Sunday 5 June 2016 23:15, UK
Clermont Auvergne and Toulon progressed directly into the Top 14 semi-finals on Sunday, while Montpellier and Racing 92 secured home barrage play-offs.
As the competition entered its 26th and final round of the regular season, the only certainty regarding the next stage of the competition was that Clermont would be present in the semi-finals.
The final round of fixtures fitted the pieces of the barrage play-off puzzle into place and saw Toulon secure the last direct route into the last four.
At the Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont finished the regular season in style. They notched up a half-century against La Rochelle, 57-8, that included a well-taken hat-trick from David Strettle.
Toulon's bonus-point home victory over Bordeaux-Begles also meant that they earned a week off and secured the second semi-final spot.
Bordeaux played with 14 men for 60 minutes after Metuisela Talebula received a red card for a reckless boot and the visitors struggled to cope with the man disadvantage.
James O'Connor's length-of-the-field score was the pick of the host's six tries, while Josua Tuisova's brace took his personal tally up to 11 this season.
Racing 92 and Montpellier finished the regular season facing each other and at the full-time whistle in Paris, both had secured home barrage play-offs.
Racing's 40-25 victory was a comfortable one but they could not secure the bonus-point that would have pushed them into third place in the table.
The result means that Montpellier will now host Castres and Racing 92 welcome Toulouse to the Stade Yves-Du-Manoir in the two barrage play-offs.
Toulouse and Castres both head into their away knockout matches off the back of solid Round 26 victories. Toulouse dismantled Grenoble 53-14 at the Stade Lesdiguieres and Castres delivered a 35-14 victory over Stade Francais on home soil.
Watch both of the 2016 Top 14 play-offs live on Sky Sports 3 HD on June 11 and 12.
