SCA Albi have been promoted back to Top 14 after beating Oyonnax 14-12 in the ProD2 play-off final in Montpellier.

Winger Pierre-Gilles Lakafia, 22, was Albi's hero after scoring the only try of a tight match in the 28th minute. It means Albi have secured an immediate return back the big time following last season's relegation due to financial irregularities - the first time a team has bounced back at the first attempt.

ProD2 Table / Top 14 Transfers - The story so far...

But Eric Bechu's men didn't have it all their own way, and were even 6-5 down at half-time despite Lakafia's try. The erratic kicking of Frederic Manca cost them a hatful of potential points - eight in the first-half alone - as they clearly missed the accuracy of their injured Kiwi Blair Stewart.

A 14th-minute penalty from Pierre-Yves Montagnat - the division's highest scorer - put Oyonnax ahead courtesy of a kind bounce off the crossbar, and they responded to Lakafia's try with an opportunist's drop-goal from fly half Bertrand Guilloux.

It was valiant stuff from the underdogs, who were bidding to join Top 14 for the first time in their 100-year history. Dogged in defence and realistic when in possession, they kept it simple as they tried to follow-up on last weekend's shock win at SU Agen.

They didn't score any tries on that occasion, and they didn't again here, but they can be rightly proud of another gritty and disciplined display which underlined why they had the best defensive record in ProD2 this season.

But their hopes of another upset faded after the break when Manca finally landed a brace of penalties to ease Albi into a five-point lead. Montagnat and Kevin Boulogne added a further penalty for each side as the game wore on but a nervous finale was guaranteed when Montagnat landed his third success just three minutes from time.

With just two points in it the result - and promotion - was there for either side, and it looked like Oyonnax could just sneak it when they were awarded yet another penalty deep into added time. But the 61m effort proved just too far for Sebastien Bouillot's last-gasp effort and Albi celebrated an immediate return whence they came.

On the international stage there was a harsh reality check for Martin Johnson's England as they went down 33-26 against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Iain Balshaw, who has signed to join Biarritz next season, was England's tormentor in chief with two tries, to add to those of Chris Jack, Rocky Elsom and Gordon Darcy.

Toulon's Tom May did manage to get a try for England as Brive fly-half Andy Goode orchestrated a late fight-back, with Jordan Turner-Hall and Matt Banahan also crossing. Goode's future Brive team-mate Jamie Noon also went close, but England fell worryingly short just a week ahead of taking on Argentina.

Johnson was clearly unimpressed, acknowledging "our basic skills weren't good enough" and admitting that he had much work to do. "It's frustrating. The standard of performance you expect is higher than that and they know that as well," he said.

France coach Marc Lièvremont has called up Stade Francais' Lionel Beauxis to replace injured Stade Toulousain fly-half David Skrela for upcoming tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Beauxis is the fourth replacement Lièvremont has had to name following the earlier withdrawals of captain Lionel Nallet, scrum-half Morgan Parra and number eight Imanol Harinordoquy.

Despite all that - and the Top 14 final still to play - All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he expects a tough two-match series. "I they'll be bloody hard. They've always had good skilful backs and we've got a third of our side who are normally in the top XV not playing," said Henry.

Dan Carter is one of those, but he injured fly-half remains in France at the moment, and has vowed to stay until after his club Perpignan's play-off final against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

It will be the first time a team outside Stade Toulousain, Stade Francais or Biarritz has lifted the French championship since Castres in 1993.

Perpignan have not won a title in 54 years - since 1955 - while Clermont - who are sweating on the fitness of Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga - have yet to win after losing all nine of their previous finals.