2011–12_Top_14_season

2011–12 Top 14 season

2011–12 Top 14 season

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The 2011–12 Top 14 competition was a French domestic rugby union club competition operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR). Home-and-away play began on August 26, 2011. Two new teams from the 2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 season were promoted to Top 14 this year, Lyon and Bordeaux Bègles in place of the two relegated teams, La Rochelle and Bourgoin.

Quick Facts Countries, Champions ...

Toulouse claimed the Bouclier de Brennus as champions for the 19th time, defeating Toulon 18–12 in the final on June 9, 2012 at Stade de France in Saint-Denis. At the other end of the table, Brive and Lyon were relegated.

Competition format

Each club played every other club twice. The second half of the season was conducted in the same order as the first, with the club at home in the first half of the season away in the second. This season maintained the format introduced the previous season for the knockout stage: the top two teams qualified directly to the semifinals, while teams ranked from third to sixth qualified for a quarterfinal held at the home ground of the higher-ranked team.

The teams

Locations of the 2011–12 Top 14 teams
More information Team, Captain ...

During the regular season, three teams changed coaches a total of four times:

  • Toulon was forced to find a replacement for Philippe Saint-André once he was named to become the new head coach of the France national team, effective 1 December.[1] Bernard Laporte, a former France head coach (1999–2007), was named as Toulon's new head coach, and took over in September after Saint-André was granted an early release by Toulon.[2]
  • Perpignan sacked Jacques Delmas on 21 November, only four months after he had taken over from Jacques Brunel, who left to become the new head coach of Italy. The Catalans had lost seven of their 12 matches in all competitions under Delmas. Assistants Bernard Goutta and Christophe Manas were named as replacements.[3]
  • Bayonne sacked their entire coaching staff—director of rugby Christian Gajan, forwards coach Thomas Lièvremont and backs coach Frédéric Tauzin—on 6 December. Gajan's position was filled by Jean-Pierre Élissalde, former Japan head coach and also father of former France international and current Toulouse backs coach Jean-Baptiste Élissalde.[4] After six weeks, in which Bayonne remained near the bottom of the table with two losses and one draw in league play, Élissalde was sacked on 16 January, with former Stade Français head coach Didier Faugeron named as his replacement.[5]

Table

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: [6][7]
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head: Toulouse 5–4
  2. Head-to-head: Biarritz 6–2
  3. Qualified by winning the 2011–12 European Challenge Cup

Due to the interplay between LNR's schedule for Heineken Cup qualification and the rules of European Rugby Cup (ERC), which operates both European cup competitions, it is theoretically possible that a team finishing as high as fourth in the league table may not qualify for the Heineken Cup. Under ERC rules, the winners of the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup each earn a place in the following season's Heineken Cup. If a team from France wins one of these competitions, the Top 14 will receive a seventh Heineken Cup place. However, if French teams win both cups, the Top 14 is capped at seven Heineken Cup places. Biarritz' victory in the Challenge Cup gave France an extra place for the 2012–13 Heineken Cup.

The LNR presents teams for the Heineken Cup in the following order, skipping any steps occupied by clubs outside the Top 14 or filled in a prior step.[8] The clubs involved in each step for this season are indicated in the numbered list.

  1. Champion – Toulouse
  2. Runner-up – Toulon
  3. Heineken Cup holder – Skipped (won by Leinster of Pro12)
  4. Semifinalist that finished higher in the league table – Clermont
  5. Semifinalist that finished lower in the league table – Castres
  6. Challenge Cup holder – Biarritz
  7. Additional berths based on league position – Montpellier, Racing Métro

Under LNR rules, only Top 14 clubs are eligible for European competition. This means that in the (unlikely) event that the winner of one of the two European Cups is relegated from the Top 14 in the same season, its European place will go to a current Top 14 team, based on league position in that season.[8]

Under another ERC rule, if teams from England, which is also capped at seven Heineken Cup places, win both European cups, the extra place will go to the highest-ranked non-English team in the European Rugby Club Rankings that is not already qualified for the Heineken Cup. If that club is in the Top 14, it will receive a Heineken Cup place regardless of its league position, as long as it avoids relegation.

For a team in the top six to be left out of the Heineken Cup, French teams must win both European Cups, and those teams must have finished outside the top six in the league while also avoiding relegation.

Playoffs

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
1 Toulouse 24
4 Castres 31 4 Castres 15
5 Montpellier 15 1 Toulouse 18
3 Toulon 12
2 Clermont 12
3 Toulon 17 3 Toulon 15
6 Racing Métro 13

All times are in Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).

Quarter-finals

25 May 2012
21:00
Castres31 – 15Montpellier
Try: Lacrampe 18' c
Con: Teulet (1/1)
Pen: Bernard (5/5) 2', 33', 44', 50', 80'
Teulet (3/3) 15', 38', 72'		ReportTry: Tulou 36' m
Fakate 68' c
Con: Bustos Moyano (1/2)
Pen: Bustos Moyano (1/1) 23'
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
Attendance: 15,203
Referee: Patrick Péchambert
26 May 2012
21:00
Toulon17 – 13Racing Métro
Try: Armitage 66' m
Pen: Wilkinson 35'
Giteau (3) 58', 62', 80'		ReportTry: Fall 27' c
Con: Descons (1/1)
Pen: Steyn 16'
Descons 32
Stade Mayol, Toulon
Referee: Mathieu Raynal

