News
Preview: Top 14, Round Eight
October 24 2008
A top-of -the-table clash between leaders Stade Français and second-placed Toulouse in Paris should be the highlight in France this weekend, depending on which side Toulouse bring to the capital.
Guy Novès has said he will be travelling with a "different team." Exactly what that means is anyone's guess as the composition of the defending champions' starting line-up is not set to be revealed until the last minute. Not quite what the 80 000 crowd at the Stade de France were bargaining for when they bought their tickets, but Toulouse should still be able to field a strong team.
Elsewhere, Biarritz must make the potentially embarrassing trip to Mont-de-Marsan and Clermont face Montauban for the second consecutive week.
Two under-pressure sides face off in Toulon when Castres visit the ever-hostile Stade Felix Mayol.
Fixtures:
Friday, October 24
Mont de Marsan v Biarritz
Saturday, October 25
Bayonne v Brive
Perpignan v Dax
Clermont v Montauban
Montpellier v Bourgoin
Stade Français v Toulousain
Toulon v Castres
Standings after Round Seven:
1. Stade Français 31
2. Toulouse 23
3. Perpignan 21
4. Bayonne 20
5. Clermont 20
6. Montpellier 18
7. Biarritz 17
8. Brive 14
9. Dax 14
10. Montauban 14
11. Toulon 13
12. Bourgoin 10
13. Castres 8
14. Mt-de-Marsan 7
Stade Montois v Biarritz Olympique
Stade Guy-Boniface, Mont-de-Marsan
The last time Biarritz made the short trip to les landes region they came back red-faced after losing to Dax. Stade Montois might be last on the table but have made a habit of picking up at least a bonus point in almost every game they've played this year.
Toulon learnt the hard way that Mont de Marsan are not an easy prospect when playing at home and Biarritz will travel inland with a healthy dose of circumspection, despite the fact the home side have a bunch of injury concerns.
It seems the ultimatum laid down by the BO bosses had its desired effect as the Basques refound their form against Montpellier three weeks ago - but will have mixed feelings about their performance against Gloucester in the H-Cup. Anything less than a win this weekend - Biarritz's first away success of the season - will no doubt see the coaches heads back on the chopping block.
Injury news is more good than bad for Biarritz as Dimitri Yachvili, Imanol Harinordoquy, Nicolas Brusque and Benjamin Noirot all return to fitness. Benjamin Thiery however is unavailable with a neck injury.
Prediction: Another bonus point is not out of Mont-de-Marsan's reach. Biarritz to win by seven points.
Kick-off: 20:30 (18:30 GMT)
Referee: Franck Maciello
Touch judges: Hervé Gilard, Eric Briquet Campin
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
Aviron Bayonnais v CA Brive-Corrèze
Jean-Dauger, Bayonne
After a terrific start to the season, Bayonne were shocked at home by Italians Viadana only to bounce back by hammering Mont-de-Marsan in the European Challenge Cup. Brive's ECC form was similarly irregular after losing in Parma, only to beat Newcastle a week later.
In the last round of the Top 14, however, their fortunes were distinctly different. Brive scored successive bonus-point wins while Bayonne lost in Dax.
The Basques will be keen to maintain their fourth place in the standings, gained largely thanks to their super pack. The visitors have been boosted by the return a number of players from injury. Scrum-half Liam Davies, centre Lachlan Mackay and loose forward Gerhard Vosloo are all fit again.
Prediction: It'll be close. We'll stick our necks out and back Brive, who look the stronger side on current form: Brive by three points.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Didier Mene
Touch judges: Jean-Claude Bes, Jean-Paul Vermande
Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat
USA Perpignan v US Dax
Aimé-Giral, Perpignan
At the start of the season, one would have been predicting a hiding for Dax, but after wins over Castres, Biarritz and Bayonne Thomas Lièvremont's team are proving to be made of sterner stuff than many had thought. No one in Perpignan is about to forget that the same fixture last year ended in a draw.
Dax's form on the road this year, though, has been far from great. Perpignan will be expecting a win to bolster their confidence after the disappointment of narrowly going down to the Ospreys in Europe.
The Catalan hosts have a number of injury problems to contend with however. David Mélé, the scrum-half turned number ten who has been doing a sterling job in the absence of Perpignan's regular fly-halves has a rib injury that will keep him sidelined for a month.
Prediction: At home, the Catalans should have too much firepower for their visitors: Perpignan to win by fifteen points.
