E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version Contact Us

TOP 14

News | Fixtures & Results | Standings | History

Preview: Top 14 Round Eleven

Friday 21st November 2008

Rematch: Perpignan visit Clermont in a replay of last season's semi-final

Round Eleven sees a rematch of last year's semi-final between Clermont and Perpignan while Toulon will want to build on their strong performance of a week ago when they host crisis-stricken Biarritz.

As was the case last week, most games this weekend have been heavily influenced by the absence of international call-ups with Toulouse, Clermont and Stade Français the most severely affected.

The Parisians are struggling and will be put under pressure by Castres, who visit the capital with their tails up. In-form Bayonne will harbour hopes of moving to the top of the table when they host fellow middleweights Montpellier.

Elsewhere, the derby of the weekend takes places in Les Landes where Dax make the short trip to Mont-de-Marsan where a favourable result could lift them into mid-table.

The action kicks off on Friday when the champions visit this season's underachievers, Bourgoin.

Fixtures:

Friday, November 20

Bourgoin v Toulouse
Stade Français v Castres

Saturday, November 22

Bayonnais v Montpellier
Mont de Marsan v Dax
Toulon v Biarritz
Brive v Montauban
Clermont v Perpignan

Standings:

1 Toulouse 35
2 Perpignan 35
3 Bayonne 32
4 Stade Français 31
5 Montpellier 27
6 Clermont 26
7 Montauban 26
8 Biarritz 23
9 Brive 20
10 Dax 20
11 Castres 17
12 Toulon 15
13 Bourgoin 15
14 Mont-de-Marsan 7

Previews:

Friday:

CS Bourgoin-Jallieu v Stade Toulousain
Stade Pierre-Rajon, Bourgoin

The last team Bourgoin would want to face at the moment is Toulouse. The champions however are missing a minibus-load of stars and were decidedly off-song in the last two weeks. But a quick scroll over the names in their line-up makes one cringe for Bourgoin's sake.

That said, if history books are worth anything, there is hope for the CSBJ. Last season, in an almost identical context, Bourgoin produced a performance worth remembering and beat Toulouse 30-23.

If Bourgoin are to take a step out of the relegation zone, a similar upset will be required, but only the very brave would bet on it, especially since Yann David and Morgan Parra are still on the injury list.

Fred Michalak is back at fly-half for Toulouse, but Clément Poitrenaud is injured, so Gaffie du Toit will play full-back.

After being knocked-out in the Test against the Pacific Islands, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde has returned to Toulouse but will have to take it easy for three weeks, meaning he will also miss next week's match against Bayonne. In better news for the champs, wing Yves Donguy has extended his contract by three years.

Prediction: Bourgoin will put up a brave fight, but will run out of steam against their heavyweight opponents. Toulouse to win by seven points.

Kick-off: 19:00 (18:00)
Referee: Didier Mene
Touch judges: Jean-Claude Bes, Alain Moretto
Television match official: Daniel Dartigeas

Stade Français v Castres Olympique
Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris

A couple of tough weeks for Stade Français have seen the Parisians bumped from the top of the table and from cloud nine and the same time. Nine straight victories have been followed by three consecutive defeats.

Simply outplayed by Toulouse and the Clermont, the Parisians were without eighteen of their top players due to international selections and injuries when they went down in Montpellier last week.

By contrast, Castres scored a morale-boosting win against Mont-de-Marsan last week to lift themselves out of the relegation zone. After finishing fifth last season, no one expected the Tarnais to be languishing at the wrong end of the table and at last the tide seems to be turning.

The arrival of Chris Masoe has raised the mood in the Castres changing room and a lot is expected of the New Zealander.

Stade Français have a crisis at fly-half. With Juan Martin Hernandez on duty with the Pumas and Lionell Beauxis and now Brian Liebenberg out injured, Guillaume Boussès will have to stand in.

Prediction: Stade Français have not won a game since October 4, but have not lost to Castres in five years. The visitors should be good enough for a bonus point. Stade Français by four points.

Kick-off: 21:00 (20:00)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Touch judges: Didier Dussaut, Hervé Gilard
Television match official: Jean-Claude Levrier

Saturday:

Aviron Bayonnais v Montpellier HRC
Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne

Beaten just twice in ten games, Bayonne have dropped anchor in the top four and have realistic hopes of topping the standings at the end of the weekend. The Basque pack has been immense and their back-line full of initiative.

Even without most of their top players, Montpellier still managed to get the better of Stade Français last week, proof that they are not to be taken lightly.

Unfortunately, Montpellier's win over the Parisians came at a heavy cost. Four players from that game are out injured, including Argentinean fly-half Federico Todeschini, who could be sidelined for as long as three months with a torn bicep.

On top of those four, both of les Héraultais' top scrum-halves will also be absent this week. Julien Tomas has been called up to the national squad and Justin Marshall has been sidelined for ten days. Tomas' younger brother Adrien will wear the number-nine jumper.

