The
heavyweight clash between Perpignan and Stade Toulousain
dominates this weekend’s fixtures as Top 14 moves on to
round 19.
For
Perpignan it represents the chance to cut the current
six-point gap between the two sides – especially with
Toulouse resting four of their heavily-worked internationals
– while for the visitors it provides another opportunity to
showcase the incredible depth of their playing strength.
Elsewhere, in-form Brive can continue their rise up the
table with victory at relegation-threatened Dax, while
crisis club Montpellier are at home to bottom-of-the-table
Mont-de-Marsan.
Top 14 table
Other
teams battling for Top 14 survival have a mixed set of
fixtures: 11th-placed Bourgoin travel to a Stade
Francais side still smarting from defeat at Brive last week;
12th-placed Castres entertain mid-table
Montauban; while revitalised Toulon play host to a Bayonne
outfit desperately trying to stay in touch with the top
four.
Elsewhere, fourth-placed Clermont travel to the Basque
country for their game with Biarritz, who will be seeking
another home win as they try and bolster hopes of qualifying
for next year’s Heineken Cup.
Perpignan v Stade Toulousain,
Stade Aime Giral, 21.00, 06/03/09
A sell
out crowd at the Stade Aime Giral will guarantee a hostile
reception for leaders Stade Toulousain as Perpignan seek to
cut the defending champions’ six-point advantage. The
Catalans’ fit-again international centre Maxime Mermoz makes
a poignant return against the team he left in the summer,
and Scottish scrum-half Chris Cusiter should also feature in
the starting XV. Injuries continue to dog the home side –
replacement fly-half Ignacio Mieres will be rested after
being carried off during
last week’s rout of Montpellier – but Toulouse will also be
understrength following Guy Noves’ decision to rest
internationals Maxime Medard, Yannick Jauzion, Cedric
Heymans and Thierry Dusautoir. In addition, Jean-Baptiste
Elissalde and Byron Kelleher are both sidelined with
injuries, although a half-back pairing of Frederic Michalak
and David Skrela would suffice at most clubs. Toulouse
hooker William Servat underlined the challenge ahead when he
admitted: “A match against Perpignan is never easy,
especially at their place where they have the whole region
behind them – and believe me you really feel it on the
pitch.”
Perpignan have only lost once at home this season – 26-11 to
Stade Francais in September – but perhaps the key to this
match is that Toulouse, who have lost on their last four
visits to the Aime Giral, will remain top whatever the result.
Verdict: Perpignan win
Stade Francais v Bourgoin,
Stade Jean Bouin, 14.30, 07/03/09
Bourgoin
are just four points off the relegation zone and it’s hard
to see them emerging with anything at all from their
Saturday trip to a Stade Francais side keen to make up for
last week’s slip against Brive. Most of their internationals
should be back in harness, although the fly-half position
remains a problem for the Paris club due to injuries ruling
out both Lionel Beauxis and Juan-Martin Hernandez. Stephane
Glas is also a doubtful starter against his former club
after picking up a midweek training injury. Bourgoin’s Yann
David is also ruled out – along with Tim Cowley and Tone
Kopeliani - although France scrum-half Morgan Parra should
take his place as they seek to bounce back from a home
defeat by lowly Toulon.
Verdict: Stade Francais win
Dax v Brive, Stade Maurice
Boyau, 14.30, 07/03/09
Six
league defeats on the spin have landed Dax in serious
relegation mire, and the last thing they probably need right
now is a visit from the division’s most in-form side. It’s
difficult to recall that Brive were once propping up the
table themselves after a tricky opening schedule left them
short on points in the first few weeks, but they have now
won seven of last nine league games, and suffered just one
defeat in 12 in all competitions. The return of England
fly-half Andy Goode should help compensate for the loss of
Alexis Palisson - out for three weeks with an ankle sprain -
and Norman Ligairi - out for the rest of the season with
another ankle injury - although it is Brive’s defence which has
been outstanding in recent weeks after going 422
minutes since conceding a home try. Dax’s cause will not be
helped by the absence of Neumi Nanuku – away with the Fiji
team at the RWC Sevens tournament in Dubai.
Verdict: Brive win
Castres v Montauban, Stade
Pierre Antoine, 14.30, 07/03/09
Just
once point separated these two sides when they met at Stade
Sapiac earlier in the season and everything hints at another
tight encounter at the Stade Pierre Antoine on Saturday.
Montauban showed commendable grit in losing narrowly 9-6
away to Toulouse last week, while Castres – who have only
won twice at home all season – were marmalized in Clermont.
Time is rapidly running out for the under-performing hosts,
but with Montauban’s top try-scorer Vilimoni Delasau away at
the RWC Sevens I see a possible stalemate occurring.
Verdict: Draw
Montpellier v Mont-de-Marsan,
Yves Du Manoir, 14.30, 07/03/09
This is
an absolutely crucial match for both sides and could go a
massive way towards deciding the fate of both come the
rapidly approaching end of season. For Montpellier it
represents the players to vindicate their secret ballot to
get rid of long-standing coach Didier Nourault earlier this
week, but surely they must also shoulder the blame for a
miserable run that has seen them lose seven of their last
nine league games. The net result of such woeful form has
been a slide that has seen Montpellier fall to within 10
points of the relegation zone. A home game against basement
club Mont-de-Marsan should, in theory, represent the perfect
opportunity to arrest that slump, but Les Montois have shown
plenty of fight for the battle in recent weeks, including a
remarkable fight-back to claim a bonus point in last week’s
30-37 home defeat by Bayonne. An away here would really
throw the cat among the relation-threatened pigeons,
although my hunch is for a Montpellier victory.
Verdict: Montpellier win
Biarritz v Clermont Auvergne,
Sports Aguilera, 16.30, 07/03/09
Clermont
go into Saturday’s clash brimming with confidence and with
fly-half Brock James seemingly unable to miss whenever he
lines up a pot at goal. Biarritz are also not short of
belief following their 44-13 trouncing of Dax last week –
although Les Juanards will present a considerably stiffer
proposition. Both sides will be without potential match
winners due to the RWC Sevens – Biarritz’s Takudzwa Ngwenya
is playing for USA while Clermont’s Top 14 leading
try-scorer Napolioni Nalaga is with Fiji. The visitors’
French winger Julien Malzieu is also out in Dubai, so once
more it could come down to the boot of James. If that is the
case I would back him to outshine Dimitri Yachvili,
especially with Imanol Harinordoquy likely to be shattered
after some Herculean performances for Les Bleus in recent
weeks.
Verdict: Clermont win
Toulon v Bayonne, Stade Felix
Mayol, 20.35, 07/03/09
Momentum
is key at this time of year and both these sides go into
Saturday evening’s game with positive vibes following recent
results. Toulon finally won their first away game of the
season last week (at Bourgoin) while Bayonne have put
together back-to-back victories following a tough three
months. Toulon, however, appear a team transformed of late
and even with Tana Umaga forced to sit out this game due to
injury they should be capable of achieving another notable
win in their ongoing quest for Top 14 survival. Full-back
Orene Ai’i returns from injury to boost their cause, while
captain Joe van Niekerk signalled his commitment to the
cause by signing a three-year contract extension this week.
Bayonne also have a fit-again Pepito Elhorga back, but six
defeats on the road this season underlines where their push
for a play-off berth has faltered.
Verdict: Toulon win
