Top 14, r18 preview - Crunch time as arctic weather adds an icy chill to crucial fixtures

08 January 2010

Top 14, Round 18 fixtures (Current league position in brackets)

Perpignan (5th)

Racing-Métro 92 (4th)

Stade Aimé Giral, 08/01/10, 20.45

After four consecutive defeats (two in the Heineken Cup, two in Top 14) it is absolutely imperative that Perpignan get back to winning ways with victory over Pierre Berbizier's Racing-Métro 92 on Friday night. The Catalans have an impeccable home record at Stade Aimé Giral in the league this season - eight wins from eight - but they went down 14-37 against Munster in their last match at the ground and now have to go back over a month since their last win (29-3 against Montpellier on Dec 5th). The loss of injured France centre Maxime Mermoz is a further headache, although David Marty should be fit after also being forced off during Sunday's 29-9 drubbing at Brive. The good news for Perpignan is that they have already beaten Racing this season - wining 18-14 in Paris - and Berbizier's side also went down at home to Bourgoin last weekend to end an incredible nine-match winning streak. Despite that reverse, however, Racing still have to go way back to September 19th for their last away defeat (9-6 at Castres) and surely their soaring confidence will not have been completely eroded by one solitary loss. It may, indeed, have refocused minds that were perhaps becoming over confident. Racing captain Lionel Nallet has been unable to train all week but should still play, while former All Black fly-half Andrew Mehrtens returns to the squad as cover for Jonathan Wisniewski. Winger Julien Saubade is unavailable, but Sireli Bobo comes back to counter that loss. One final thought - Should Perpignan lose the defending champions face the unpalatable prospect of slipping out of the play-off places.
Last season: Racing-Métro 92 were in ProD2
This season:
Racing-Métro 14 Perpignan 18
Verdict: Perpignan win

Montpellier (10th)

Castres (1st)

Stade Yves du Manoir, 09/01/10, 14.30

Montpellier may have won six of their eight home games this season, but their wretched away form means they are still just two points clear of 12th-placed Bourgoin. Thus, home victories remain essential to keep them safe from harm, even if the visitors are league leaders Castres. One of the key factors to Castres' surprise form this season has been their ability to pick up points on the road, with at least one garnered from every one of their eight away-days so far. The Top 14 pacesetters look more than capable of doing so again on Saturday, although Montpellier will be looking to Castres' scalp to those of Perpignan, Biarritz, Toulon, Clermont Auvergne and Stade Francais - all of whom have fallen at the Stade Yves du Manoir this season. The loss of injured fly-half Cameron McIntyre is a severe blow for Castres - he scored two tries in last weekend's 44-10 demolition of SCA Albi - but I wouldn't bet against another gritty away win for the leaders.
Last season:
Montpellier 21 Castres 23
Castres 26 Montpellier 31
This season:
Castres 33 Montpellier 18
Verdict: Castres win

Toulon (7th)

Montauban (11th)

Stade Félix Mayol, 09/01/10, 14.30

While the newspapers are full of the (non) story that Jonny Wilkinson will remain at Toulon next season - why on earth wouldn't he? - Philippe Saint-André has been busy readying his squad for their must-win home game against dogged Montauban. Toulon slipped out of the top six following Sunday's 39-3 thrashing by Clermont, but the Cote d'Azur side still remain very handily placed to fulfil their pre-season goal of claiming a play-off spot. They remain unbeaten at home in all competitions this season and can take comfort in the fact they have played two more away games than most sides in Top 14 as things stand. Indeed, of their remaining nine league matches six are at home. Win those and a play-off berth (and Heineken Cup qualification) will be theirs. Eleventh-placed Montauban have won just once on the road this season, but with points at a premium in their own survival campaign they will throw all they have into at least trying to emerge with a defensive bonus. Wilkinson has recovered from the gastroenteritis which disrupted his week, while the likes of Sebastien Bruno, Ross Skeate and fit-again Rory Lamont could all come back after missing the Clermont defeat.  
Last season:
Toulon 33 Montauban 20
Montauban 42 Toulon 20
This season:
Montauban 21 Toulon 18
Verdict: Toulon win

SCA Albi (14th)

Brive (9th)

