2011–12 Top 14 season

2011–12 Top 14 season

Countries	France
Champions	Toulouse
Runners-up	Toulon
Relegated	Brive Lyon
Matches played	183
Attendance	2,566,416 (average 14,024 per match)
Top point scorer	Jonny Wilkinson (273)
Top try scorer	Timoci Nagusa (11)
← 2010–11 2012–13 →

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.

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

Team	Captain	Head coach	Stadium	Capacity
Agen	Adri Badenhorst	Christophe Deylaud Christian Lanta	Stade Armandie	7004146000000000000♠14,600
Bayonne	Pépito Elhorga	Didier Faugeron	Stade Jean-Dauger	7004169340000000000♠16,934
Biarritz	Imanol Harinordoquy	Jack Isaac and Jean-Michel Gonzalez	Parc des Sports Aguiléra	7004150000000000000♠15,000
Bordeaux Bègles	Matthew Clarkin	Marc Delpoux Laurent Armand Vincent Etcheto	Stade André Moga	7003908800000000000♠9,088
Brive	Antonie Claassen	Ugo Mola	Stade Amédée-Domenech	7004150000000000000♠15,000
Castres	Alexandre Albouy Sébastien Tillous-Borde	Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers	Stade Pierre-Antoine	7004115000000000000♠11,500
Clermont	Aurélien Rougerie	Vern Cotter	Parc des Sports Marcel-Michelin	7004163340000000000♠16,334
Lyon		Matthieu Lazerges Raphaël Saint-André	Matmut Stadium	7003800000000000000♠8,000
Montpellier	Fulgence Ouedraogo	Fabien Galthié	Stade Yves-du-Manoir	7004150000000000000♠15,000
Perpignan	Nicolas Mas	Bernard Goutta Christophe Manas	Stade Aimé-Giral	7004165930000000000♠16,593
Racing Métro	Lionel Nallet	Pierre Berbizier	Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir	7004140000000000000♠14,000
Stade Français	Sergio Parisse	Michael Cheika	Stade Charléty	7004200000000000000♠20,000
Stade Français	Sergio Parisse	Michael Cheika	Stade de France	7004800000000000000♠80,000
Toulon	Joe van Niekerk	Bernard Laporte	Stade Mayol	7004147000000000000♠14,700
Toulouse	Thierry Dusautoir	Guy Novès	Stade Ernest-Wallon	7004195000000000000♠19,500
Toulouse	Thierry Dusautoir	Guy Novès	Stadium Municipal	7004354720000000000♠35,472

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

Key to colors
	League champions; receive a place in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup.
	Top two teams qualify directly to semifinals and receive places in the 2012–13 Heineken Cup.
	Third and fourth placed teams play their quarterfinal at home and also receive automatic Heineken Cup berths (but see note below).
	Fifth and sixth placed teams play their quarterfinal away and also receive automatic Heineken Cup berths (but see note below).
	Biarritz qualified for the Heineken Cup because they won the 2011-12 European Challenge Cup.
	Two teams relegated to the 2012–13 Rugby Pro D2.

	Club	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts	Head-to-head
2011–12 Top 14 Table^[6]^[7]
1	Toulouse	26	19	1	6	629	448	+181	9	87	Toulouse 5–4
2	Clermont	26	19	2	5	644	364	+280	7	87	Toulouse 5–4
3	Toulon	26	14	5	7	581	393	+188	7	73
4	Castres	26	14	4	8	585	522	+63	5	69
5	Montpellier	26	14	1	11	601	505	+96	9	67
6	Racing Métro	26	13	1	12	569	538	+31	10	64
7	Stade Français	26	11	2	13	568	588	−20	10	58
8	Bordeaux Bègles	26	12	0	14	493	619	−126	5	53
9	Biarritz	26	10	2	14	424	518	−94	8	52	Biarritz 6–2
10	Agen	26	12	1	13	479	573	−94	2	52	Biarritz 6–2
11	Perpignan	26	9	2	15	515	578	−63	9	49
12	Bayonne	26	9	3	14	479	619	−140	6	48
13	Brive	26	7	1	18	408	488	−60	12	42
14	Lyon	26	5	3	18	369	591	−222	5	31

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.

Champion – Toulouse
Runner-up – Toulon
Heineken Cup holder – Skipped (won by Leinster of Pro12)
Semifinalist that finished higher in the league table – Clermont
Semifinalist that finished lower in the league table – Castres
Challenge Cup holder – Biarritz
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

Castres	31 – 15	Montpellier
Try: Lacrampe 18' c Con: Teulet (1/1) Pen: Bernard (5/5) 2', 33', 44', 50', 80' Teulet (3/3) 15', 38', 72'	Report	Try: 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

Toulon	17 – 13	Racing Métro
Try: Armitage 66' m Pen: Wilkinson 35' Giteau (3) 58', 62', 80'	Report	Try: 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

Toulouse	24 – 15	Castres
Pen: McAlister (6/6) 6', 11', 29', 51', 61', 71' Beauxis (1/1) 39' Drop: Beauxis (1/1) 20'	Report	Pen: 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

