WHEN they finally get round to the denouement at the Stade de France next weekend, the Top 14 season will have spread itself over a grand total of 43 Saturdays from late August. The last three will have been devoted to the most protracted play-off system in the game.
Toulouse and Clermont were supposed to have been rewarded for finishing first and second respectively, positions they had secured before the final round of the regular season last month.
Instead they have been kicking their heels over the last fortnight waiting to find out who would earn the right to play them in the semifinals...