|
|
Round 23 preview: Time to Brive -
battle for play-offs hits fever pitch as Top 14 resumes
26 March 2010
|
Comeback king: Tana Umaga
Photo: Michael Paler |
Domestic rivalries are renewed in Top 14
this weekend as the ongoing nerve-jangler of a season
reboots in France. Tense and tetchy squabbles can be
expected throughout the country as various endgame scenarios
are played out in front of packed houses and blazing Spring
sunshine.
Top 14 Table
/
Top 14 try-scorers
/
Top 14 Results
/
Top 14
Fixtures
Play-off positions and the
scrap to avoid relegation means all the round 23 fixtures
carry extra importance, with the only resolved issue to date
being that SCA Albi will return whence they came (ProD2) at
the end of the season.
But even they could yet have a
significant say in who else joins them as they host
13th-placed Montauban in a game the visitors dare not lose.
Elsewhere, the dogfight for the sixth and final play-off
slot heats up with seventh-placed Brive travelling to
current incumbents Racing-Métro, while outsiders Stade
Francais go to defending champions Perpignan and
almost-out-of-it Biarritz host Stade Toulousain (across the
border in northern Spain).
Current leaders Castres welcome
relegation threatened Bayonne, while free-scoring Clermont
Auvergne could be in the points again as they entertain a
Montpellier side slipping dangerously towards the drop zone.
But it all kicks off at
Bourgoin tonight (Friday) as the home side face up to
high-flying Toulon in a match that arguably features
France's two most in-form teams. And just to add extra spice
the visitors could feature former All Blacks captain Tana
Umaga as the 36-year-old coach laces up to boost Toulon's
injury-hit back line.
Previous round-ups:
Round 1 /
Round 2 /
Round 3 /
Round 4 /
Round 5 /
Round 6 /
Round 7 /
Round 8 /
Round 9 /
Round 10 /
Round 11 /
Round 12 /
Round 13 /
Round 14 /
Round 15 /
Round 16 /
Round 17 /
Round 18 /
Round 19 /
Round 20 /
Round 21 /
Round 22 /
Top 14, Round 23 fixtures
(Current league position in brackets)
 |
Bourgoin (10th) |
 |
Toulon (5th) |
Stade Pierre-Rajon,
26/03/10, 20.45 |
'House full' signs have
already gone up at the Stade Pierre-Antoine as battling
Bourgoin welcome Philippe Saint-André's high-flying all
stars. Both sides go into this match desperate for points,
with optimism abounding and keen as mustard to extend their
own winning streaks. Bourgoin have strung three victories
together just when they needed it most - lifting them up to
the heady heights of 10th - while Toulon have amassed five
as they continue to push for a top two finish. With just
three matches to go after this Bourgoin, however,
still remain within a defeat of the relegation zone, so
there is absolutely no room for mistakes as the tension
mounts. Saint-André has opted to rest captain Joe van
Niekerk - with Juan Fernandez Lobbe taking the armband -
while dropped England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will start on
the bench. But the big team news for Toulon is the possible
playing return of 36-year-old coach Tana Umaga, as the
former All Blacks star fills in (playing licence provided)
following injuries to Christian Loamanu, Rory Lamont and
Fotunuupule Auelua. Bourgoin will be without suspended South
African Wessel Jooste - after he picked up a 20-day ban this
week - but will provide a massive test at the end of a week
which started so well for Toulon with confirmation they had
signed Carl Hayman. The big-spending visitors won out 46-28
when these two sides met earlier in the season as the crowd
enjoyed a nine-try points-fest. Tonight's match is more
likely to be lower-scoring affair, with the result all that
matters for each team.
