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04 September 2008
 It’s been a
thrilling start to the new Top 14 season with shock and awe
both on and off the as we enter September and the third
round of matches. The week began with relegation favourites
Mont-de-Marsan coming within a whisker of a stunning upset
at Stade Francais, continued with Toulon being forced to
make a denial (for all that’s worth) about reported interest
in signing Jonny Wilkinson, and now ends with four clubs
doing battle to maintain their 100% winning starts to the
season. Two of them – Perpignan and Stade Francais – come
face to face in what should be a cracking atmosphere at the
Stade Aime Giral, while Biarritz and Bayonne both face stern
tests of their early credentials with matches away to
Toulouse and at home to Clermont respectively.
Personally,
I’m hoping to continue my upward curve so far as predictions
go – five out of seven last week shows an increase from
57.14% to 71.43% - but that’s just the sort of talk that
gets you into trouble.
One thing is
for certain, Toulon’s Sonny ‘Bill’ Williams won’t be on the
score sheet this weekend after a fractured right fibula
ruled him out for three weeks, although I wouldn’t bet
against Perpignan’s
American winger Takudzwa
Ngwenya grabbing another try after four in his opening two
games.
Bayonne v
Clermont (5/9/08, 20.30)
The Basque
club go into this match (on Friday night) as one of only
four teams with a 100% win record, and judging by their
previous results should be on for a three-point victory at
home to Clermont, last year’s runners-up. Why the three
point margin? Well, Bayonne won their opening match by one
(27-26 at Castres) and their second by two (22-20 at home to
Montauban). Do you see where I’m going now? The only
potential spanner in the works is a rejuvenated Clermont
fresh from their six-try rout of Montpellier, although they
will be without winger
Aurélien Rougerie and
hooker Benoît Cabello (both injured).
Brock James and
Benoît Baby are also doubtful.
Verdict:
Bayonne win.
Brive v
Castres (6/9/08, 14.30)
Both teams go
into this match seeking their first win of the season, but
hosts Brive must start as favourites after their 3-3 draw at
Toulon last week. Their raft of new signings have yet to gel
as a unit and fly-half Andy Goode will be hoping to improve
on a poor start to his goal-kicking duties, but injury-hit
Castres are there for the taking.
Verdict: Brive
win.
Dax v
Montpellier (6/9/08, 14.30)
Montpellier travel
to bottom club Dax keen to get back on track after last
week’s mauling at Clermont, but the home side must have been
buoyed by their encouraging show at Toulouse, where they led
on the hour before going down 32-25.
Mathieu Lièvremont,
Federico Martin-Aramburu and Joel Koffi have all recovered
from minor knocks and are expected to play for the hosts.
Montpellier must improve on the ill-discipline which proved
costly last week.
Verdict: Dax win.
Montauban v
Bourgoin (6/9/08, 14.30)
Stade Sapiac
should be rocking on Saturday afternoon as Montauban strive
to continue their impressive start following victory against
Mont-de-Marsan (37-19) and a narrow defeat away to Bayonne
(22-20). Fabien Fortassin was in cracking form for the hosts
last week, while Bourgoin slipped to a home defeat courtesy
of
Adrien Plante’s
last-minute try for Perpignan.
Verdict: Montauban win.
Perpignan v Stade Francais
(6/9/08, 14.30)
Arguably the
match of the weekend, pitching two of the league’s four
unbeaten sides against each other. Stade, the early leaders,
only just overcame an unexpectedly resilient Mont-de-Marsan
last week (27-22) but will be boosted by the returns of
Argentine centre Juan Martin Hernandez and half-back Lionel
Beauxis. Perpignan, meanwhile, have started with successive
victories over Brive (34-18) and Bourgoin (22-16) and the
Catalans will be desperate to put one over the capital’s
finest.
Verdict:
Perpignan win.
Mont-de-Marsan
v Toulon (6/9/08, 14.30)
Big-spending
Toulon may have denied they were interested in signing Jonny
Wilkinson this week but the loss of rugby league convert
Sonny ‘Bill’ Williams will be of far more concern for Tana
Umaga’s side. Williams is out for three weeks with a
fractured right fibula and is joined on the crock list by
fellow new-signing Tiaan Liebenberg, who could be out for up
to two months with a broken thumb. Les Montois, meanwhile,
go in search of their first win buoyed by last week’s narrow
loss in Paris.
Verdict:
Toulon win.
Toulouse v
Biarritz (7/9/08, 14.30)
Biarritz
travel to the
Stade
Ernest-Wallon riding high in second place after successive
wins (against Bourgoin and Castres) but slow-starting
Toulouse could have Yannick Jauzion back in action as they
begin a crucial fortnight. David Skrela could be in the
squad which travels to Clermont next week but Biarritz must
be overcome first by a side that has so far struggled to
adapt to the new ELVs. An unconvincing home win against Dax
got them off the mark last week and Guy Noves’ charges will
be looking for an improved performance against BOPB.
Verdict: Toulouse win.
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