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25 August 2008
It
seems like just yesterday that Toulouse claimed their 17th
Championship title with their pulsating 26-20 victory over
Clermont, but the new season is truly upon us and with round
one starting on Tuesday August 26th French Rugby
Club previews the opening fixtures, even putting its
reputation on the line by predicting the results.
Perpignan v Brive (19.00)
Perry Freshwater’s mob surprised many by claiming fourth
spot last year and it will be fascinating to see if they
consolidate that form again this season. A home start
against last year’s 11th-placed team would appear
the ideal opener but star signing Dan Carter doesn’t arrive
until after Christmas and Brive have had a frenetic few
months in the transfer market.
Former Leicester fly-half Andy Goode strengthens the back
line – and the English contingent – while fellow
internationals Arnaud Mela, Pablo Henn and Horacio Agulla
have also come on board.
Verdict: Perpignan win.
Castres v Bayonne (19.00)
Castres were another club to exceed expectations in 2007/8
with a fifth-placed finish and their pre-season form has
been good, with a notable away win at Perpignan already
under their belts. Chris Masoe may not be arriving until
November but they should still be too strong for Bayonne,
despite the latter also having a positive pre-season with
wins over English sides Gloucester and Saracens.
Verdict: Castres win.
Dax v Stade Francais (19.00)
Lucky Dax may regret their grand escape from relegation once
2008/9 gets underway with an opening day visit by Stade
Francais sure to provide an early test of character. Albi’s
financial irregularities may have spared Dax the drop but
four out of four friendly defeats hints at further travails
to come.
Thomas Lievremont will have to earn his corn this season to
keep his team up but I reckon it will be opposing coach Ewen
McKenzie who’ll be sporting the smiles after Tuesday night’s
opening encounter.
Verdict: Stade Francais win.
Montpellier v Toulouse (19.00)
Montpellier are another club that have been busy in the
transfer market and coach Didier Nourault will be hoping for
an improvement on last year’s eighth position, but a home
win against Toulouse may be too much to hope for.
The
all-Kiwi scrum-half clash between new-signing Justin
Marshall and adopted Toulousian Byron Kelleher could be
X-rated but I expect the defending champions to be too
strong for an early upset.
Verdict: Toulouse win.
Montauban v Mont-de-Marsan (19.00)
A
tricky away trip to Montauban is newly promoted
Mont-de-Marsan’s opening Top14 match but Marc del Maso’s
team will be buoyed by promising pre-season form, including
an away win in Montpellier. Montauban have also been in
decent form though and should make home advantage count.
Verdict: Montauban win.
Biarritz v Bourgoin (19.00)
A
10-try thriller against Leicester belied Biarritz’s
traditionally defence-oriented game, but then again with
someone like American winger
Takudzwa Ngwenya in your side you’ve always got the ability
to score from anywhere.
Bourgoin, who
finished 10th last year, will have to buck up on
their turgid pre-season form to escape an early defeat, but
I can’t see it happening.
Verdict: Biarritz
win.
Toulon v Clermont (21.00)
The
pick of the opening matches sees Tana Umaga’s newly promoted
Toulon take on perennial bridesmaids Clermont in what could
be a bruising early encounter.
The
home side have been bolstered by a raft of new signings, and
while Sonny ‘Bill’ Williams has stolen most of the recent
headlines it will be intriguing to see how quickly his
fellow new additions – such as Jerry Collins, Ross Skeate,
Luke Rooney and Tiaan Liebenberg - adopt and adapt.
Clermont are out to banish their Championship blues, and a
win here would set down an early marker of their intentions
if they’re to finally make it 10th time lucky.
Verdict: Clermont to win.
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