Last season:
Bourgoin 13 Toulon 23
Toulon 15
Bourgoin 9
This season:
Toulon 46
Bourgoin 28
Verdict: Toulon win
 |
Perpignan
(2nd) |
 |
Stade Francais
(8th) |
Stade Aimé Giral,
27/03/10, 14.15 |
On paper this should be
one of the easier matches to predict this season. Defending
champions Perpignan go into this clash with a 100% home win
record in Top 14 this campaign - with 11 from 11 - while
struggling Stade Francais have managed just one solitary
victory on the road. Those two stats underline why the
Catalans are currently just one point off the summit again
and the Parisians are a whopping 17 points behind and
praying results go their way to bolster their fading hopes
of a top six finish. It also helps explain why Max Guazzini
has decided not to renew Jacques Delmas' short-term
contract, turning instead to Leinster head coach Michael
Cheika for next season. Perpignan are bolstered by the
return of France internationals David Marty and Nicolas Mas
- as well as the fit-again duo of Maxime Mermoz and Jerome
Porical - but Nicolas Laharrague suffered a broken hand in
training on Thursday and could be out for a month. That has
prompted a late promotion from the espoirs for Gilles Bosch
as the hosts will also be without Christophe Manas, Adrien
Plante, Jean-Phillip Grandclaude, Rimas Alvarez-Kairelis
(all injured), and Gregory Le Corvec (suspended). Stade
Francais should also be strengthened considerably by their
returning internationals, and they also have the happy
memory of winning 26-11 here last season. A repeat of that
would keep alive their slim play-off hopes, while defeat
would realistically spell the end of their Top 14 season.
Last season:
Perpignan 11 Stade Francais 26
Stade Francais 13 Perpignan 13
This season:
Stade Francais 14 Perpignan 20
Verdict: Perpignan win
 |
Castres (1st) |
 |
Bayonne (11th) |
Stade
Pierre-Antoine, 27/03/10, 14.30 |
Just two points currently separates leaders
Castres from fourth-placed Stade Toulousain, so the surprise
pace-setters could do with another win after slipping up
19-6 at Toulon in Round 22. Crucially, full-back Romain
Teulet (who extended his contract this week) is back after
missing that loss, with the Castres No 15 still leading the
league's scoring charts with 206 points - mostly via his
metronomic boot. France winger Marc Andreu is also back from
international duty, and there could be a debut for recently
signed Fijian Sinoti Sinoti, brought in as a 'medical joker'
following a season-ending injury to Thomas Bouquié. The
hosts remain unbeaten at the Stade Pierre-Antoine all
season, so the task facing Bayonne is a tough one indeed.
But the travelling Basques have won four of their last six
league games since Christian Gajan took charge, and their
prospects of Top 14 survival are looking all the more
plausible for that. The visitors may still be 12th but they
(somewhat bizarrely) currently boast the division's
two highest try-scorers in the shape of Benjamin Fall and
Sam Gerber (who both have seven), although the former misses
this match through injury. They do, however, include
fit-again locks Rob Linde and Nicolas Laffite. Former
Castres back-rower Julien Puricelli goes up against his old
club having signed a three-year extension with Bayonne this
week.
Last season:
Castres 26 Bayonne 27
Bayonne 13 Castres 13
This season:
Bayonne 6 Castres 15
Verdict: Castres win
 |
Clermont Auvergne
(3rd) |
 |
Montpellier (12th) |
Stade Marcel
Michelin, 27/03/10, 14.30 |
Title-chasing Clermont
Auvergne will be without head coach Vern Cotter for their
home game against Montpellier after the New Zealander flew
home this week following the death of his father. That means
departing deputy Joe Schmidt takes charge for a game which
looks set to be another try bonanza for 'Les Jaunards'.
Montpellier have been in worryingly poor form of late, and
find themselves going into this match just one point off the
drop zone after four league defeats in six. In addition,
inspirational captain Fulgence Ouedraogo is still injured -
along with Federico Todeschini - while France fly-half
Francois Trinh-Duc has been rested ahead of must-win home
games against SCA Albi and Bourgoin. Clermont have also
opted to rest a couple of internationals, with Morgan Parra
and Julien Malzieu given the weekend off, but their superior
strength in depth should tell. Club captain Aurélien
Rougerie returns from injury, while in-form Anthony Floch
will be looking to add to his six league tries. Victory
could see Clermont reclaim top spot if other results go
their way, and at the least would further strengthen their
semi-final claims. Montpellier, however, could find
themselves in the relegation zone at the end of the weekend.
