Top 14, r20 preview - Clermont and Toulon kick off massive league weekend in France

03 February 2011

Top 14, Round 20 fixtures (Current league position in brackets)

Clermont Auvergne (3rd)

Toulon (8th)

Stade Marcel Michelin, 04/03/11, 20.45

The importance of this game to Toulon cannot be overstated following their disappointing 23-13 away to SU Agen in Round 19. That result left the ambitious Cote d'Azur club in eighth position and they will be desperate to make amends on Friday night. The trouble is that Clermont appear to be finding form themselves just at the right time of the season and the defending French champions remain unbeaten at the Stade Marcel Michelin this season. To add to Toulon's woes they will have to make do without fly-half Jonny Wilkinson - retained by England - as well injured trio Mafileo Kefu, Laurent Maganval and Sébastien Bruno. Head coach Philippe Saint-André was so angry with their performance against Agen that he summoned the squad for a week-long camp on the outskirts of Clermont in the build-up to this match, so expect a more fiery clash on Friday. Felipe Contepomi will fill in for Wilkinson, while Toulon are boosted by the return of club skipper Joe Van Niekerk. It is a re-run of the Top 14 semi-final between these two sides last season - which Clermont won in extra time - and Toulon will certainly be hoping to improve on the corresponding league fixture last season, when they were hammered 39-3. Clermont could be boosted by the inclusion of recent signing George Pisi, who has joined them until the end of the season as cover for injured Samoan colleague Gavin Williams.         
Last season: Clermont Auvergne 39 Toulon 3
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win

Stade Francais (10th)

Perpignan (9th)

Stade Charléty, 05/03/11, 14.30

Stade Francais owner Max Guazzini has let all and sundry know of his anger at England's non-release of Tom Palmer and James Haskell for this match, but it hasn't been all bad news for the Parisians this week. Fly-half Lionel Beauxis may be on his way to Stade Toulousain but his influence at Stade Francais could be crucial during the run-in, so it was with relief that the club successfully lobbied to get his 20-day suspension reduced to 10 this week. That means Beauxis is free to combine with scrum-half Julien Dupuy on Saturday as Stade Francais go in search of vital points against the 2009 champions. Both teams have had hugely disappointing league campaigns to date this season and it hardly seems credible that they go into this match in 10th and ninth places respectively. Indeed, just one point separates the two clubs at present, although both still remain outside contenders for a top six finish. To do that Stade know they must win on Saturday, with revenge also on their minds after they were beaten 20-14 by Perpignan at the Stade de France last season. Perpignan, for their part, will travel looking for only their third away win of the season - although they have also drawn three on the road. Tie anyone?
Last season: Stade Francais 14 Perpignan 20
Verdict: Draw

Bourgoin (14th)

Racing-Métro 92 (2nd)

Stade des Alpes (Grenoble), 05/03/11, 14.30

There is simply no escaping the fact Bourgoin won't be in Top 14 next season - although their precise destination remains uncertain at present owing to their deteriorating financial situation. On the field their prospects of survival disappeared many months ago and they go into this game 23 points adrift of 13th-placed La Rochelle and on the back of 10 successive league defeats. On top of all that they have already allowed four players to leave - to ease their finances - and have an injury list that sees both Alberto Di Bernardo and Robin Jordan sidelined for the rest of the season. In addition they look likely to be without Albin Loucks, David Janin, Bogdan Leonte, Arnauld Tchougong and Julien Frier for this clash. Bourgoin have moved this match to the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble, so they should at least get a financial windfall, but Racing will journey with confidence high as they seek to consolidate second spot in the table.  Last time out they won 32-24 at La Rochelle, and Bourgoin are unlikely to offer sterner resistance than 'The Maritimers', even if they did win the corresponding league fixture last season.     
Last season: Bourgoin 17 Racing-Métro 13
Verdict: Racing Métro 92 win

Biarritz (7th)

La Rochelle (13th)

