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12 September 2008
What a weekend we have in prospect in Top 14,
with a series of clashes to whet the appetite of even the
most curmudgeonly rugby fan. The fun begins tonight (Friday)
with “crisis club” Toulon – according to French reports this
week – hosting early leaders Stade Francais at a sold out
Stade Mayol, and continues through on Saturday where
Clermont v Toulouse has to be the pick of the games in a
re-run of last season’s championship play-off.
Elsewhere, surprise front-runners Bayonne
face a tricky trip to Perpignan, winless duo Castres and Dax
come face to face, Montauban will be seeking to continue
their bright start when they travel to Montpellier and
Mont-de-Marsan are going for back-to-back victories when
they take on under-performing Bourgoin.
The final match of the weekend, on Saturday
evening, sees draw specialists Brive going for their third
successive tie as they venture into the bear pit at
Biarritz’s
Parcs des Sports Aguiléra.
As for me? I’m hoping to bounce back from a
disastrous set of predictions last week (3 out of 7) to up
my overall percentage from 57.14%. Damn those pesky draws.
Toulon v Stade Francais
(12/9/08, 20.30)
Losing to Mont-de-Marsan was deemed such an
unacceptable result that Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal
held crisis talks with coach Tana Umaga this week, so the
last thing the ex-All Black probably needed was a visit from
championship leaders Stade Francais. Ewen McKenzie’s mob
looked impressive during their 26-11 victory in Perpignan
last week, with half-back pairing Noel Oelschig and Juan
Martin Hernandez running the show.
There could be a debut for Toulon new-boy Joe
van Niekerk alongside Jerry Collins in the back row, while
Fijian
Sisaro Koyamaibole is also in line for his
first start of the season. But I still expect Stade to
triumph and for the heat to continue rising on Umaga.
Verdict: Stade Francais win.
Perpignan v Bayonne (13/9/08,
14.30)
Perpignan were delighted to publicize the
imminent arrival of star-signing Dan Carter for a whirlwind
publicity visit on September 21, but on the field USAP have
more pressing matters following their home defeat to Stade
Francais last week.
The Catalans, who will be without Steve
Meyer, need a quick return to winning ways after a promising
start but Bayonne will arrive full of the confidence that
three wins out of three brings, especially in light of last
week’s forwards-led demolition of Clermont.
Verdict: Perpignan win.
Castres v Dax (13/9/08,
14.30)
A tough start for Dax looks set to get even
gloomier as they travel to a Castres side buoyed by their
16-16 draw with Brive, but still looking for their opening
win of the season. A home match against the wooden-spoon
favourites should be just the ticket to change all that,
with Dax’s best hope probably to earn a third defensive
point.
Verdict: Castres win.
Montpellier v Montauban
(13/9/08, 14.30)
Not many teams emerge victorious from the
Stade Yves du Manoir but high-flying Montauban (third) will
fancy their chances after a surprisingly bright start.
Montpellier looked slovenly on their 9-6 away win at Dax
last week but their only previous home game this season saw
them upset defending champions Toulouse 16-11.
Verdict: Montpellier win.
Bourgoin v Mont-de-Marsan
(13/9/08, 14.30)
Les Montois were in jubilant form this week
after their maiden Top 14 victory (against Toulon) on
Saturday, and an away-trip to Bourgoin should hold no fears
after they ran Stade Francais so close two weeks ago in
Paris. Bourgoin, on the other hand, are still win-less after
three games and currently nudging Dax for the honour of
bottom spot.
Verdict: Mont-de-Marsan win.
Clermont v Toulouse (13/9/08,
16.30)
The pick of the weekend games, on paper at
least, sees a re-run of last year’s championship play-off
with Clermont seeking revenge for their 26-20 defeat. The
long-term absence of captain and winger Aurelian Rougerie is
a body blow for Clermont, already struggling to adapt to the
new ELVs after two defeats in their opening three games,
while Toulouse arrive showing signs of a return to form
following their 20-6 dismantling of Biarritz. The possible
inclusion of fly-half David Skrela could give the defending
champions a further boost in a match that could have crucial
consequences later in the season, but they will be without
Finau Maka, who has a fractured left hand, and possibly
Patricio Albacete (shoulder) as well. Elvis Vermeulen
captains Clermont in Rougerie’s absence with Thibaut Privat
set for a return.
Verdict: Clermont win.
Biarritz v Brive (13/9/08,
20.30)
Draw specialists Brive will need Andy Goode’s
boot to improve its accuracy percentage if they’re to escape
with anything other than a defeat at Biarritz. The hosts may
have lost at Toulouse last week but their two home games
this season have brought comfortable victories against
Bourgoin (29-22) and Castres (32-17). Brive, on the other
hand, have struggled to play as a collective unit following
their extensive summer recruitment policy, and the pressure
will continue to mount if they go a fourth game with victory
– despite the two draws.
Verdict: Biarritz win.
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