Last season:
Clermont Auvergne 43
Montpellier 20
Montpellier 30
Clermont Auvergne 3
This season:
Montpellier 16
Clermont Auvergne 9
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win
 |
SCA Albi (14th) |
 |
Montauban
(13th) |
Stade Municipal
d'Albi, 27/03/10, 14.30 |
If it comes down to a
question of desire between these two then Montauban must
surely start with the mental edge. This might be a battle
between the bottom two but Marc Raynaud's visitors still
have survival to play for, while already-relegated Albi have
understandably turned to next season. Long-serving head
coach Eric Béchu departed after their last defeat - their
19th of a weary campaign - and the home team have nothing
but pride (and contracts) to play for as they begin life
under Philippe Laurent and Jean-Christophe Baccavont.
Montauban, by contrast, simply have to win this match to
maintain hope of survival, and will be buoyed by their 45-31
triumph over Racing-Métro last time out. Romanian prop
Bogdan Balan is out for the rest of the season after
rupturing his achilles in that win, joining a bulging crock
list that already includes the likes of Regis Lespinas and
Petre Mitu. But Montauban should still be too strong for an
Albi side which has managed just three wins all season -
albeit against the trio of Bayonne, Perpignan and Biarritz.
Last season: SCA Albi were in ProD2
This season:
Montauban 20 SCA Albi 6
Verdict: Montauban win
 |
Racing-Métro 92
(6th) |
 |
Brive (7th) |
Stade Yves du
Manoir, 27/03/10, 14.30 |
Faltering Racing-Métro
could virtually secure a play-off berth if they defeat top
six rivals Brive, but Pierre Berbizier's side have managed
just one win in their last half dozen league games as the
nerves have frayed since the turn of the year. The double
return of Lionel Nallet and Sébastien Chabal will give them
a welcome boost, but the continued absence of fly-half
Jonathan Wisniewski could mean a spell at No 10 for
Springbok Francois Steyn. The visitors have injury problems
of their own with England centre Riki Flutey once again
sidelined with a shoulder problem. Brive, though, should be
used to life without the want-away international as he has
played just four of their 22 games to date so far this
season. Fellow England international Steve Thompson is back,
however, along with France winger Alexis Palisson as the
Limousin club look to maintain their recent good form. They
have won seven out of 11 league matches since the start of
November - when Ugo Mola succeeded Laurent Seigne - and
downed Stade Francais 24-16 in their last outing. This looks
as tight a contest as there will be all weekend, and it
could well come down to which team holds its collective
nerve best on the day
Last season: Racing-Métro 92 were in ProD2
This season:
Brive 10 Racing-Métro
18
Verdict: Racing-Métro 92 win
 |
Biarritz (9th) |
 |
Stade Toulousain (4th) |
Estadio Anoeta,
27/03/10, 16.25 |
If this match represents a
last throw of the dice from Biarritz then the Basques are
determined to give it a mighty hurl. Four defeats in their
last five league games has left the home side as rank
outsiders in the race for play-off places so victory against
the 17-time champions is an absolute pre-requisite to keep
their domestic dreams alive. To that end they should be
lifted considerably by the reuniting of their three
musketeers - Imanol Harinordoquy, Dimitri Yachvili and
Damien Traille - while Fabien Barcella and Karmichael Hunt
also return to their match-day squad. A 30,000 plus crowd
should also give them plenty of vocal backing as they have
switched the match across the border to San Sebastien's
impressive Estadio Anoeta. But they face a Stade Toulousain
side that will also be bolstered by international returns
and is keen to try and secure a top two slot. Guy Noves' men
showed an appetite for the big stage when trouncing Stade
Francais in Paris 29-0 at the beginning of the month, but
will have to make do without injured half-backs
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Frédéric Michalak. Mind you,
that still leaves a handy pairing of Byron Kelleher and
David Skrela, while the likes of Vincent Clerc (who has
signed a new three-year deal), Yann David, Maxime Médard,
Louis Picamoles and Cédric Heymans should all be raring to
go after missing out on the French Grand Slam celebrations.
Last season:
Biarritz 17
Stade Toulousain 13
Stade Toulousain 20
Biarritz 6
This season:
Stade Toulousain 23
Biarritz 3
Verdict: Biarritz win
|
|
