News
Preview: Top 14, Round six
September 26 2008
Two heavyweight clashes stand out in Round six as Toulouse host Perpignan in a fight for second place in the standings while Biarritz travel to Clermont.
Elsewhere, Brive's very expensive squad will try to hoist anchor and rise from last place by recording their first win of the season against a Dax side looking for their third win on the trot.
Headline-grabbers Toulon visit in-firm Bayonne with a point to prove while Castres will try to continue their revival in the cauldron of Sapiac in Montauban.
Fixtures:
Friday, September 26
Bourgoin v Stade Français
Saturday, September 27
Clermont v Biarritz
Mont-de-Marsan v Montpellier
Montauban v Castres
Brive v Dax
Toulouse v Perpignan
Bayonne v Toulon
Standings after Round five
1 Stade Français 22
2 Perpignan 17
3 Bayonne 16
4 Toulouse 15
5 Montpellier 14
6 Biarritz 12
7 Toulon 12
8 Clermont 11
9 Dax 10
10 Montauban 10
11 Bourgoin 8
12 Castres 7
13 Mont-de-Marsan 6
14 Brive 4
Previews:
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu v Stade Français
Stade des Alpes de Grenoble
Bourgoin will 'host' the championship leaders, not at their base of Stade Pierre-Rajon, but in the far larger Stade des Alpes in Grenoble which will host a rugby game for the first time.
It's a clash of extremes. While Stade have so far set the benchmark this season, Bourgoin have struggled, recording just one win - over relegation candidates Mont-de-Marsan.
Stade Français and Pumas fans will be relieved with the news that loose forward Juan Manuel Leguizamon was released from hospital on Monday and is OK after a high tackle last weekend saw him leave the field on a stretcher.
It seems Bourgoin's prospects may largely depend on the kicking form of fly-half Sebatien Laloo. After a 100 per cent performance against Mont-de-Marsan two weeks ago, he let a bagful of points by the wayside in Toulon last Saturday. Which Laloo will turn up this week?
Stade Français have made eight changes to their matchday squad. The Parisians' line-up is expected to see Juan Martin Hernandez and Lionel Beauxis swap positions (again) with the former playing fly-half and the later wearing number fifteen.
Star Australian code-crossing import Mark Gasnier is also in the squad and could even start if wing Julien Vainqueur cannot pass a late fitness test.
For Bourgoin, 21-year-old prop Jean-Philippe Genevois has seen his 70-day suspension cut short a will be available to for selection after being banned for a head butt on Stade hooker Dimitrie Szarzewski (who is not the Parisian 22) last may.
Prediction: Despite all the changes it's tough to imagine the leaders' faultless run coming to an end in Grenoble. Stade Français by 15.
Kick-off: 20:30 (18:30 GMT)
Referee: Franck Maciello
Touch judges: Eric Briquet Campin, Hervé Gilard
Television match official: Jean-Claude Levrier
Clermont Auvergne v Biarritz Olympique
Parc des sports Marcel-Michelin, Clermont
One of two huge matches this weekend. While Biarritz will be out to confirm that they have sorted out the difficulties of last season, Clermont need to pull themselves out of a rut.
This is a traditionally close encounter. The average score over the last 40 years is 19-17 to Clermont, so expected tight match.
"Mind the gap" they'll be saying in Biarritz. After a promising start to the season, BO fell victim to their old Achilles heal - indiscipline - against a super-motivated Dax side last week. The Basques will be wary of falling backing into their old habits, the worst of which is an inability to win away from home. Three wins from three at home and two losses from to two away games makes for slightly worrying reading for the Biarritz fans.
Good news for Clermont - and they really need some - is that kiwi coach Vern Cotter has inked a new two year deal. The club decided to push forward the announcement amid rumours that Cotter was on his way out after being quoted in the French press as being frustrated by the attitude of his players and people in the town, who 'don't know how to win.'
Clermont manager Jean-Marc Lhermet has insisted that there is no crisis at the club. His words will have to be taken with a pinch of salt, for now.
Bad news for Biarritz is the injury to scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili, who will be absent for six weeks with knee ligament damage. Valentin Courrent will move inside from fly-half to fill the gap.
Prediction: Clermont's stop-start season needs to take off and quick. Although they've been poor on the road, they're a different side at Marcel-Michelin. Clermont by 7.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Touch judges: Jean-Paul Vermande, Denis Grenouillet
Television match official: Jean-Christophe Gastou
Stade Montois v Montpellier HRC
Guy-Boniface, Mont-de-Marsan
As expected, Mont-de-Marsan are finding the going tough in the Top 14. One win from five matches has left them second last. That said the quality of their performances so far have impressed many. They deserved both their losing bonus points, and they've come agonizingly close to wins in Bayonne and Paris.
Montpellier have proven to one of the front runners this season, but failed to excite at home last week against Perpignan. A visit to Mont-de-Marsan is the kind of game they must win if they are to be taken seriously in light of European qualification and/or a semi-final berth. It will be a test of their progress.