Stade Municipal d'Albi, 09/01/10, 14.30

Albi may have beaten Bayonne, Perpignan and Biarritz at home this season but Eric Bechu's team had the air of resignation about them during their last two games, going down 41-13 and 44-10 to Toulon and Castres respectively. Brive, by contrast, have turned their season around after a shocking first half, with just two defeats in their last seven league games, including wins against Stade Toulousain and (last weekend) Perpignan. Add in the return of England centre Riki Flutey and it's understandable why the mood at the ambitious Limousin club is buoyant once more. Victory here could conceivably lift them up into the top six - depending on results elsewhere - so there should be no lack of motivation for Ugo Mola's side. 
Last season: SCA Albi were in ProD2
This season:
Brive 39 SCA Albi 26
Verdict: Brive win

Stade Francais (8th)

Biarritz (6th)

Stade de France, 09/01/10, 16.25

Reasons for Stade Francais to win: (1) Revenge part I - Head coach Jacques Delmas was sacked by Biarritz midway through last season, having previously led them to two French titles and a Heineken Cup final; (2) Revenge part II - Biarritz won 30-22 down on the Basque coast earlier this season; (3) Revenge part III - Biarritz won 16-12 at the Stade de France last season; (4) Absolute necessity - The Parisians are currently a disappointing eighth after just two wins in their last eight league games.
That last reason is the most pertinent given the current league standings, especially with Biarritz presently sixth, but only one point better off. Delmas' side finally buried their Stade de France hoodoo with a resounding 34-10 win there against Bayonne in early December, but Biarritz will surely provide a sterner test than that. Games at the national stadium tend to bring the best out of visiting sides, and Biarritz know that a win on Saturday could de terminal damage to Stade's own play-off hopes.
The 'home' side have been hit by an ever-lengthening injury list, forcing Lionel Beauxis to switch from his preferred fly-half position to full-back, with Ignacio Miéres taking the No 10 shirt. They still retain plenty of firepower, however, with the likes of Mathieu Bastareaud, Mark Gasnier and Julien Arias all in good form of late. They should be capable of overcoming their personnel losses (including Brian Liebenberg, Sergio Parisse and Ollie Phillips) although the combined unavailability of Noel Oelschig, Charlie Davies and the suspended Julien Dupuy has left them with just one fit scrum-half, in the shape of inexperienced 21-year-old Benjamin Tardy. His dual task on Saturday will be to try and nullify the threat of in-form Dimitri Yachvili, and also (just as importantly) to stay fit and on the pitch. Biarritz, by contrast, are beginning to get back to full strength following the recent returns of Iain Balshaw, Takudzwa Ngwenya and Ilikena Bolakoro. This weekend it's the turn of club totem Imanol Harinordoquy to come back - having been absent since getting injured in France's November win against South Africa - with the veteran back row expected to feature for 20-30 mins at the end.
Last season:
Stade Francais 12 Biarritz 16
Biarritz 13 Stade Francais 32
This season:
Biarritz 30 Stade Francais 22
Verdict: Biarritz win

Stade Toulousain (3rd)

Clermont Auvergne (2nd)

Stade Ernest Wallon, 10/01/10, 20.45

Stade Toulousain, like footballing counterparts Manchester United, tend to save their best form for the post-Christmas run-in, and Guy Novés' side appear to be picking up the pace again after a previously stuttering campaign. The thing with Stade, however, is that their usual standards are so high that people tend to have a distorted perspective of what truly constitutes failure. Novés has maintained all along that his side will come good when required, and even though they only scraped a win at Bayonne last weekend they go into this match having dispatched champions Perpignan 22-11 in their previous home game. Indeed, their home form remains consistent - in terms of results anyway - with their last defeat coming way back in the 2007/8 season when Clermont (no less) inflicted the loss. With the likes of Yann David, Byron Kelleher and Louis Picamoles all back in harness Noves is also getting his stars back on the park after injuries and international duties. Clermont, though, will travel with optimism having just handed out successive spankings to Brive (52-10) and Toulon (39-3). Also, significantly in terms of psychology, they beat Toulouse 19-9 in last season's play-off semi-final. The late kick-off time on Sunday (20.45) means it could be icy cold down in Toulouse, but will it bring a chill wind for the 17-time champions? 
Last season:
Stade Toulousain 20 Clermont Auvergne 13
Clermont Auvergne 16 Stade Toulousain 6
Play-off semi-final (at Bordeaux):
Clermont Auvergne 19 Stade Toulousain 9
This season:
Clermont Auvergne 19 Stade Toulousain 12
Verdict: Castres win

Bourgoin (12th)

Bayonne (13th)

Stade Pierre Rajon, 09/01/10, 14.30 - POSTPONED

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