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Pau have a vital challenge ahead of them on Saturday in the fight for a place in the French Championship play-offs.
The PARKER PEN SHIELD semi-finalists will take on Narbonne at Stade du Hameau in a direct battle for the final play-off place in Pool 2.
With Agen, Toulouse and Perpignan already sure of a place in the knock-out stages, Pau must win both of their remaining Pool matches - at home to Narbonne on Saturday and away to Mont de Marsan on March 1 - in order to secure a play-off place. Narbonne are one point ahead of Pau in the tables but a win on Saturday would put an end to that.
Despite, two recent losses at the hands of Pool leaders Agen and Toulouse, director of rugby Jean-Louis Luneau is upbeat:
"Despite two defeats, things have gone well in our last two games. We mustn't make any last minute changes to our strategy now. I don't see why things shouldn't go our way against Narbonne and Mont de Marsan. The role of the team management over the coming weeks will be to take the pressure off the players considering what is at stake. If we play freely, we are capable of producing play and of winning."
Castres, meanwhile are condemned to the French championship's 'play-downs', the matches that are played out to determine which two teams will be relegated into Pro Division Two. Despite a convincing 47-19 win over Grenoble on Saturday, there is now mathematically nothing the Tarn team can do to challenge for the French Championship title.
However, good results in their two remaining Pool games - a trip to French champions Biarritz this weekend and then a home game against Bordeaux Bà¨gles on March 1 - would mean they would improve their points tally to take into the play-downs, reducing the chances of the side being relegated.
Coach Christian Gajan said, "We have got used to the fact that we will compete in the play-downs this season. Nevertheless, the whole squad is enthusiastic and is doing a great job. That is what we need for our confidence and that is what the fans need - to see good, attractive rugby."