Former All-Blacks star Justin Marshall has so far failed to a make an impression at Montpellier, who looked far more dangerous when Julien Tomas came on for Marshall at scrum-half last week.
The visitors will be without star loose forward Louis Picamoles, who has an Achilles tendon injury and has been replaced by Vassili Bost.
Prediction: The hosts will be tough to beat and are more than capable of causing and upset. But without a real game breaker in their side, they might fall a little short . Montpellier by 5.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Touch judges: Jean-Christophe Clot, Claude Tajan
Television match official: Daniel Dartigeas
Montauban v Castres Olympique
Sapiac, Montauban
Both clubs are in trouble - but for different reasons. For Castres, it's the same old problem as injuries continue to ravage the squad and they risk travelling without a recognised scrum-half.
For Montauban, the trouble is of the monetary kind. Club president Daniel Havis announced this week that Montauban are deep in the red and are currently searching for 1,3 millions Euros in order to present the League with a balanced budget. Sound familiar?
The 'green machine' were brought down to earth with a crash against Montpellier and Toulouse after an encouraging start and a decent result will be vital to keep moral up as they face a the tough task of travelling to Stade Français and Clermont in coming weeks.
Montauban have not lost two consecutive home games since their return to the top flight, a statistic that will reassure the home fans.
Their might yet be light at the end of the tunnel for Castres, who are expected to be reinforced by the return of captain Lionel Nallet.
Prediction: Tough one to call. Sapiac is a difficult place to travel to but Castres will be buoyed by their win over Clermont last week as well as Nallet's return. It'll be close. Castres by 3.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Didier Mene
Touch judges: Régis Gabard, Alain Rongier
Television match official: Vincent Azoulay
CA Brive-Corrèze v US Dax
Amédée-Domenech, Brive
Brive have no room for error. One would be forgiven for blaming their woeful start to an unlucky draw, but if they cannot lift themselves out of the basement with a win over minnows Dax, they'll be a real trouble.
Brive are still winless while Dax have two in a row, so it will be no easy task for the hosts.
If Dax are causing a few surprises it's due in no small part to the arrival of Pumas scrum-half Nicolas Vergallo, who was instrumental in the defeat of Biarritz last week. Brive will welcome star full-back Alexis Palisson back from injury.
Prediction: Can Dax make it three in a row? We're not so sure, the Brive artillery must fire at some stage. Saturday would be as good a day as any. Brive by 5.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Stephan Pomarède
Touch judges: Alain Moretto, Frédéric Ducatez
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
Stade Toulousain v USA Perpignan
Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
Stade Ernest-Wallon was already sold out on Tuesday for the match of the weekend. It's never a good place to go if you're under pressure to win, so Perpignan will be comforted by their second place in the standings.
The Catalans head West with the memories of a heavy defeat last season (41-15) and in the knowledge that they have not won in Toulouse in 27 years! But Jacques Brunel's team arrive with the confidence gained from an excellent start to the season that has included four wins from five.
Meanwhile, the champions are looking better and better. They will have their eyes on the top of the table and a win against Perpignan will be a huge step towards catching up with Stade Français.
Toulouse centre Yannick Jauzion was at his dangerous best against Montauban and proved his versatility when he took over from David Skrela at fly-half in the second half. Rumours this week suggested that lock Fabian Pelous would start at number eight to allow Shaun Sowerby a rest.
Perpignan wing Farid Sid will be sidelined for at least two weeks. Fly-half Steve Meyer is also expected to be out of action for a month with a shoulder injury. They will also be without suspended lock, Nathan Hines.
Prediction: The 'Big Red Machine' is gaining momentum, and at home, Toulouse are almost unbeatable. Toulouse by 10.
Kick-off: 16:30 (14:30 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Touch judges: Fernand Pereira, Gilbert Darrieutort
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui
Aviron Bayonnais v RC Toulon
Jean-Dauger, Bayonne
Bayonne have been the surprise of the season so far. Third after five rounds, the Basques have proven that their off-season recruitments were wisely made. They will remain prudent however, since last season was started in similarly promising fashion only to go very pear-shaped later in the campaign.
Hosting a Toulon side that are gaining momentum themselves will be a true test of Bayonne's durability. Tana Umaga and his squad just can't seem to stay out of the news and they need a few solid results to silence their critics, including their flamboyant owner.
Italian Santiago Dellape has joined Toulon's injury list. The former Biarritz player will miss the trips to Bayonne and Perpignan as will suspended scrum-half Norman Jordaan.
Poor Sonny Bill Williams. The guy has barely played and he's still in the headlines. This time because he was voted the "hated person of the year" by an Australian magazine.
Prediction: Toulon have yet to gel as a cohesive attacking unit. A trip to Bayonne might be too much too soon. Bayonne by 8.
Kick-off: 20:30 (18:30 GMT)
Referee: David Rosich
Touch judges: Patrick Dellac, Didier Morin
Television match official: Daniel Gillet