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18 September 2008
The weekly manna that is Top
14 kicks off again on Friday night with another set of
intriguing games ready to set the pulses racing.
Can Dax, last week’s surprise
winners, build on their away victory at Castres? Will
Toulouse bounce back from defeat as they travel to fortress
Montauban? Have Clermont turned the corner and are Toulon
making progress?
So many questions, and that’s
without even touching on the Montpellier v Perpignan clash
that’s set to end the weekend games on Saturday evening.
As usual, I’ll be putting my
reputation on the block with another series of predictions
(five out of seven correct last week, that’s 71.4%, lifting
me back above 60% overall) and aiming for that elusive first
‘full house’ this season.
Dax v Biarritz (20.30,
19.9.08)
Relegation favourites Dax
pulled off a surprise 19-11 win at Castres last week to lift
themselves to the giddy heights of 11th and will go into
this clash buoyed by the self-belief that result has
brought. Biarritz were also victorious, with a 25-5 home
demolition of Brive, but all three of their wins have come
at the
Parcs des
Sports Aguiléra,
with their only defeat on the road against Toulouse. English
flanker Magnus Lund has been in superb form for Biarritz but
the force might just be with Dax, and I didn’t think I would
be saying that a week ago.
Verdict: Dax win.
Castres v Clermont (14.30,
20.9.08)
The wheels came off for
Castres
last week –
a home defeat against bottom of the table Dax was not what
the good doctor ordered – so expect a backlash at the Stade
Pierre-Antoine on Saturday. Trouble is, this week’s
opponents are Clermont, fresh from their 16-6 home win
against defending champions Toulouse, and seemingly back on
track after a stuttering start to the campaign. If they’re
to continue their resurgence, however, they’ll have to break
the atypical French habit of winning at home (against
Montpellier and Toulouse) and losing away (against Toulon
and Bayonne). Can they do it?
Verdict:
Clermont win.
Bayonne v Mont-de-Marsan
(14.30, 20.9.08)
Perpignan’s 38-10 victory may
have dented Bayonne’s early-season optimism last week, but
the Basque club are a different proposition at home – where
they have already dispatched Montauban and Clermont this
season. Les Montois, on the other hand, have lost all three
away games to date and I don’t expect that to change on
Saturday.
Verdict: Bayonne win.
Toulon v Bourgoin (14.30,
20.9.08)
Alarm bells have started
ringing - primarily at the hands of president Mourad
Boudjellal – after successive defeats for Toulon, but there
were signs in last week’s close-fought encounter with Stade
Francais that a collection of outstanding individuals might
just be beginning to gel as a team. Prop David Banquet will
be absent (suspended) following his sending-off and further
repercussions are sure to follow in light of the all-in
brawl, but a much-needed home win against Bourgoin should
put a smile back on Boudjellal’s face, and relieve some of
the mounting pressure on coach Tana Umaga. Springbok
international Joe van Niekerk is set to make his Toulon
debut.
Verdict: Toulon win.
Stade Francais v Brive
(14.30, 20.9.08)
The Parisians have proved
unstoppable so far this season and there’s no reason
whatsoever to doubt them making it five wins out of five
when they entertain Brive on Saturday afternoon. Ewen
McKenzie’s division leaders have welcomed rugby league
recruit Mark Gasnier to the French capital this week but he
is not expected to feature. Brive, on the other hand, are
second bottom and winless after four games despite a massive
summer recruitment policy. The fixture list hasn’t been
kind, but this looks a home banker to me.
Verdict: Stade Francais win.
Montauban v Toulouse (16.30,
20.9.08)
Toulouse coach Guy Noves
didn’t mince his words this week following the champions’
limp defeat at Clermont, but an away trip to Stade Sapiac,
Montauban’s fortress-like home ground, could cause further
apprehension. Toulouse’s erratic form was compounded by a
woeful performance in the lineout last week and USM will be
happy to capitalise on further errors as they seek their
third home win of the season.
Verdict: Montauban win.
Montpellier v Perpignan
(20.30, 20.9.08)
The final game of the weekend
sees southeast coastal rivalries at stake as Montpellier (3rd)
entertain Perpignan (2nd) in a game sure to test
the mettle of supporters, players and match officials. Only
points difference separates the pair at present and both
teams go into the game on the back of strong performances
last week, with Montpellier dismissing Montauban 32-10 and
Perpignan beating Bayonne 38-10. Expect a closer encounter
on Saturday, with hosts Montpellier narrow favourites to
take the honours.
Verdict: Montpellier win.
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