Kick-off: 14:30
Referee: Bruno Bessot
Touch judges: Alain Rongier, Régis Gabard
Television match official: Jean-Christophe Gastou
Clermont Auvergne v Montauban
Parc des sports Marcel-Michelin, Clermont
A week after meeting in the H-Cup, Clermont and Montauban do battle again for the fourth time this year, this time in the Auvergne. Clermont left it till the last minute to win at Sapiac last Saturday, but at home they should be a different prospect.
Despite turning out some solid performances, it's been a month since Montauban actually won a game. Their troubles off the field are pretty bad too. Fans of the green brigade will be hoping newly appointed club president Raymond Barrière can sort out their financial mess.
Clermont have been deprived of the services of Davit Zirakashvili, Thibault Privat, Fabien Alexandre and Simms Davison while Anthony Floch , Benoît Baby, Mario Ledesma and Napoliani Nalaga are uncertain starters.
Prediction: Clermont are a tough nut to crack at Marcel-Michelin - too tough for Montauban. Clermont to win by ten.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: David Rosich
Touch judges: René Bordeneuve, Patrick Bellet
Television match official: Daniel Gillet
Montpellier HRC v CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
Yves-du-Manoir, Montpellier
The drubbing in Biarritz in Round Seven was proof that not qualifying for the Heineken Cup was probably a blessing in disguise for Montpellier. Humiliated in Northampton in the Challenge Cup last week, Montpellier will want to get back to the winning ways of the early season.
Equally humiliating was Bourgoin's loss at home to Italians Padova. The Isérois' season is fast turning into one to forget. With only one win to speak of so far, it's unlikely they'll pick up a second on the Mediterranean coast. The relegation zone beckons.
Montpellier will have to make do without Julien Tomas and Fabien Rofès, who were both cited after the Northampton game.
Prediction: Montpellier to win by fourteen points.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Touch judges: Fernand Pereira, Patrick Dellac
Television match official: Serge Marzullo
Stade Français v Stade Toulousain
Stade de France, Paris
This remains the match of the weekend, despite the fact that Toulouse will not field their first XV. That said, the strength in depth of the Toulouse squad means that they will probably still be able to put a formidable team on the park.
The Parisian's arme fatale this season has been the kicking game of Juan Martin Hernandez and Lionel Beauxis, but after watching Toulouse struggle against a Bath side who challenged them out wide, many expect a change in tactics from the hosts.
Exactly who will run out in red and black in Paris remains a mystery. The only sure absentee (apart from a handful of injured players) is Byron Kelleher who is on holiday in South Africa to watch future team-mate Fred Michalak in the Currie Cup Final. His replacement is likely to be France scrum-half Jean Baptiste Elissalde. No worries there.
If Clement Poitrenaud isn't at full-back, Maxime Médard could well be. The list goes on and on: Kunavore in for Jauzion and Dusautoir, Pelous and Lecouls are all likely starters...Toulouse wont be at full-strength, but they'll still be damn strong. Florian Fritz and William Servat won't however be in Paris as both are nursing injuries.
Stade Français will be out to repeat their 29-0 win in the same fixture last season and rack up their tenth consecutive win in all competitions this year. It's hard to see them keeping Toulouse off the scoreboard again, but another win is more than possible. Front rower Sylvain Marconnet and Argentinean number eight Juan Manuel Leguizamon are both back in the line-up.
Australian Mark Gasnier is also back in the matchday squad after recovering from an ankle injury.
Prediction: Toulouse won't go down without a fight, but Stade Français are looking really good. Stade Français to win by five points.
Kick-off: 16:30 (14:30 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Touch judges: Claude Tajan, Jacques Laplace
Television match official: Jean-Claude Levrier
RC Toulon v Castres Olympique
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon
Stuck in eleventh place after four defeats, Toulon need to get their season back on track in front of their home fans and Castres look like ideal prey.
Beaten five times in France and twice in Europe this season the Tarnais are full of self doubt. After starting the season with high ambitions, Alain Gaillard's team are desperate for a result to drag themselves out of the Top 14 basement.
After going down to Edinburgh at home last weekend Castres spent the week at a training camp at Sorèze to get back to nature and do a bit of soul searching. They used the same location to prepare for their Round Five game against Clermont - their only victory of the season so far.
Good news for the visitors is that captain Lionel Nallet has passed a fitness test and should be able to lead the team. For the home side, scrum-half Norman Jordaan has completed his ban for showing off his boxing skills.
South African lock Ross Skeate arrives in Toulon on Friday from Western Province and will be presented to the fans before kick-off.
Prediction: Jerry Collins should lead his team to a much-needed win. Toulon to win by four points.
Kick-off: 20:30 (18:30 GMT)
Referee: Eric Darrière
Touch judges: Didier Dussaut, Jean-Christophe Clot
Television match official: Daniel Dartigeas