Clermont	12 – 15	Toulon
Pen: Parra (4/5) 8', 30', 62', 73'	Report	Pen: 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

Toulouse	18 – 12	Toulon
Pen: McAlister (6/6) 3', 21', 35', 42', 64', 68'	Report	Pen: Wilkinson (4/6) 1', 27', 32', 46'

Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 79,612^[11]
Referee: Romain Poite


FB	15	Clément Poitrenaud
RW	14	Vincent Clerc
OC	13	Yann David	61'
IC	12	Florian Fritz
LW	11	Timoci Matanavou
FH	10	Luke McAlister	70'
SH	9	Jean-Marc Doussain	50'
N8	8	Louis Picamoles
OF	7	Thierry Dusautoir (c)
BF	6	Jean Bouilhou	53' 62' 68'
RL	5	Patricio Albacete
LL	4	Yoann Maestri	76'
TP	3	Census Johnston
HK	2	William Servat	51' to 62'
LP	1	Gurthrö Steenkamp	76'
Replacements:
HK	16	Christopher Tolofua	53' 62'
PR	17	Daan Human	76'
FL	18	Yannick Nyanga	68'
FL	19	Grégory Lamboley	76'
SH	20	Luke Burgess	50'
FH	21	Lionel Beauxis	70'
CE	22	Yannick Jauzion	61'
PR	23	Yohan Montes
	Coach: Guy Novès


FB	15	Benjamin Lapeyre
RW	14	Alexis Palisson
OC	13	Mathieu Bastareaud
IC	12	Matt Giteau
LW	11	David Smith
FH	10	Jonny Wilkinson
SH	9	Sébastien Tillous-Borde
N8	8	Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
OF	7	Steffon Armitage
BF	6	Joe van Niekerk (c)	53' 62' 68'
RL	5	Simon Shaw	61'
LL	4	Bakkies Botha
TP	3	Davit Kubriashvili	63' to 73' 73'
HK	2	Sébastien Bruno	51' to 62' 70'
LP	1	Eifion Lewis-Roberts	74'
Replacements:
HK	16	Mickaël Ivaldi	53' 62' 70'
PR	17	Laurent Emmanuelli	74'
LK	18	Christophe Samson	61'
FL	19	Pierrick Gunther	68' 70' 73'
CE	20	Geoffroy Messina
FB	21	Luke Rooney
SH	22	Fabien Cibray
PR	23	Levan Chilachava	70'
	Coach: 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)

Table of Top points scorers
Rank	Player	Club	Points	Tries	Conversions	Penalties	Drop goals
1	Jonny Wilkinson	RC Toulon	273	0	24	75	0
2	Conrad Barnard	SU Agen	267	0	15	75	4
3	Romain Teulet	Castres Olympique	249	0	30	62	1
4	Martín Bustos Moyano	Montpellier HR	213	3	27	48	0
5	Julien Dupuy	Stade Français	206	2	23	50	0
6	Benjamin Boyet	Aviron Bayonnais	202	2	12	55	1
7	Lionel Beauxis	Stade Toulousain	191	0	19	43	8
8	Luke McAlister	Stade Toulousain	191	3	22	44	0
9	Brock James	USA Perpignan	190	2	24	40	4
10	Jonathan Wisniewski	Racing Métro 92	174	1	20	42	1

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)

Table of Top try scorers
Rank	Player	Club	Tries
1	Timoci Nagusa	Montpellier HR	11
2	Romain Martial	Castres Olympique	10
-	Yves Donguy	Stade Toulousain	10
-	Timoci Matanavou	Stade Toulousain	10
5	Alex Tulou	Montpellier HR	8
6	Lucas Amorosino	Montpellier HR	7
-	Sireli Bobo	Racing Métro 92	7
-	Henry Chavancy	Racing Métro 92	7
-	Blair Connor	Union Bordeaux Bègles	7
10	Marc Andreu	Castres Olympique	6
-	Steffon Armitage	RC Toulon	6
-	Jean-Marcellin Buttin	USA Perpignan	6
-	Damien Chouly	USA Perpignan	6
-	Rudi Coetzee	USA Perpignan	6

References

↑ "Saint-Andre confirmed as next France coach". ESPN Scrum. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
↑ "Laporte takes charge at Toulon". ESPN Scrum. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
↑ "http://www.espnscrum.com/france-top-14-2011-12/rugby/story/154732.html". ESPN Scrum. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011. External link in |title= (help)
↑ "Bayonne sack coaching staff". ESPN Scrum. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
↑ "Elissalde axed by Bayonne". ESPN Scrum. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
↑ http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/rugby/top-14/2011-2012/tables/
↑ http://rugbyradar.com/top-14
1 2 "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.
1 2 "Top 14 2011-2012 - Demi-finales : Toulouse–Castres" (in French). L'Équipe. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
1 2 "Top 14 2011-2012 - Demi-finales : Clermont–Toulon" (in French). L'Équipe. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
↑ "Ô Toulouse ! Ô Brennus !" (in French). L'Équipe. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Top 14 2011-2012.

(French) Ligue Nationale de Rugby – Official website
Top 14 on Planetrugby.com

Top 14

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