Top 14, r25: Toulon and Perpignan go head-to-head again, but this time for league glory

22 April 2011

Top 14, Round 25 fixtures (Current league position in brackets)

Castres (3rd)

Biarritz (5th)

Stade Pierre Antoine, 22/04/11, 20.45

Third-placed Castres must start as favourites for this crucial clash owing to their impeccable home record of 12 wins from 12 so far this season, but Biarritz will travel with genuine hope of making that unlucky 13 as they seek to strengthen their own play-off hopes.  Castres are certainly in good form having won five of their previous six league games, and the incentive for another victory is clear - to finish in third place and claim a home quarter-final. They could yet, of course, make it into the top two and bypass the quarter-finals altogether, but with Racing and Stade Toulousain both having favourable home games this weekend then the men of Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers will content themselves with consolidating third spot. Biarritz will be looking for a fourth away win of the season to ensure they don't slip out of the cherished top six, but the Basques will have to do so without the experienced international trio of Imanol Harinordoquy, Damien Traille and Sylvain Marconnet. That will put extra pressure on the likes of Dimitri Yachvili and Magnus Lund to ensure forward momentum, but the visitors should at least arrive in confident form after their 52-26 demolition of Brive last weekend. That match underlined their try-scoring potency, but it's likely that this match will be decided by the boots of Romain Teulet and Yachvili as it's difficult to see anything other than a tight result in this fixture.       
Last season: Castres 34 Biarritz 6
Verdict: Castres win
 

Racing-Métro 92 (2nd)

SU Agen (11th)

Stade Yves du Manoir, 23/04/11, 14.30

Racing remain in second place behind Stade Toulousain but their recent form has been indifferent - other than a 43-21 'home' win against the current leaders. That is their sole victory from their previous four league matches, and last weekend's 23-16 reverse at Perpignan saw them lose two consecutive matches for the first time this season. Still, there is no need for Pierre Berbizier and his team to panic just yet, with a home match against SU Agen presenting an ideal opportunity to get back on track. They face an Agen side, however, which arrives on the back of three successive wins and will play with the freedom of knowing their Top 14 survival has now been achieved. Whether that leads to a carefree approach which could play on Racing's nerves or a care-less attitude which prevents concern remains to be seen. Berbizier has opted to include recent signing Josh Matavesi in his squad for the first time since joining from Exeter Chiefs, and the Parisians will also have injured Puma Juan Martin Hernandez in tow as they seek to maintain their unbeaten home record this season. Sébastien Chabal could also force his way back into the starting XV after rediscovering his form and fitness after a traumatic Six Nations.
Last season: SU Agen were in ProD2
Verdict: Racing-Métro 92 win

Bayonne (9th)

Stade Francais (10th)

Stade Jean Dauger, 23/04/11, 14.30

Just one place separates these two sides in Top 14 but the gap is a relative chasm with Stade a massive 13 points behind weekend hosts Bayonne. Indeed, the Parisians are currently closer to the relegation zone - 13 points - than the play-off places - 17 points. That is a true indicator of the erratic and woefully under-achieving results so far posted by Michael Cheika's side, and their attention will surely be more focused on next weekend's ACC semi-final against Clermont than on this league fixture. The ACC offers them a back-door entrance into next season's Heineken Cup, and partial salvation for this season, but Bayonne are looking to stride in through the front door after morale boosting wins at home to Racing and away to Montpellier. Those two victories have kept alive their (slim) hopes of making the play-offs, but they know they must now try and get maximum points from their last two remaining fixtures - beginning with Saturday's clash against Stade Francais. Should they achieve that they then have a trip to already relegated La Rochelle to follow, so it is certainly an achievable goal.
Last season: Bayonne 38 Stade Francais 24
Verdict: Bayonne win

Clermont Auvergne (4th)

La Rochelle (13th)

