Top 14, round 24 preview: All to play for as the French season draws to its climax

Down at the basement there’s a relegation humdinger in prospect as 13^th-placed Dax entertain 14^th-placed Mont-de-Marsan knowing the result will be crucial to both teams’ fortunes. Defeat for the latter will spell the end of a season-long journey for Les Montois, while also ensuring that Dax remain alive going into the final two rounds of games.

That would prove especially so should Stade Toulousain overcome their recent blues to banish Bourgoin at what is bound to be an emotionally charged Stade Ernest Wallon for Fabien Pelous’ last home game.

Should Dax win and Bourgoin lose the gap between 12^th and 13^th will be down to between one and three points – depending on bonuses accrued, or not.

Elsewhere, Biarritz (at home to Toulon), Bayonne (away to Montpellier) and Brive (away to Montauban) all need victories to keep alive their own aspirations of securing Heineken Cup rugby next season.

New leaders Perpignan could be set for an early test of their Championship aspirations when they play host to a Clermont Auvergne team currently running in tries from all over the park, while Stade Francais will be keen to build on last week’s win against Montpellier when they travel to Castres.

It all adds up to another fascinating round of matches, and, as ever, we’ll be giving you all the news, results and reactions as they come in.

Castres v Stade Francais, Pierre Antoine, 24/04/09, 20.35

Away defeat at basement club Mont-de-Marsan last week may have been a shock to the system but Castres remain nine points ahead of the drop zone and all but safe with just three games to go. Motivation may have been a problem against Les Montois but a home crowd at the Pierre Antoine will demand an increased performance, especially with the Paris dandies rolling into town. For Stade Francais this match represents another opportunity to overcome their faltering form of late, although they did at least win last week (24-15 at home to Montpellier) after three successive defeats. They still remain a long way from the team which burst into the season amid such grand self-belief and will be hoping the return of Argentine playmaker Juan Martin Hernandez can spark their attacking flair with his South American magic. Hernandez has been absent since spraining his left knee in February. Castres include Josefa Tekori after he overcame a training-ground ankle injury, but Lionel Nallet remains absent.
Verdict: Stade Francais win

Montpellier v Bayonne, Yves Du Manoir, 25/04/09, 14.30

Drifting Montpellier are in real danger of finishing this season in the bottom four after losing nine of their last 12 league matches. The fractured squad has been misfiring both before and since coach Didier Nourault was dismissed and it seems the end the season can’t come soon enough. Bayonne, on the other hand, have everything to play for as they seek to consolidate fifth spot and confirm their participation in next season’s Heineken Cup. Last week’s 61-10 trouncing of Bourgoin signalled a return to form after back-to-back defeats, and with Brive struggling to keep pace they now hold the initiative in the HC race. Montpellier have included Louis Picamoles and Fulgence Ouedraogo, together with Irish full back Mark McHugh, Adrien Tomas and Santiago Bottini. South African Johan Wasserman also returns from suspension.
Verdict: Bayonne win

Biarritz v Toulon, Sports Aguilera, 25/04/09, 14.30

The mission is simple for Biarritz as they battle it out with Brive and Bayonne for the final Heineken Cup slot – win all three of their remaining games and pray results go their way elsewhere. Seven wins in their last nine league games have lifted them to within a point of Brive and you have to fancy another home win here, to add to the recent scalps of Stade Toulousain, Clermont Auvergne and Perpignan. Toulon appear prepared to let this one pass by, focusing their energies instead on next week’s match with Mont-de-Marsan as they rest both captain Joe Van Niekerk and the rapidly improving rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams. Confidence, though, should still be high given their 14-6 triumph over defending champions Stade Toulousain last weekend, and player-coach Tana Umaga will be urging his troops to at least try and secure a vital bonus point. Under-20 international Jeremy Sinzelle has signed a two-year contract with Toulon this week, as has Under 18 fly-half Barthelemy Romain. Biarritz will be without injured lock David Couzinet, while American winger Takudzwa Ngwenya remains doubtful.
Verdict: Biarritz win.

Montauban v Brive, Stade Sapiac, 25/04/09, 14.30

Brive, like Bayonne and Biarritz, simply must win all their remaining games to keep hopes of Heineken Cup rugby alive – but in contrast to the other two they go into Round 24 with confidence severely battered after a trio of wounding defeats. Their ECC exit at Worcester was sandwiched between thumping league losses against Stade Toulousain (42-10 at home) and Clermont Auvergne (52-7 away), prompting the club to call up English defensive coach Dave Ellis this week to patch up a defence which has leaked 15 tries in those three games. Confidence, or lack of it, is their main problem at the moment, together with tiring bodies after an exhausting campaign. Positive results in their final three matches could still cap a wonderful season though, and Montauban are surely there for the taking, as Dax proved with last week’s 20-15 win at Stade Sapiac. The home crowd will demand a response, but with but pride to play for it could be that Brive’s hunger finally sees them get back on track. Fly-half Andy Goode returns after injury, together with flanker Antonie Claassen, Fabrice Estebanez and Regis Blanco.
Verdict: Brive win

Stade Toulousain v Bourgoin, Stade Ernest Wallon, 25/04/09, 14.30

Another game at Stade Ernest Wallon, another sell out crowd – but this one will be tinged with emotion as club legend Fabien Pelous makes his farewell appearance in front of his home supporters. The defending champions will be desperate to see him off with a bang, and also to help banish the doubts created by successive defeats (against Cardiff Blues and Toulon) in which they failed to even register a single try. Their play-off berth is secure, but Guy Noves will have been reminding his players that individual places remain up for grabs, and that they need to create some positive momentum going into the season’s climax. Bourgoin, meanwhile, arrive fresh from their 61-10 mauling at Bayonne and knowing that another heavy defeat puts them back in serious danger of relegation, especially if Dax overcome Mont-de-Marsan. The financial worries that continue to dog the club will not have helped their preparations either – they must raise €2m to meet their budget this season - while the distraction of next week’s ECC semi-final against Worcester Warriors has further confused their approach. French internationals Morgan Parra and Yann David are among a plethora of players rested this weekend, while Stade Toulousain recall Maxime Medard, Yannick Jauzion and Cedric Heymans.
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

Perpignan v Clermont Auvergne, Stade Aime Giral, 25/04/09, 16.30

Momentum and psychology are the two key ingredients to this match as new leaders Perpignan entertain third-placed Clermont Auvergne at a sold out Stade Aime Giral. The Catalans usurped long-time leaders Stade Toulousain last weekend, despite losing 12-10 away to Biarritz, and they will be keen to get back to winning ways as the play-offs draw ever closer. In-form Clermont, meanwhile, arrive fresh from handing Brive a 52-7 spanking and full of confidence after nine wins in their last 11 league games. But the general irrelevance of the fixture – both teams are already assured of their play-off berths – means ‘Les Jaunards’ are likely to give prolific fly-half Brock James an extended rest after being forced to sit out last week’s match, with former Saracen Brent Russell set to continue. Scrum-half Pierre Mignoni is back in the Clermont squad after injury. Perpignan have opted to rest English prop Perry Freshwater along with Scottish lock Nathan Hines and scrum-half David Mele, with Chris Cusiter expected to start at nine.
Verdict: Perpignan win

Dax v Mont-de-Marsan, Maurice Boyau, 25/04/09, 20.35