Top 14, r3 preview - All eyes on champions as Stade Toulousain roll in to town

27 August 2009

The opening two rounds of Top 14 have proved as fascinating as ever - what with Castres' surprise form, an historical match in Spain and Jonny's positive star for Toulon - but this weekend brings the first real heavyweight clash as defending champions Perpignan play host to Stade Toulousain.

Not only is it the first major meeting between two of France's current 'Fab Four', it's also highly intriguing for the differing form so far displayed by the teams of Jacques Brunel and Guy Noves respectively.

Perpignan will be looking to bounce back after a surprise defeat at Montpellier last weekend, while Stade arrive having handed out a four-try lesson to first-week leaders Brive.

The latter have a chance to get back on track when they play host to free-scoring Clermont Auvergne (in Friday evening's match), while Wilkinson's Toulon take to the road for the first time this season as they travel to Top 14 newcomers SCA Albi.

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

Elsewhere, in-form Castres travel to Montauban as coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers come face-to-face with the team they left in the summer, while win-less Stade Francais welcome Montpellier as Ewen McKenzie's mob try to kick-start their season.

In the weekend's other two matches crisis club Bourgoin play host to rejuvenated Biarritz, while Bayonne - the Basque region's other club - travel to the capital to take on Racing-Métro 92.

As if that wasn't enough, they're all back in business on Wednesday as round four is squeezed in during a hectic eight-day period which will see all 14 clubs play three times. It offers the perfect opportunity to garner momentum, or slide further into the abyss...

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

Brive (7th)

Clermont Auvergne (2nd)

Amédée Domenech, 28/08/09, 19.00

The challenges are coming thick and fast for Brive at the moment with Top 14 runners-up (and derby rivals) Clermont Auvergne in town this weekend as the hosts seek to bounce back from last week's 38-0 mauling away to Stade Toulousain. As if that wasn't a stern enough test they then travel to champions Perpignan in midweek as they continue an extremely tough opening to this season's fixtures. Coach Laurent Signe will be hoping for more of Brive's round one showing - when they dispatched Montpellier 30-9 - but come what may he'll certainly have a greater idea of his squad's strengths and weaknesses by Thursday morning. He will again be without England fly-half Andy Goode, putting the onus once more on Italio-Argentine Luciano Orquera. Orquera was the star of Brive's first-day win with a 20-point haul, but missed all three of his kicks at goal against Toulouse as his form reflected that of his teammates. If Orquera's fortunes are to be the club's barometer then Seigne will be hoping the 27-year-old can secure an early three points to help settle nerves. Former England scrum-half Shaun Perry is a doubtful starter after picking up a knee injury, while South African utility back Ronnie Cooke is definitely out (with a broken rib). On the plus side British Lion Riki Flutey could make his debut after fulfilling his statutory rest period.

Clermont also have injury worries - with Julien Bonnaire, Marius Joubert, Martin Scelzo, Jamie Cudmore and Julien Malzieu all ruled out - but they at least arrive on the back of two impressive wins and (as usual) as the league's top scorers. Full-back Anthony Floch and Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga have already amassed an impressive five tries between them, while fly-half Brock James has kicked 31 points with is usual aplomb. Sérémaia Bai returns to the squad after his summer international duties with Fiji, and Benoit Baby has also been named after recovering from damaged quadriceps. Lock Loic Jacquet has been called up to replace  injured Canadian international Cudmore, and new signing Kevin Senio also makes the squad.     

Last season:
Brive 18 Clermont Auvergne 16
Clermont Auvergne 52 Brive 7
Verdict: Brive win

Montauban (12th)

Castres (3rd)

Stade Sapiac, 29/08/09, 16.0

Two defeats pays two wins as Montauban entertain Castres, but this fixture is far from a black and white encounter. Former Montauban coaching duo Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers certainly return in buoyant mood to their former stomping ground - together with four ex-Montauban players - but the home side are not without hope despite successive defeats. It took a last-minute converted try for Stade Toulousain to avoid defeat here on the opening weekend, and last week's demise was away to in-form Clermont Auvergne. New coach Marc Raynaud will be desperate to earn his spurs against his former bosses and Montauban could be bolstered by a first start for Scottish international Andrew Henderson, who arrived from Glasgow in the summer. The form of Castres fly-half Cameron McIntyre has been integral to their positive start - he is joint leading scorer in Top 14 with 31 points - as has that of discarded French scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde.

Last season:
Montauban 24 Castres 23
Castres 31 Montauban 19
Verdict: Montauban win

Stade Francais (11th)

Montpellier (10th)

Stade Jean Bouin, 29/08/09, 16.00

This is quite simply a must-win game for Stade Francais as they seek to overcome their worst league start for six years. A draw and a defeat from their first tow games (away to Toulon and Bayonne respectively) is a poor return for a club with such lofty ambitions and head coach Ewen McKenzie is under increasing pressure to produce the goods this year. Stade could point to any number of 'contributory factors' for their unconvincing start, and this week's Swine Flu outbreak is the last thing McKenzie needed, but a first home game of the season gifts them the opportunity to finally kick-start their campaign. Summer signing Ollie Phillips could make his Stade debut after overcoming a pre-season hamstring tweak, and England duo James Haskell and Tom Palmer will be keen to continue their own good form.

Which Montpellier team turns up is anyone's guess. Will it be the insipid outfit which Brive brushed aside 30-9 on the opening weekend, or the defensively outstanding unit which surprisingly beat champions Perpignan 18-12 last week? History suggests the latter, although Fulgence Ouedraogo and gang will know that there's unlikely to be a better time to travel to Paris with Max Guazzini's club still denied a whole host of internationals.

Last season:
Stade Francais 24 Montpellier 15
Montpellier 26 Stade Francais 13
Verdict: Stade Francais win

Racing-Métro 92 (9th)

Bayonne (8th)

Stade Olympique, 29/08/09, 16.00

A win and a defeat from their two away games is a reasonable return for Racing, but home victories are imperative in Top 1, especially for teams with pretensions - as Racing most certainly have. Last year's ProD2 champions have been competitive in both of their games to date and you wouldn't expect anything less from a team coached by Pierre Berbizier and bankrolled by Jacky Lorenzetti. Bayonne at home presents a tricky assignment though, with the Basques buoyed by last weekend's four-try win over Stade Francais. Young winger Benjamin Fall was the star of that victory, with fly-half Craig Gower seemingly growing in confidence with each game he starts at No 10. News that fellow Aussie Lote Tuqiri could be on his way after much speculation could also bolster confidence as Bayonne go in search of a valuable away win.

Racing will be playing in front of a potential 14,000 crowd following the opening of a new 5,000 seater stand by Secretary of State for Sports Rama Yade.

Last season:
Racing-Métro 92 were in ProD2
Verdict: Bayonne win

Bourgoin (14th)

Biarritz (5th)

Pierre Rajon, 29/08/09, 16.00

Where do you start with Bourgoin? Financially crippled, denied the use of 14 squad members due to blocked playing licences and currently pointless. Morale must be shot to pieces following the collapse of a proposed rescue package and yet if one is looking for positives - and by God they need them - then perhaps last season's 15-14 home win over Biarritz will serve to stir the memory banks. Captain Julien Frier must somehow get his players to channel their frustrations into playing, and they will take heart from Biarritz's opening day blip at home to Montpellier. The Basques bounced back impressively last week, though, with Iain Balshaw and Paul Couet-Llanes both helping themselves to a brace of tries as they overwhelmed Albi. International centre Damien Traille continues to act as their glue in the absence of both Dimitri Yachvili and Imanol Harinordoquy (both injured), and last week's performance hints at a brighter (and more attacking) future as they seek to justify their own pre-season confidence.

Last season:
Bourgoin 15 Biarritz 14
Biarritz 29 Bourgoin 22
Verdict: Biarritz win

Perpignan (6th)

Stade Toulousain (1st)

Stade Aimé Giral, 29/08/09, 16.25

Is this the right time to be playing Perpignan? The defending champions were functional if un-inspirational in their opening day win against Bayonne, but they were clearly lacking as they went down last week at Montpellier. Unusually - compared to last season's efforts anyway - they appeared short on confidence and grit as they were undone by a series of handling errors, as well as being out-muscled up front. Wayward kicking also proved their downfall with scrum-half David Mélé missing with four of his six attempts at goal. Motivation shouldn't prove a problem on Saturday - following a dressing down from Jacques Brunel - and the sight of Stade Toulousain rolling into town is bound to get the Catalan juices flowing. Hooker Marius Tincu and Jean-Pierre Perez have both recovered sufficiently (from knee and elbow injuries respectively) to make squad, although they will still be without Olivier Olibeau, Jerome Porical and Kisi Pulu. Last season centre Maxime Mermoz had an outstanding game as they beat Toulouse 32-8, and more of the same will be required to repel Guy Noves' outfit this time around.

Toulouse, for their part, arrive with confidence riding high after their four-try demolition of Brive last weekend. Two wins from two is the perfect start for them after a disappointing 2008/9, and the early season form of new signing Yann David has so far exceeded expectations. Maxime Medard's dislocated shoulder will allow Clement Poitrenaud to return to his favoured full-back position, while Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will continue at fly-half. His overall play (including goal-kicking) has been decisive in their first two games, and JBE will be keen to cement his starting position before Frédéric Michalak returns. Certainly a tough match to call, with momentum favouring Toulouse, while history suggests Perpignan.

Last season:
Perpignan 32 Stade Toulousain 8
Stade Toulousain 30 Perpignan 20
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

SCA Albi (15th)

Toulon (4th)

Stade Municipal d'Albi, 29/08/09, 20.35

The final game of round three is a fascinating encounter between Top 14 newcomers SCA Albi and big-spending Toulon. The former have lost both games to date, although only narrowly (13-19) in their opening home match against Racing-Metro 92, before a somewhat more comprehensive 39-6 reverse away to Biarritz last week. Toulon have picked up six points in their two games so far, but both have been played at home and with the considerable advantages that brings. Wilkinson and company are already showing signs of gelling, as you would expect of a squad under the guidance of Philippe Saint-André, and an away win here would help keep up their early momentum. Last week's 27-13 victory over Racing - the team which beat Albi in round one - included a more fluid back line and Saint-Andre will be pleased that Scottish full-back Rory Lamont has recovered sufficiently from his sprained wrist to maintain his presence.

The Toulon coach is also bolstered by the triple return of Philip Fitzgerald, Conrad Barnard and Gabrielle Lovobalavu, while Saimone Taumoepeau has been deemed fit enough for inclusion. Matt Henjak is set to continue at scrum-half in Mignoni's absence.

Last season:
SCA Albi were in ProD2
Verdict: Toulon win

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