Top 14, r4 preview - Showdown at the Mayol as Wilkinson goes head-to-head with James

01 September 2009

The breathless start to the new Top 14 continues to gather pace with round four scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), just three days after the third heat-soaked round.

If officials really are concerned about player burn-out and protecting their prized assets then the opening month of Top 14 could be held up as a template for 'how not to do it'.

Not only did the LNR bring the start of the season forward by a fortnight, they are now asking players to complete three games in eight days, and we're only just out of August. But players and critics can say and write what they want, this is the future of top level rugby and we had better get used to it.

Wednesday's fixtures bring another mouth-watering clutch of games, made even more intriguing by the looking fifth round matches which all take place on Sunday - including the heavyweight clash between Clermont Auvergne and Stade Toulousain.

But back to round four and the standout fixtures see early leaders Clermont travel down to the Cote d'Azur to take on Jonny Wilkinson & Co in Toulon, while defending champions Perpignan entertain a Brive side currently oscillating between contenders and pretenders.

Elsewhere Stade Toulousain will be hoping to bounce back from defeat at Perpignan with a home game against Bayonne, while Stade Francais play host to bottom club Montauban as they seek to build a winning run.

Round one review: Brive lead Top 14 after Thompson try sets up bonus point win
Round two review: Stade Toulousain crush Brive; Montpellier stun Perpignan
Round three review: Wilkinson's boot fires Toulon up to third; Perpignan beat Toulouse

Financially crippled Bourgoin are at home again, this time against cash-laden Racing-Metro 92, but SCA Albi will have to wait for their potential first win after their home match against 'swine flu' hit Castres was postponed on medical grounds.

The other fixture in round four sees spirited Montpellier return to home territory against Biarritz - currently enjoying a Jekyll and Hyde personality as they waver between unstoppable (at home) and unstartable (away).

Top 14, Round 3 fixtures (Current league position in brackets)

Toulon (3rd)

Clermont Auvergne (1st)

Stade Félix Mayol, 02/09/09, 14.30

The league's two leading scorers come face-to-face down at the Mayol as Toulon's Jonny Wilkinson (46 points) fronts up to Clermont's Brock James (40 points) in a match that pits third against third. Both teams have serious championship aspirations and this will be another big test for Toulon as they play host to 10-time runners-up, but two key factors weigh in their favour as they seek to maintain their early-season form: (a) They are at home and (b) Clermont coach Vern Cotter has more than one eye on Sunday's visit of Stade Toulousain. The latter is likely to mean a weakened side taking to the pitch in Toulon tomorrow, a move that will be welcomed by Philippe Saint-Andre and his band or merry men. Scrum-half Pierre Mignoni remains a doubtful starter (although he is in the squad) but Toulon are beginning to gel after a heavy summer of recruitment, and another win here would continue their unbeaten three-match start. Clermont have also yet to taste defeat - both teams have won two and drawn one - but Cotter would probably settle for a defensive bonus here if he can then get a home win against Toulouse on Sunday. He remains without new signing Gavin Williams - who must wait until September 7th before he can resume playing after his summer international duties - while Alexandre Lapandry, Jason White, Benoit Baby, Julien Pierre, Martin Scelzo, Julien Bonnaire, Marius Joubert and Julien Malzieu are all on the crock list. "We'll just have to do it without our injured players and doubtful players, and without using up all our ammunition for the game against Toulouse," said Cotter. Toulon's England centre Tom May is doubtful with a hip injury but should play, while Laurent Emmanuelli, Jamie Robinson and Jawad Djoudi return after being rested at the weekend.
Last season:
Toulon 22 Clermont Auvergne 16
Clermont Auvergne 32 Toulon 5
Verdict: Toulon win

Stade Toulousain (2nd)

Bayonne (10th)

Stade Ernest Wallon, 02/09/09, 14.30

Top teams rarely countenance defeat but Guy Noves saw enough positives from Stade Toulousain's 17-15 reverse at Perpignan not to be overly concerned. Another testing away trip beckons on Sunday - at Clermont Auvergne - with Bayonne providing the filling as they get sandwiched between the two. The Basques looked impressive in their 38-24 'home' win against Stade Francais (played in northern Spain), but their two away trips have proved fruitless to date as they lost 28-20 at Perpignan and 18-9 at Racing-Metro 92. Bearing that in mind it's difficult to see Richard Dourthe's men contemplate anything other than a possible defensive bonus as they travel to Toulouse, although they will be cheered by the absence of Clément Poitrenaud, who has been ruled out for six weeks after fracturing his right hand against Perpignan. Poitrenaud joins a growing crock list at the 17-time champions, with David Skrela, Maxime Médard and Maleli Kunavore all sidelined for the next month at least as Noves is given an early test of squad's depth. The wizened coach will at least be cheered by the excellent kicking form to date of fly-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde - continuing to deputise for the injured Frédéric Michalak - and also the superb start to his Toulousain career by young centre Yann David, although he has fitness concerns over winger Cédric Heymans.
Last season:
Stade Toulousain 32 Bayonne 11
Bayonne 9 Stade Toulousain 12
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

Bourgoin (11th)

Racing-Métro 92 (6th)

