Ending the year with a bang: Toulouse host Perpignan
Toulouse host champions Perpignan in the pick of Wednesday's clashes as the Top 14 gears up for two rounds of fixtures in five days.
Top of their group in the Heineken Cup, Toulouse must now turn their attentions to their domestic campaign, where fifth place in the standings makes for an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position for the Rouge et Noir. They host the defending champions, who will have their minds set making amends for crashing out of the European Cup.
Stade Français find themselves under pressure, teetering on the edge of the play-off zone. The Parisians face a tricky task of travelling to Montpellier while their direct rivals, Toulon and Biarritz, have home fixtures they would expect to win against Albi and Bourgoin respectively. Biarritz must win if they hope to stay in contact with the play-off contenders.
Elsewhere, leaders Castres host Montauban, with whom they drew earlier this year while Racing Metro take their winning streak on the road to Bayonne.
Clermont will expect to challenge for the spot near the top of the standings in their derby with Brive.
Fixtures:
Wednesday, December 30
Montpellier v Stade Français
Castres v Montauban
Clermont v Brive
Bayonne v Racing Metro
Toulon v Albi
Biarritz v Bourgoin
Toulouse v Perpignan
Standings:
1 Castres 47
2 Perpignan 45
3 Racing Metro 43
4 Clermont 42
5 Toulouse 41
6 Toulon 38
7 Stade Français 38
8 Biarritz 33
9 Brive 33
10 Montauban 30
11 Montpellier 29
12 Bourgoin 27
13 Bayonnais 23
14 Albi 19
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Previews:
Montpellier HRC v Stade Français
Stade Yves Du Manoir, Montpellier
The last few weeks have been tough on Stade Français, who would have welcomed the break after expending so much nervous energy in the weather-affected last round of the Heineken Cup.
The Parisians are yet to win on the road in the Top 14 this season but Jacques Delmas and his team, must come away with something from this game if they are to keep up with their fellow play-offs contenders.
After succumbing to heavy defeats to Brive and Perpignan, Montpellier gave their confidence a bit of a boost by thumping Madrid in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
On Wednesday however Les Héraultais host a team in a very different class. Just six points clear of the relegation zone, another loss for Montpellier could set the alarm bells ringing.
Previous result: Stade Français won 43 - 26
Prediction: Perpignan, Clermont, Toulon and Biarritz have already stumbled in Montpol this season, so we'll back the hosts to come good again. Montpellier by three or four points. Kick-off: 18:45 (17.45 GMT
Referee:Cédric Marchat
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Castres Olympique v Montauban
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres
Following the 18-all draw earlier this season, former Montauban coaching duo Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers welcome their old club to their new home at Stade Pierre Antoine.
Surprise leaders Castres haven't been in great form of late, losing to Bourgoin before succumbing to double defeats to Guinness Premiership leaders Saracens in the Amlin Cup.
With two succesive home fixtures (they play Albi on Sunday) and a near-full-strength squad Castres will fancy their chances over heading into the New Year at the top of the stack. Long term injuries to American international Charles Sika, Italina prop Fabio Staibano and club captain Sebastien Tillous-Borde are their only worries, but France scrum-half Tillous-Borde should be back in February.
Montauban will make the short trip to their south-west rivals with plenty of confidence after their solid win over Clermont at the start of the month.
Previous result: 18-18 draw
Prediction: Castres to win by eight points
Kick-off: 19:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee:Cyril Lafon
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Clermont Auvergne v CA Brive-Corrèze
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand
Brive haven't had a happy time of it in derbies in Clermont over the last few years. In their last three trips to Marcel Michelin, they've conceded 134 points - that's nearly 45 per match! (They've only scored 17 in those three trips to Clermont Ferrand.)
So it goes without saying that after picking up two points for a draw in Brive earlier this season, Clermont start as the heavy favourites.
Les Jaunards have been in impressive form in Europe and will be looking to kick-start their domestic campaign after a lean spell brought them just one victory from six outings in the Top 14.
But Brive's form too has hit an upward trend.
After hammering Montpellier and then convincingly beating Toulouse, les Corréziens have climbed out of the red zone and into mid-table. Back-to-back encounters with heavyweight opposition (Perpignan are next) should give an indication of Brive's true potential.
Riki Flutey's only appearance for Brive so far was against Clermont and after a long battle with injury the Lions centre has been included in the matchday squad for the rematch. Andy Goode is still missing after his appendix surgery.
For Clermont Aurélien Rougerie, Napolioni Nalaga, Benoit Baby, Alexandre Lapandry and Tasesa Lavea are all doubtful starters.
