Controversial ex-Bok watches on as dramatic penalty shootout settles club fate

The pair were level at 29 points following 100 minutes of play, but the decisive moment came as Axel Müller sent Narbonne into the final against Nissa Rugby, where the winner secures promotion to Pro D2. 

The loser of that final at the Stade Marcel Verchere will still have one last opportunity to claim Pro D2 status next season in a barrage final, facing the second-from-bottom in the French second division.

Onto the contest itself on Saturday, at the interval, the scores were level 13-13 through one try and two penalties apiece.

Former Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi was unable to find a way through, as both sides slotted two further penalties respectively. Thibault Santoro and Theo Vidal continued to add to their side's tally from the tee as the game progressed and looked likely to be heading to extra time.

However, with the clock in the red, Pierre-Hugo Ducom crossed to score for Narbonne, which you would have expected to be the match-winner.

But, Albi found themselves back level following second row Guillem Calmon scoring, as both sides headed into a tryless extra time. Neither scored, which led to a dramatic penalty shootout.

Both Vidal and Santoro, who were both 100% from the tee, went first and continued that success rate by scoring the crucial first points for their sides. Four more successive kicks followed.

Then Téo Dospital so brutally missed his side's seventh shot, and this allowed Müller to step up and hold his nerve to send Narbonne into the final.