Stade Pierre Rajon, 02/09/09, 14.30

Adversity often brings the best out of professional sportsmen, and Bourgoin's players were clearly inspired as they saw off Biarritz for a much needed 22-17 victory at the weekend. But with squad numbers still depleted due to blocked player licenses it's difficult to see how they can rally themselves for another monumental effort so soon after. Home advantage will clearly be in their favour but the cash-strapped club just don't have the squad resources of the Jacky Lorenzetti backed Racing - even if the DNACG suddenly released the 12 player licences they are currently holding. Sébastien Chabal was back to his bullocking best at the weekend as Racing overcame Bayonne to maintain their positive start, and veteran fly-half Andrew Mehrtens felt his way back into competition by kicking three penalties on his belated Top 14 debut. Talk of Racing's showbizz past captures media headlines, but Pierre Berbizier is a wise enough coach to keep his players focused on the here and now, with early points a vital ingredient to a successful season. A valuable away win here would maintain their impressive start, and also keep Berbizier's men above their illustrious Paris neighbours Stade Francais for at least another round of matches. The pragmatic coach could rest both Chabal and Lionel Nallet for this match as keeps his powder dry for Perpignan's weekend visit, a move that Bourgoin are sure to use as inspiration to fire up their beleaguered troops. Benjamin Boyet's boot was key to their weekend success against Biarritz, and is likely to be required again if they're to double their win tally. 

"It's been a terrible time for everyone, especially our new recruits and players who had contracts renewed because they can't yet play," admitted assistant-coach Xavier Péméja. Captain Julien Frier described Saturday's win as the best of his long career, and will be urging his troops for a repeat showing. "I am proud, very proud, especially seeing all the players who don't have licences with tears in their eyes when they joined us in the changing room afterwards to share our joy. I have played important matches but this one will live long in my memory," he said.
Last season: Racing-Métro 92 were in ProD2
Verdict: Racing-Metro win

Stade Francais (9th)

Montauban (14th)

Stade Jean Bouin, 02/09/09, 14.30

Ewen McKenzie's eclectic squad finally got their first win - at the third attempt - on Saturday, but the Australian coach will have been less than impressed with the opening 50 minutes from his players as they trailed 23-13 at home to Montpellier. Thirty points in the closing half hour finally sealed the win, with rugby league convert Mark Gasnier opening his account for the season with a try double. The visit of bottom club Montauban provides an ideal opportunity to build on that momentum, although the visitors' current ranking is more a reflection of their opening fixtures than any dire form. Not too many teams would fancy taking on Stade Toulousain, Clermont Auvergne and Stade Francais in their first three games, but that has been Montauban's unfortunate lot after their home game with Castres was postponed at the weekend due to the 'swine flu' virus. Coach Marc Raynaud will be beckoning his men to go for at least a defensive bonus, and his players should be fresh having had the weekend off. Scrum-half Julien Dupuy could start on the bench as McKenzie opts to start with South African Noel Oleschig. 
Last season:
Stade Francais 34 Montauban 16
Montauban 22 Stade Francais 16
Verdict: Stade Francais win

Montpellier  (12th)

Biarritz (8th)

Stade Yves du Manoir, 02/09/09, 14.30

What to make of Biarritz? Or Montpellier for that matter? Both teams have displayed the clichéd French disposition for being demons at home phantoms away, although Montpellier will still feel aggrieved to have Paris empty-handed after running in three tries against Stade Francais on Saturday. Biarritz did manage a defensive bonus themselves, but losing away to troubled Bourgoin is not the result of a team with genuine play-off aspirations this season. Montpol will have to make do without full-back Benjamin Thiéry - sidelined with a thigh injury - but will be hoping for stellar performances again from their trio of young internationals - Francois Trinh-Duc, Sebastien Tillous-Borde and captain Fulgence Ouedraogo. Benoit Paillaugue also returns after missing the Stade Francais game 
Last season:
Montpellier 12 Biarritz 9
Biarritz 46 Montpellier 3
Verdict: Brive win

Perpignan  (4th)

Brive (7th)

Stade Aimé Giral, 02/09/09, 20.30

The opening fixtures haven't been kind to Brive and this away trip to champions Perpignan follows hot on the heals of games against both Stade Toulousain (lost 38-0) and Clermont Auvergne (9-9). One point from a possible 10 in those two games underlines the gap that still exists between themselves and the genuine 'big boys', and the club's new owners will be keen to see a return on their substantial investment as the season wears on. An away trip to Perpignan would be the ideal place to start, but the Catalans will be buoyed by their weekend victory over Stade Toulousain as they continue their title defence. England and British Lion international Riki Flutey will feel better for having got his debut out of their way but Brive will have to show the forward tenacity that so upset Clermont in the first half of Friday's game if they're to emerge with anything from this game. Perpignan could be without weekend try-scorer Maxime Mermoz, who dislocated a finger against Toulouse, but Brive welcome back England fly-half Andy Goode after recovering from a groin operation. The visitors will, however, be without Retief Uys, Fabrice Estebanez and Guillaume Namy. 
Last season:
Perpignan 34 Brive 18 
Brive 15 Perpignan 18
Verdict: Brive win

SCA Albi (13th)

Castres (5th)

Stade Municipal d'Albi, 02/09/09, 14.30  ** Postponed due to Castres squad being hit by H1N1 (swine flu) virus **

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