Top 14, r9 preview - England coaches jet in to watch Stade Francais-Brive clash in Paris

01 October 2009

Top 14, Round 9 fixtures (Current league position in brackets)

Stade Francais (7th)

Brive (8th)

Stade Jean Bouin, 02/10/09, 20.45

England forward coaches John Wells and Graham Rowntree will be interested spectators as seventh-placed Stade Francais seek to extend their three-match unbeaten run against Brive in Paris on Friday night. The capital club has turned itself around in recent weeks under the tutelage of Jacques Delmas and Didier Faugeron, with the key element being the transformation of the league's most porous defence into Top 14's most obdurate. The Parisians are yet to concede a single try since Ewen McKenzie was sacked, even holding Stade Toulousain at bay last weekend when they earned an excellent 9-9 away draw at the 17-time champions. Having said all that, the triple injury blow of losing Brian Liebenberg, Pedro Ledesma and Mauro Bergamasco must have disrupted preparations, especially with the upcoming attraction of the Heineken Cup beginning next weekend. The England coaches will be keen to run the rule over Stade's James Haskell and Tom Palmer - who have both been in good form so far this season - while Brive's Andy Goode, Jamie Noon, Shaun Perry and Steve Thompson will also be hoping to impress. The Limousin club has struggled to finish games of so far this campaign, although they did at least manage a narrow home win against in-form Castres last weekend. But travelling to Paris is an entirely different proposition altogether, and they will need to be at their sharpest to prevent Stade taking further steps up the table. Form dictates a home win with Stade averaging just shy of 33 points per game at the Stade Jean Bouin this season, while Brive have lost all three of their away games. The hosts are also boosted by the returns of Italy captain Sergio Parisse - after an eight week suspension - as well as those of previously injured second row Pascal Papé and Scotland international Hugo Southwell, who could make a belated club debut. Wells and Rowntree will be disappointed, however, that Tom Palmer is not in the squad, although England sevens captain Ollie Philips is. Brive, for their part, could give a debut to former Stade Francais full-back Nicolas Jeanjean, recently signed as a 'medical joker' following Riki Flutey's injury, but winger Viliame Waqaseduadua and full-back Fabrice Estebanez are both doubtful.
Last season:
Stade Francais 37 Brive 6
Brive 26 Stade Francais 11
Verdict: Stade Francais win

Castres (3rd)

Toulon (6th)

Stade Pierre Antoine, 03/10/09, 14.30

This is a major game for both sides as they look to cement their play-off credentials, with in-form Castres looking down from the heady (and unexpected) heights of third position, while Toulon need a result after losing three of their last four games - all away. Their sole success in amongst that run was their hugely impressive 18-13 home win against Stade Toulousain, and head coach Philippe Saint-André will be desperate for his team to regain that level as they journey to the Stade Pierre Antoine. He is unlikely to repeat last weekend's experiment when he rested a handful of key players - including Jonny Wilkinson, Pierre Mignoni and Joe El-Abd - and promptly saw his re-jigged side slump to a disappointing 23-9 defeat at Biarritz. Castres, on the other hand, must be in buoyant mood following Tuesday's 25-21 away win at SCA Albi, a result which lifted them level on points with second-placed Clermont Auvergne. They will also be boosted by Samoan Josefa Tekori, 25, signing a two-year extension to his current deal this week. Coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers are preaching humility, but behind the scenes the players must be buzzing on the back of their early season form. Their main conundrum this weekend will be fatigue as they complete the last of their congested programme of six games in three weeks, but tiredness has a way of dissipating when you're winning. Castres have been victorious in all three home games this season, while Toulon have only won once on the road, but then they do have Wilkinson... 
Last season:
Castres 25 Toulon 9
Toulon 21 Castres 17
Verdict: Toulon win

Clermont Auvergne (2nd)

Bayonne (9th)

Stade Marcel Michelin, 03/10/09, 14.30

Second versus ninth should be a no-brainer and it takes some leap of faith to imagine that Bayonne - five defeat from five away games - can salvage anything from a trip to the Stade Marcel Michelin, where Clermont are all but unbeatable. 'Les Jaunards' will also be ken as mustard after last weekend's 19-3 reverse at champions Perpignan, with Bayonne the potential whipping boys. Bayonne scrum-half Benat Arrayet is out for three weeks with a torn hamstring, prompting head coach Richard Dourthe to contemplate an all-Aussie half-back combination of Manny Edmonds and Craig Gower - who continues to impress - but it's likely to be Clermont's Antipodean points-machine Brock James who hogs the limelight on Saturday. Last year's runners-up love to cash in when they're on top, and unless Bayonne can buck their travel sickness it could be another points-fest at Clermont this weekend.
Last season:
Clermont Auvergne 44 Bayonne 10
Bayonne 17 Clermont Auvergne 6
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win

Montpellier (13th)

Stade Toulousain (5th)

