Stade Français beat Montpellier 35-21 to secure their place in the Top 14 knockout stage.

Two tries, including one from No 8 Jono Ross and two Morné Steyn penalties put Stade 18-9 ahead at the break. 

It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, as they added three more five-pointers in the second half. Montpellier did breach Stade’s defence twice after the break, but they still fell short.

Elsewhere, Toulouse’s hopes of an automatic semi-final berth were dented after they slumped to a 32-11 loss against Grenoble in the penultimate round of matches, and will now have to win their final match against Bordeaux next week.

In other results, Oyonnax recorded a 28-10 win over Lyon; Rory Kockott’s 12-point haul helped Castres beat Brive 32-12; La Rochelle's 18-18 draw ended Racing Métro’s title aspirations; and Bayonne suffered a 38-20 defeat at the hands of Bordeaux to remain in the relegation zone with Lyon.

Round 25 results:

Stade Français 35 Montpellier 21
Grenoble 32 Toulouse 21
Oyonnax 28 Lyon 10
Castres 32 Brive 12
La Rochelle 18 Racing Métro 18
Bordeaux 38 Bayonne 20

Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images