Previous result: 9-9 draw
Prediction: It's hard to back any other team than the hosts at Marcel Michelin. Clermont by seven points.
Kick-off: 19:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee:Christophe Berdos
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Aviron Bayonnais v Racing Metro 92
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
Coming off the back of an eight-match winning streak, Racing Metro will be hoping the break has not stopped their momentum. After sitting in the relegation zone in September, les Racingmen have climbed their way up to third and will fancy their chances against a Bayonne side in poor form.
Unlucky to miss out on a Heineken Cup spot last year, the Basques have been unrecognisable this season. A reaction at Stade Jean Dauger is vital if they are to continue believing they can avoid the drop.
Rumours in the press have linked former Stade Français boss Fabien Galthié with a move to Bayonne, but the players will have their minds fixed a difficult week as Toulouse are next to visit on Sunday.
Newly capped Test wing Benjamin Fall is doubtful with a broken nose as is playmaker Pepito Elhorga while dangerous wing Filimone Bolavocu is out.
For Racing, scrum-half Mathieu Lorée is back in the fold after a month's suspension for smoking cannabis to join fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski in a half-back pairing that has been very successful this year.
Previous result: Racing won 18 - 9
Prediction: On current form you have to back Racing to score a rare away win. Racing by a whisker
Kick-off:19:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee:Romain Poite
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RC Toulon v SCA Albi
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon
After a solid start to the season, both in France and in the Challenge Cup, Toulon will be eying a spot in the top four as skipper Joe van Niekerk returns to lead them against relegation favourites Albi.
Having rested a number of key players for the last round of European competition, the Varois should be firing on all cylinders.
But Philippe Saint-André's team will do well to take Albi seriously. The visitors have won four of their last five games in all competitions, including victories over champions Perpignan and Biarritz and a narrow defeat to Racing.
Eight points behind Bourgoin, who occupy the first non-relegation poistion, Albi are still clinging to a fine thread of hope. If they continue to perform as they have in recent weeks, it's not unimaginable that Eric Béchu's men save their Top 14 skins.
Previous result: Toulon won 15-9
Prediction: Toulon are unbeaten at home this season. Enough said. Toulon by ten points.
Kick-off:19:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee:Mathieu Raynal
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Biarritz Olympique v CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
Parc des Sports d'Aguilera, Biarritz
Impressive in the Heineken Cup, where they look set to qualify for the quarter-finals as top seeds, Biarritz now need to translate that form into success on the domestic front.
Having dropped from third to eighth of the back of five losses in six Top 14 outings, BO are in a tight spot in terms of play-off qualification.
Victory against Bourgoin and Montpellier on Sunday are non-negociables if they are to close the five-point gap on Toulon, who occupy the last play-off spot.
The Basques have not won at Aguilera in the Top 14 since October 3, and the home fans will hungry for victory.
CSBJ travel west knowing that failure could drop them into the relegation zone.
Victory against leaders Castres earlier this month was yet another surprise performance against heavyweight opposition but they have yet to win away from home this season.
Previous result: Bourgoin won 22-17
Prediction: Biarritz to win with a bonus point.
Kick-off:19:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee:Stephan Pomarède
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Stade Toulousain v USA Perpignan
Stadium de Toulouse
The schedulers have saved the best for last as title contenders Toulouse host the defending champions to finish the year with a bang in front of 34 000 spectators at the Stadium de Toulouse.
While Perpignan crashed out of the European Cup and will now concentrate all their resources on the Top 14, Toulouse showed signs of better form in their last outing against Cardiff.
With just four points separating second and fifth in the standings, Wednesday's result is set to be influential in how the season pans out.
Perpignan face a tough schedule of three matches in nine days as they travel to Brive on Sunday before hosting Racing-Métro five days later, prompting manager Jacques Brunel to call the situation "absurd."
USAP will be without Nicolas Laharrague, Julien Candelon, Henry Tuilagi, Damien Chouly and Viliami Vaki, but welcome Sébastien Chobet, Florian Cazenave, Grégory Le Corvec, Gerrie Britz, Jean-Pierre Perez, Steve Meyer and most importantly, captain Jean-Pierre Perez.
Toulouse scrum-halves Byron Kelleher and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde are both still unavailable, meaning Fred Michalak should wear number nine. France centre Yann David is also missing.
Previous result: Perpignan won 17-15
Prediction: Toulouse are still unbeaten at home this year, so we'll back les Rouge et Noir. Toulouse by four or five points.
Kick-off:20:45 (19.45 GMT)
Referee:Jean-Pierre Matheu
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