Stade Yves du Manoir, 03/10/09, 14.30

As with the Stade Francais-Brive match this game has taken on heightened significance owing to the erratic form of both sides so far this season. The hosts found themselves languishing in the relegation zone following last weekend's defeat at Racing-Métro - their fifth on the road this year - but their home form offers hope as they can reflect on significant victories against the high-flying trio of Perpignan, Biarritz and Toulon. They also have the memory of last season's opening-day 16-11 home win against Stade Toulousain, and will be further boosted by the stuttering start that Guy Noves' outfit have made this time out. The south-west giants arrive on the back of just one win in their last four games, and that a scrappy 19-13 home victory against basement club SCA Albi. That's hardly the form of would-be champions, and Noves will be further alarmed at recent results owing to the imminent start of the Heineken Cup. They simply have to start gelling soon, no matter what their situation with injuries. He should at least have the bulldog spirit of former All Black scrum-half Byron Kelleher back at his disposal this weekend, and surely it's only a matter of time before Toulouse find their true form. Another defeat here would really turn up the heat, but with the wealth of experience and class that still pervades their line-up I'm backing the boys from 'La ville rose' to finally turn it around. Montpellier will be without injured skipper and French international Fulgence Ouedraogo, but Mamuka Gorgodze is back in the squad.
Last season:
Montpellier 16 Stade Toulousain 11
Stade Toulousain 34 Montpellier 0
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

Bourgoin (11th)

SCA Albi (14th)

Stade Pierre Rajon, 03/10/09, 20.45

Battling Bourgoin are carving out a story that deserves our attention as they continue to defy the odds in a season which could easily have crushed other teams. The blocking of 14 players licences and near bankruptcy both seem distant distractions now, especially after last weekend's 15-12 away win at Montauban. Their latest victory was their fourth of an increasingly productive season, and another home win here - against basement boys Albi - could see Bourgoin rise to the verge of the play-off berths. That was unthinkable just a few weeks back but Eric Catinot has clearly developed a spirit of defiance within the Bourgoin camp that is serving them well. Home victories against Biarritz, Racing and (most impressively) Perpignan will give them the confidence required to win again, and they also have the added advantage of Albi having played a local derby against Castres on Tuesday evening. Eric Béchu's side are showing clear signs of improvement themselves, but tired legs and sapped morale can be a dangerous combination when hitting the road. They will also be without 'medical joker' Lulian Dumitras after the Romanian went off injured just 13 minutes into his debut on Tuesday with a torn thigh muscle. Bourgoin certainly appear to hold the edge, and new president Gaston Maulin has also weighed in ahead of the weekend game, urging a full house of support as Bourgoin seek another home win. "We urgently need to win again and confirm our success [in Montauban] with the reception of Albi on Saturday. I rely on the mobilization and support of all our supporters. After the effort I'd be really disappointed if the stadium is not full."
Last season: SCA Albi were in ProD2
Verdict: Bourgoin win

Racing-Métro 92 (12th)

Montauban (10th)

Stade Olympique, 03/10/09, 14.30

Racing's first win in five games - 18-14 at home to Montpellier - gave the Parisians a timely boost last weekend as they hauled themselves up from the relegation zone. It was also a milestone match for two of Racing's superstar summer signings, with iconic behemoth Sébastien Chabal registering his maiden try since signing from Sale Sharks, while South African import Francois Steyn came on for his debut as a second-half substitute. Steyn slotted in at full-back, his likely position over the next few weeks as he settles in, and made an immediate impression with a crunching tackle that was a clear statement of intent. The multi-talented Springbok wasn't afforded the chance to display his long-range goal-kicking prowess, but that is surely only a matter of time. Last week's game was also significant in being the first of six home games in eight league matches, a run that should see the sky blue and whites rocket up the table. Montauban, conversely, appear to be on a downward spiral after a promising start to the campaign and arrive on the back of successive defeats. Marc Raynaud's men have been competitive in most matches they've played, but they will miss the cutting edge of Fijian winger Filimoni Delasau, who is out for a month after tearing a thigh muscle in last week's disappointing home defeat by Bourgoin. Prop Benjamin Sa (dislocated left shoulder), scrum-half Cédric Rosalen (groin) and fly-half Régis Lespinas (ruptured cruciate ligaments) are also unavailable, while Matthew Clarkin is doubtful following a stubbed toe.
Last season: Racing-Métro 92 were in ProD2
Verdict: Racing-Métro win

Biarritz (4th)

Perpignan (1st)

Sports Aguilera, 03/10/09, 16.25

When Biarritz lost three of their first four games there was a fair amount of tut-tutting down in the Basque country as the club displayed the unwanted flakiness that dogged them last season, but a run of four successive wins has now blown away the pessimism. The key to their revival has been the return of dynamic duo Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili, and the Basques go into Saturday's game with the carrot of top spot dangling before them if other results go their way. Clermont's home game against Bayonne is likely to preclude that scenario, but 'Les Biarrots' would happily settle for the scalp of champions Perpignan as they ready themselves for another assault on the Heineken Cup. English duo Iain Balshaw and Ayoola Erinle both miss out due to injury, but the Catalans also have a mounting crock list as they travel to a ground where they still haven't won since World War II. Philip Burger is out for two months with a fractured forearm, while other absentees include Maxime Mermoz, Ovidiu Tonita, Olivier Olibeau, Grégory Le Corvec, Gavin Hume and Farid Sid. They also have concerns over the fitness of Gerrie Britz, Nicolas Laharrague and Nicolas Durand as they seek to build on last week's impressive 19-3 home win over Clermont Auvergne.
Last season:
Biarritz 12 Perpignan 10
Perpignan 27 Biarritz 12
Verdict: Biarritz win

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