Semi-finals

2 June 2012
20:45
Toulouse24 – 15Castres
Pen: McAlister (6/6) 6', 11', 29', 51', 61', 71'
Beauxis (1/1) 39'
Drop: Beauxis (1/1) 20'		ReportPen: Bernard (3) 18', 26', 46'
Teulet 37'
Drop: Bernard (1/1) 22'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 36,121[9]
Referee: Jérôme Garcès[9]
3 June 2012
16:30
Clermont12 – 15Toulon
Pen: Parra (4/5) 8', 30', 62', 73'ReportPen: Wilkinson (5/5) 12', 22', 34', 59', 77'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 35,608[10]
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère[10]

Final

9 June 2012
18:00
Toulouse18 – 12Toulon
Pen: McAlister (6/6) 3', 21', 35', 42', 64', 68'ReportPen: Wilkinson (4/6) 1', 27', 32', 46'
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 79,612[11]
Referee: Romain Poite
FB15France Clément Poitrenaud
RW14France Vincent Clerc
OC13France Yann Daviddownward-facing red arrow 61'
IC12France Florian Fritz
LW11Fiji Timoci Matanavou
FH10New Zealand Luke McAlisterdownward-facing red arrow 70'
SH9France Jean-Marc Doussaindownward-facing red arrow 50'
N88France Louis Picamoles
OF7France Thierry Dusautoir (c)
BF6France Jean Bouilhoudownward-facing red arrow 53' upward-facing green arrow 62' downward-facing red arrow 68'
RL5Argentina Patricio Albacete
LL4France Yoann Maestridownward-facing red arrow 76'
TP3Samoa Census Johnston
HK2France William Servatyellow card 51' to 62'
LP1South Africa Gurthrö Steenkampdownward-facing red arrow 76'
Replacements:
HK16France Christopher Tolofuaupward-facing green arrow 53' downward-facing red arrow 62'
PR17South Africa Daan Humanupward-facing green arrow 76'
FL18France Yannick Nyangaupward-facing green arrow 68'
FL19France Grégory Lamboleyupward-facing green arrow 76'
SH20Australia Luke Burgessupward-facing green arrow 50'
FH21France Lionel Beauxisupward-facing green arrow 70'
CE22France Yannick Jauzionupward-facing green arrow 61'
PR23France Yohan Montes
Coach: France Guy Novès
FB15France Benjamin Lapeyre
RW14France Alexis Palisson
OC13France Mathieu Bastareaud
IC12Australia Matt Giteau
LW11New Zealand David Smith
FH10England Jonny Wilkinson
SH9France Sébastien Tillous-Borde
N88Argentina Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
OF7England Steffon Armitage
BF6South Africa Joe van Niekerk (c)downward-facing red arrow 53' upward-facing green arrow 62' downward-facing red arrow 68'
RL5England Simon Shawdownward-facing red arrow 61'
LL4South Africa Bakkies Botha
TP3Georgia (country) Davit Kubriashviliyellow card 63' to 73' downward-facing red arrow 73'
HK2France Sébastien Brunoyellow card 51' to 62' downward-facing red arrow 70'
LP1Wales Eifion Lewis-Robertsdownward-facing red arrow 74'
Replacements:
HK16France Mickaël Ivaldiupward-facing green arrow 53' downward-facing red arrow 62' upward-facing green arrow 70'
PR17France Laurent Emmanuelliupward-facing green arrow 74'
LK18France Christophe Samsonupward-facing green arrow 61'
FL19France Pierrick Guntherupward-facing green arrow 68' downward-facing red arrow 70' upward-facing green arrow 73'
CE20France Geoffroy Messina
FB21Australia Luke Rooney
SH22France Fabien Cibray
PR23Georgia (country) Levan Chilachavaupward-facing green arrow 70'
Coach: France Bernard Laporte

Statistics

Top points scorers

Updated 19 May 2012

  • Jonny Wilkinson
    (RC Toulon)
  • Romain Teulet
    (Castres Olympique)
  • Martín Bustos Moyano
    (Montpellier HR)
  • Julien Dupuy
    (Stade Français)
  • Benjamin Boyet
    (Aviron Bayonnais)
More information Rank, Player ...

Top try scorers

Updated 6 May 2012

  • Yves Donguy
    (Stade Toulousain)
  • Timoci Matanavou
    (Stade Toulousain)
  • Sireli Bobo
    (Racing Métro 92)
  • Henry Chavancy
    (Racing Métro 92)
  • Blair Connor
    (Bordeaux Bègles)
More information Rank, Player ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Saint-Andre confirmed as next France coach". ESPN Scrum. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  2. [2]
    "Laporte takes charge at Toulon". ESPN Scrum. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  3. [3]
    "Bernard Laporte takes charge at Toulton". ESPN Scrum. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  4. [4]
    "Bayonne sack coaching staff". ESPN Scrum. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  5. [5]
    "Elissalde axed by Bayonne". ESPN Scrum. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  6. [6]
    "Yahoo UK | News, email and search".
  7. [7]
    "Rugby Radar | Provides results, fixtures and table information from the top 18 rugby tournaments around the world". Archived from the original on 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  8. [8]
    "Règlement Sportif des Compétitions Professionnelles, Article 328, Participations des clubs français en Coupes d'Europe" (PDF). Statuts et Règlements Généraux de la LNR – Saison 2011/2012 (in French). Ligue nationale de rugby. pp. 134–35. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  9. [9]
    "Top 14 2011-2012 - Demi-finales : Toulouse–Castres" (in French). L'Équipe. 2 June 2012. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  10. [10]
    "Top 14 2011-2012 - Demi-finales : Clermont–Toulon" (in French). L'Équipe. 3 June 2012. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  11. [11]
    "Ô Toulouse ! Ô Brennus !" (in French). L'Équipe. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
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