Stade Marcel Michelin, 23/04/11, 14.30

It's difficult to see anything other than a comprehensive home win in this match as defending champions Clermont Auvergne take on a La Rochelle side demoralized by confirmation of their imminent relegation back to ProD2. 'Les Jaunards' certainly have every incentive to go all-out for the five-point win as their play-off hopes are not yet guaranteed and their final league match is away to the mighty Stade Toulousain. That is no venue to travel to when still requiring a victory, so expect a ruthless showing at the Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday from Vern Cotter's team.
Last season: La Rochelle were in ProD2
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win

Stade Toulousain (1st)

Bourgoin (14th)

Stade Ernest Wallon, 23/04/11, 14.30

As mismatches go they don't get much more extreme than this. Seventeen-time French champions, four-time European champions and current league leaders Stade Toulousain at home to the hapless, financially crippled and already relegated Bourgoin. A might 68 points currently separate these two sides and if the game goes anything like the form book suggests then this will end up a cricket score. Indeed, it could make last season's 41-3 win seem like a tight affair. As if to make matters worse for Bourgoin they will travel to meet a Toulouse side bolstered by the playing returns of several international stars as Guy Noves welcomes back the likes of Vincent Clerc, Patricio Albacete and David Skrela after being rested for last weekend's away loss at Toulon. The incentive for Toulouse is two-fold: (1) to try and nail down a semi-final berth by claiming the five points which will ensure a top two finish and (2) for individuals to state their respective cases for starting next weekend's Heineken Cup semi-final away to Leinster. For Bourgoin? There is just pride and the possibility one last hurrah before disappearing from Top 14, but what chance that after 15 successive league defeats. 
Last season: Stade Toulousain 41 Bourgoin 3
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

Toulon (7th)

Perpignan (5th)

Stade Félix Mayol, 23/04/11, 16.25

This is, without doubt, the stand-out fixture of the weekend as Toulon and Perpignan ready themselves for a re-run of their Heineken Cup clash of two weeks ago. The Catalans memorably triumphed on that occasion but this time they will be the away side as they journey down to the Stade Félix Mayol. It may not hold the 55,000 that witnessed Perpignan's recent victory in Barcelona, but the atmosphere will be electric nonetheless. Both teams go into this match knowing defeat will effectively end their play-off hopes, so the stakes could not be higher as seventh plays eighth in the battle to finish in the top six. With that in mind Toulon could well have done without the needless press attention caused by Gavin Henson's latest bout of stupidity, but given the circumstances of what happened maybe it has actually strengthened the team's already formidable spirit. The hosts will once more look to the on-field leadership of inspirational duo Joe Van Niekerk and Jonny Wilkinson, and if former England winger Paul Sackey can repeat last week's dazzling form (against Stade Toulousain) then Perpignan could be chasing shadows. The Catalans will be out to avenge their home defeat by Toulon earlier this season, but next weekend's Heineken Cup semi-final (away to Northampton Saints) will surely also be on their minds as their season heads towards a climactic finale. With six wins from their last seven games they certainly have momentum, but they'll need more than just that to triumph on Saturday evening. 
Last season: Toulon 33 Perpignan 23
Verdict: Toulon win

Brive (12th)

Montpellier (6th)

Stade Amédée Domenech, 23/04/11, 20.45

Montpellier's unexpected home defeat by Bayonne last weekend has thrown a major spanner in their end-of-season plans, with Saturday's away trip to Brive now a must-win affair for Fabien Galthié's side. What sort of Brive team they come against could prove critical to their play-off ambitions, however, with the Limousin club playing its final home game of the season with the knowledge they have avoided (just) relegation down to ProD2. That could lead to something of a party atmosphere at the Stade Amédée Domenech as Brive seek to give their supporters something else to cheer. They have managed 63 points in their last two games (against Biarritz and Munster) and yet have lost both encounters, so this could be THE place to be if its tries that tickle your fancy. The Brive squad will undergo a major overhaul at the end of this campaign, so it this game will also provide the last opportunity for some to impress before departing. The likes of Shaun Perry, Fabrice Estebanez, Alexis Palisson and Gerhard Vosloo are all off to pastures new in 2011/12,... will they put on one last show, or will Montpellier prove the perfect party-poopers? My suspicion is on the latter.
Last season: Brive 30 Montpellier 9
Verdict: Montpellier win

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