Prediction: Away from home, and without nearly all their best players, life will be tough for Montpellier. Bayonne to win by eight points.

Kick-off: 14:30 (13:30 GMT)
Referee: Cédric Marchat
Touch judges: Patrick Dellac, Jean-Paul Vermande
Television match official: Gérard Borreani

Stade Montois v US Dax
Stade Guy-Boniface, Mont de Marsan.

The French press are calling this one the 'derby of hope.' Mont-de-Marsan will be aiming to rack up only their second win this season when they host the Landes derby. If they are to entertain any hope of staying up this season, a win on Saturday is an non-negotiable.

But Dax have been showing some fine form of late. Two wins and draw in their last four games mean they trail Biarritz in eighth place by only three points. A win against their neighbours will open a healthy gap between them and the dreaded relegation zone.

It's been fourteen years since France's top division saw a derby Landais (when Mont-de-Marsan were 15-11 winners), but the sides have met eight times in the ProD2 since then. Dax lead five wins to three.

Prediction: Anything is possible in a derby, but on recent form you have to back the visitors. Dax to win by seven points.

Kick-off: 14:30 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Patrick Pechambert
Touch judges: Claude Tajan, Didier Morin
Television match official: Daniel Gillet

RC Toulon v Biarritz Olympique
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon

Judging by their performance in Toulouse last week, Toulon are finally finding their stride which means this game should be one of the highlights of the weekend.

Both teams are under an enormous amount of pressure. Biarritz's history and budget dictate that they should be mixing it in the top four but the Basques are way off the mark after two consecutive defeats.

Toulon's foreign armada have been less affected by the November Tests than many other clubs, meaning they will line-up a very strong side.

Biarritz on the other hand have been hit hard by the call-ups and Fijian centre Ilikena Bolakoro, fly-half Valentin Courrent, lock David Couzinet and English loose forward Magnus Lund have all been in the nurse's office and won't be on the bus to Toulon.

It will be an emotional day for BO loose forward Momo Dridi who will face the club with whom he once won the ProD2 before an extended string of injuries allowed him to play only four matches since June 2007.

Prediction: After a couple of unsuccessful road trips Toulon will have the backing of their ever-ferocious home crowd. A precious win is on the horizon. Toulon to win by five points.

Kick-off: 14:30 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu
Touch judges: René Bordeneuve, Alain Rongier
Television match official: Jean-Christophe Gastou

CA Brive-Corrèze v Montauban
Stade Amédée-Domenech, Brive

Brive host a battle of two ambitious clubs in top form. It should be a cracker.

Unbeaten at Stade Amédée-Domenech this season, Brive start a run of six games out of eight in front their home supporters, and with it hope to climb into the top half of the standings. Beating Clermont last week confirmed their potential as contenders for a Heineken Cup spot.

Montauban are undefeated in three games and are within striking distance of the top four.

After an iffy start to the season, English fly-half Andy Goode has become the rock on which Brive have built their recent success. His 100 per cent record from the kicking tee (42 points) in his last three games has helped the club get their ball rolling.

It could be a game heavily influenced by the kicking tee as the visiting place-kicker, Fabien Fortassin, is the championship's top points scorer so far this season. Fortassin has a 71 per cent strike rate this season compared to 70 per cent for Goode.

Prediction: Tough one to call, but we reckon home ground advantage could give Brive the edge: Brive to win by four points.

Kick-off: 14:30 (13:30 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Touch judges: Jean-Christophe Clot, Gilbert Darrieutort
Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat

Clermont Auvergne v USA Perpignan
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin

Six months ago the word "leader" was synonymous with Clermont. The situation has certainly changed ahead of the rematch of last season's semi-final - no doubt the match of the weekend. Perpignan are the form team in the championship, and if ever their was a test of a team's mettle, it's a trip to Marcel Michelin.

Clermont's start to the season has bordered on catastrophic by their standards, but surprisingly enough there seems to be no panic in the Auvergne.

Needless to say this match will have huge consequences for the standings. While Perpignan will want to move ahead of Toulouse, Clermont must produce a result if they want to stay in top half of the table and in the hunt for a semi-final spot.

Consistency will have to be the name of the game for the home side, who have alternated between the outstanding and the appalling this season. Anthony Floch and Pierre Mignoni will have to pass fitness tests on Friday afternoon.

Perpignan's fly-half curse seems to know no end (don't tell Dan Carter!). Nicolas Laharrague has hurt his shoulder again and won't play for another month. South African Philip Burger is also out with a thigh injury.

Prediction: One would be tempted to back Perpignan on recent form but without a recognised fly-half the Catalans could be in trouble against Brock James. The home crowd should help too: Clermont to win by three points.

Kick-off: 16:30 (15:30 GMT)
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Touch judges: Denis Grenouillet, Régis Gabard
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui