Top 14, r3 preview - When two Stades go to war... Toulouse prepare for Parisian threat

26 August 2010

Top 14, Round 03 fixtures (Current league position in brackets)

Toulon (6th)

Racing-Métro 92 (12th)

Stade Félix Mayol, 27/08/10, 19.00

Ambitious Toulon have had a tough start to the 2010/11 campaign, and Friday's home clash against equally ambitious Racing will surely prove no different. While multi-millionaire presidents Mourad Boudjellal and Jacky Lorenzetti spend the evening comparing their bulging portfolios the Stade Félix Mayol will play host to some of the biggest names in world rugby as Toulon and Racing go head-to-head. The star-studded home side will feature the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, George Smith, Carl Hayman, Juan Fernandez Lobbe and club captain Joe Van Niekerk (for the first time this season), while Racing start with Sébastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet, a fit-again Benjamin Fall and Mirco Bergamasco. They have also named Argentine playmaker Juan Hernández on the bench as 'El Mago' is set to make his belated club debut. Indeed, both sides will be chocked full with talent, although as Toulon have proved in their first two games it is the collective quality and spirit of a side which really matters. Their opening day home defeat by Bayonne brought an effective response as Biarritz last weekend - where they won for the first time in 29 years - while Racing are embarking on the third of three successive away games. Victory at Brive on the opening day was followed by a positive start at Montpellier, but Pierre Berbizier's side faded badly in the second half and were ultimately humbled 36-19 after having led 0-13. A defensive bonus away to Toulon would normally be considered a fair return, but after Bayonne's shock win at the Mayol other teams may now fancy their chances. If Racing are to triumph they will have to do so without Francois Steyn, who is way on Springbok duty, so the combined boots of Wilkinson, Jonathan Wisniewski and Hernández are likely to play crucial roles.   
Last season: Toulon 27 Racing-Métro 13
Verdict: Toulon win

Perpignan (10th)

Montpellier (5th)

Stade Aimé Giral, 28/08/10, 16.30

Perpignan may have injury problems - so much so that they are seeking special dispensation from the LNR to play international hooker Guilhem Guirado - but it is still difficult to envisage anything but a home win from the Catalans against Montpellier on Saturday. The appeal to play Guirado stems from the fact Perpignan claim they don't have six fit front-rowers, and must thus call on the hooker despite regulations limiting him to playing just two of the first three league games. The LNR are unlikely to find favour, however, as it would open a whole can of potentially wriggly worms from other clubs. the Catalans also have well documented injury worries over the 'cursed' fly-half position, and are furthermore coming off the back of a sound spanking at Brive last weekend. The most startling aspect of that defeat was not the result itself but the manner in which Brive's pack outmuscled their vaunted opponents. Head coach Jacques Brunel is likely to have worked hard to address that concern during the week and with Montpellier being notoriously poor travellers then a straightforward home win would appear to be on the cards. Remember, this is a Perpignan side which won all of its home league games last season, and started off this campaign with a home triumph over reigning French champions Clermont Auvergne. 
Last season: Perpignan 29 Montpellier 3
Verdict: Perpignan win

Clermont Auvergne (7th)

Brive (4th)

Stade Marcel Michelin, 28/08/10, 16.30

Brive's record at derby rivals Clermont Auvergne in recent seasons is nothing short of disastrous, with points being leaked in cricket score tallies at the Stade Marcel Michelin. Will it be the same on Saturday? Clermont are one of France's, and indeed Europe's, most expansive sides when they are on song, and the current Top 14 champs should be up for this one as they make their home debut in 2010/11. In-form Fijian flyer Napolioni Nalaga will be looking for this third try in successive league games, and with the likes of Morgan Parra, Brock James, Aurélien Rougerie and a fit-again Julien Malzieu also in their back line 'Les Jaunards' could prove formidable opponents again. New signing Sione Lauaki has made an impressive start in the pack and prop Davit Zirakashvili is back in the squad after recovering from injury. Brive's kicking scrum-half Mathie Belie will be hoping to build on last week's excellent debut - when he starred as the Limousin club downed Perpignan - but it will surely take a massive rearguard action if Ugo Mola's squad is not to return empty-handed. The likes of Jamie Noon and Alexis Palisson are going to have to put in plenty of tackling to keep the hosts at bay, but maybe Brive will opt to concentrate on their forthcoming games at Bayonne and at home to Toulon instead. 
Last season: Clermont Auvergne 52 Brive 10
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win

Castres (8th)

Bayonne (2nd)

Stade Pierre Antoine, 28/08/10, 16.30

There's no doubt that Bayonne have been the surprise package of 2010/11 so far but their new-found credentials will be sorely tested with a trip to Castres on Saturday. Christian Gajan's side surprised everyone by winning at Toulon on the opening day, but then followed up with an impressive and effective 27-0 trouncing of newly-promoted SU Agen last weekend. Former Bourgoin fly-half Benjamin Boyet is positively thriving in his new environs and the re-jigged Bayonne squad appears to have a self-belief that was sadly lacking last season. The loss of Benjamin Fall appears to have been well covered and they will travel to Castres believing they can repeat their Toulon result. Castres, for their part, bounced back from their first-day loss at La Rochelle with a morale-boosting home triumph over Stade Toulousain last weekend. They rarely lose at the Stade Pierre Antoine, and now have Romain 'Robocop' Teulet back in harness to kick their goals.  
Last season: Castres 25 Bayonne 18
Verdict: Castres win

SU Agen (14th)

Biarritz (9th)

Stade Armandie, 28/08/10, 16.30

Many - this correspondent included - believe SU Agen have what it takes to stay up this season following their promotion from ProD2, but a porous defence and general naivety so far has been a serious hindrance to their ambitions. As a result they go into Round 3 as Top 14's basement club and having conceded more points (71) than any other team. Their two games so far have admittedly both been on the road, but that is still something of a worry. Both issues will need to be addressed if survival is to be attained, and this weekend they at least play at home as they entertain Biarritz. They will also be cheered by the Basque club's own internal problems that surfaced this week following their home defeat to Toulon. It took two days for the club to announce they had refused the resignation letter from disgruntled forwards coach Jean-Michel Gonzalez, and that inner turmoil cannot have done anything for confidence following their 3-13 home reverse. The Heineken Cup runners-up would do well to channel their energies into acquiring an important away win, but they will need a much improved performance if they are not to gift Agen their first points of the season.  
Last season: SU Agen were in ProD2
Verdict: SU Agen win

La Rochelle (11th)

Bourgoin (13th)

Stade Marcel Deflandre, 28/08/10, 16.30

It may be only Round 3 but this match has all the hallmarks of a relegation battle. La Rochelle are the new kids on the block but it's Bourgoin who currently sit pointless at the base of Top 14 following their collapse at home to Clermont Auvergne. A typically plucky against-the-odds performance looked to have secured them a valuable win against the defending champions, only for Clermont to spoil their evening by running in three tries in the closing nine minutes. Now they travel to a La Rochelle side which will be looking for a second successive home win following their opening-day victory against Castres. Last weekend they went down 41-26 at Stade Francais, and with forthcoming games against Toulon, Toulouse and Biarritz this match probably represents their best chance of victory No 2 over the coming weeks. Bourgoin arrive with mounting injury problems and a desperate need to get some points on the board, ingredients which usually spurred them into match-winning action last season.   
Last season: LA Rochelle were in ProD2
Verdict: La Rochelle win

Stade Toulousain (3rd)

Stade Francais (1st)

Stade Municipal, 28/08/10, 20.00

Finally, but by no means least, we have the clash of the two Stades down in Toulouse. Stade Francais arrive as early-season leaders and fresh from putting more than 40 points of both Agen and La Rochelle, but it is telling that head coach Michael Cheika has made so many changes to starting XV for Saturday. With the likes of Sergio Parisse, Dimitri Szarzewski, Julien Dupuy, Lionel Beauxis and Mathieu Bastareaud on the bench it seems the Australian has more than half an eye on Wednesday's home game against Castres. Their combined absence does of course offer others an opportunity to showcase their talents, but Toulouse is no place for the timid or inexperienced. They may have lost 22-16 at Castres last weekend but the south west giants rarely go down at home. Yannick Jauzion remains doubtful, as do Byron Kelleher and Patricio Albacete, but Guy Noves will welcome back David Skrela and Clement Poitrenaud after both were rested against Castres. Stade Francais can look to last season's 9-9 draw in Toulouse for inspiration, but the home side can also point to their absolute routing of the Parisians at the same venue in the Heineken Cup. They are, additionally, not used to missing out two weeks in succession and they are sure to test the visitors' current high-flying status. Nothing irks a Toulousain as much as those fancy-dans from Paris popping down in their peacock team strips, so expect no quarter to be given in a battle the hosts will be keen us mustard to win - especially up front. 
Last season: Stade Toulousain 9 Stade Francais 9
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

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