Parcs des Sports Aguiléra, 05/03/11, 14.30

Biarritz go into this match as one of three teams tied on 49 points, so the possibility of a home win with attacking bonus must be on their minds, especially after successive away defeats to Stade Francais and Stade Toulousain. Their chances of achieving that have been considerably boosted by the return of French internationals Dimitri Yachvili, Imanol Harinordoquy, Jérôme Thion, Damien Traille and Sylvain Marconnet, while the return to fitness of former England flanker Magnus Lund is also welcome news. Relegation-threatened La Rochelle slipped back into the drop zone following their 32-24 home defeat by Racing in Round 19, so they will be scrapping to try and at least garner a losing bonus if at all possible.
Last season: La Rochelle were in ProD2
Verdict: Biarritz win

Brive (12th)

Castres (5th)

Stade Amédée Domenech, 05/03/11, 14.30

The battle for survival continues at Brive, with the visit of fifth-placed Castres their latest test as they continue to scrap for vital points. Last time out they beat Stade Francais 26-10 at the Stade Amédée Domenech, and their record at home this year is impressive against the division's larger clubs - they have also beaten Perpignan, Toulon and Clermont Auvergne, while drawing with Stade Toulousain. They will certainly need to recapture the form of those games against Castres, although the visitors have been a French cliché of rank away and unbeatable at home so far this season. To date they have managed a solitary draw (at Biarritz) and eight defeats on the road this campaign, although they have picked up losing bonuses in the last four of those losses. That suggests their elusive first away win could be just around the corner, but will it come in Brive? The home side could be boosted by the return of fit-again centre Jamie Noon. It was a suitably close affair last season and I fully expect the same on Saturday.     
Last season: Brive 11 Castres 9
Verdict: Castres win

Bayonne (6th)

Stade Toulousain (1st)

Estadio Anoeta, 05/03/11, 16.25

It's of to sunny Spain for these two sides as Bayonne continue their out-reach work by relocating this match to the Estadio Anoeta in San Sébastien. The Basques will even ditch their traditional blue and white colours in favour of red and white stripes in tribute to Spanish football team Real Sociedad, who use this impressive stadium as their home ground. All 32,050 tickets have been sold for this game and Bayonne will be delighted to focus on playing matters after a turbulent 10 days which has seen both Bernard Laporte and Alain Afflelou leave the club. Both teams carry good league form into this match, as you expect of sides in sixth and first places respectively, with Bayonne boasting six wins from eight and Stade Toulousain eight wins from 11. If there has been a chink in Toulouse's armoury this season it has been their unconvincing away form, but they do travel on the back of three successive victories - albeit at La Rochelle, SU Agen and Bourgoin. In truth this match probably matters more to Bayonne than Toulouse as the current table-toppers have a seven-point lead in the league, and are thus guaranteed to still be on the summit whatever Saturday's result. Bayonne, on the other hand, are presently sixth but just four points behind third-placed Clermont. The hosts are expected to include France winger Yoann Huget in their starting line-up, while Toulouse will be bolstered by numerous international returns. That could include fly-half David Skrela, who resumed training this week, although it is unlikely to feature Bayonne-bound Byron Kelleher.      
Last season: Bayonne 13 Stade Toulousain 15
Verdict: Draw

Montpellier (4th)

SU Agen (11th)

Stade Yves du Manoir, 05/03/11, 20.45

Montpellier go into this match looking to bounce back strongly from their 43-29 loss at Castres in Round 19, especially as the upper table continues to become increasingly congested. Fabien Galthié's side have continually defied the odds throughout the season but must maintain that form to the end if they are to claim a cherished play-off place. At present they lie fourth on 52 points, but know that the four clubs beneath them are all within three points and easy striking distance. Thus, a home match against SU Agen must be viewed as another opportunity to strengthen their own position, especially as they remain unbeaten at the Stade Yves du Manoir all season. Agen will, however, be no pushovers as they battle for survival. Last time out they beat mighty Toulon 23-13 at home, and they go into this match having won three of their last five league games. The weakness in that record though is their away form, with just one victory on the road all campaign. Montpellier may have to do without France fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, who injured his right knee in last weekend's defeat by England, and they will also be denied the services of injured quartet Brice Dulin (groin), Fonu Opeti (thigh), Valentin Courrent (thigh) and Maxime Machenaud (thigh).      
Last season: SU Agen were in ProD2
Verdict: Montpellier win

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