. Agen, Mont-de-Marsan, and Montauban have booked their tickets to the playoffs and with one spot left open it’s a three-horse race between Biarritz, Colomiers, and Perpignan with les Biarrots a nose up heading into the final straightaway.
For the Americas it’s an ordinary week with several players rested but still a dozen odd players named across five games. Taylor Paris is on the left wing for Agen and can help end the hopes of Colomiers at Stade Armandie. US-eligible prop Dave Ryan is on the bench for Agen.
Biarritz might have to keep their fingers crossed or hope for a bonus point defeat as they travel to Mont-de-Marsan who can clinch home field advantage in the playoffs should they win. Stade Montois have a trio of South Americans in their match day roster. Carlos Muzzio runs out at loosehead with fellow Argentine prop Jerónimo Negrotto on the bench. Uruguay’s Agustín Ormaechea is also among the reserves.
It’s the most important match of the season for Vannes, who host Bourgoin at the Stade de la Rabine. The Berjallians have already been relegated but Vannes are not quite out of danger. A win will assure their spot in the Pro D2 next season. To help them achieve that they will start aerial specialist Javier Lagioiosa in the second row, with Eagles prop Eric Fry on the bench and Canadian strike runner Conor Trainor ready to add impetus in the second half. Bourgoin have a pair of Argentines in their pack with Nicolás Mirande at tighthead prop and Leandro Pérez Galeone on the flank. This will be the last game with Bourgoin for Mirande, and might well be for Pérez Galeone.
Narbonne are also up against it but can achieve safety with a win at home over Charente. David Tameilau will play on the side of the scrum this week with Facundo Panceyra Garrido named in the reserves for the visitors. Lastly Damian Arias will act as front row cover for Montauban when they host Oyonnax in a game that affects only playoff seeding.
