Preview: Top 14, round 24
A clash of the top two, Biarritz's comeback and the uncertainty of the relegation dogfight are on the Top 14 menu in round 24.
A clash of the top two, a continuation of Biarritz's comeback and the uncertainty of the relegation dogfight are on the Top 14 menu in round 24.
Perpignan travel to Castres, with the losers facing a stiff fight to claim either of the top two places and a play-off bye, and the winners sitting pretty at the summit.
Clermont, in third, travel to ailing Stade Français, out of Heineken Cup qualification running and under financial investigation, in an anti-climactic-seeming gala match at the Stade de France.
Biarritz host Montauban, who were administratively relegated to the ProD2 this week after failing to meet their budget to the tune of EUR2m, with the Biarrots hoping Racing Metro come unstuck at Toulouse on Friday as they attempt to sneak into sixth spot.
Bourgoin are not sure whether they are playing for survival or not at Brive after Montauban's misfortune – Bourgoin are also under investigation – but they'll have a job on their hands as Brive try to maintain pace with Biarritz.
The bottom two also meet, with Montpellier eyeing what ought to be a welcome four or five-pointer at home to relegated Albi.
Fixtures:
Friday, April 2:
Toulouse v Racing Metro
Saturday, April 3:
Montpellier v Albi
Toulon v Bayonne
Brive v Bourgoin
Biarritz v Montauban
Stade Français v Clermont
Castres v Perpignan
Standings:
1 Perpignan 71
2 Castres 71
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3 Clermont 70
4 Toulon 67
5 Toulouse 65
6 Racing-Métro 92 59
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7 Biarritz 52
8 Brive 52
9 Stade Français 49
10 Bourgoin 45
11 Montauban 45
12 Bayonne 43
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13 Montpellier 42
14 Albi 20
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Stade Toulousain v Racing Metro 92 Paris
Stade Ernest-Wallon, 20.45
Anything other than a win for Toulouse spells the end of their chances of a top two spot, while their guests could cement sixth spot with a victory. So there's a few morsels at stake here.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Clement Poitrenaud are both struggling with injury, although Poitrenaud's calf problem is less serious than Elissalde's ongoing knee issues.
Thierry Dusautoir, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Yannick Jauzion and Williams Servat, all left on the bench last week as reward for their Grand Slam travails, are all set to start for Toulouse who are still smarting from the 26-10 mauling by Biarritz last week.
Racing's problem is also at fly-half, where season regular Jonathan Wisniewski is out until April 17 and centre Henri Chavancy has now joined him.
Kiwi Andrew Mehrtens is thus set to take the playmaking reins, with Francois Steyn in the middle possibly partnered by Brent Ward, usually a full-back.
Prediction: Dare you ever bet against Toulouse at home? Well, they did lose to Toulon earlier in the season, but with a raft of internationals rested and returned, the big red machine ought to be too strong. Toulouse by six.
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Montpellier HRC v SCA Albi
Stade Yves du Manoir, 14.30
The race, so to speak, was on to see who would join Albi in the ProD2 next season. Montpellier were winning until the news broke of Montauban's untimely demise. Still, Montpellier would not like to finish 13th and believe they were safe only for Montauban to find the missing EUR2m.
So this game, at home to a side that has managed only three wins all season, is a bit of a godsend.
Intriguingly for Albi, there could be a stay of execution if Bourgoin's financial status is found to be similar to that of Montauban – just reward for a side that has frequently been out of its depth in the top flight but has at least stayed within its budget.
That won't help them much on Saturday though as Montpellier welcome back a few Grand Slam winners and are at home, where they are notoriously hard to beat.
Prediction: Montpellier to take advantage and win by at least 15.
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RC Toulon v Aviron Bayonnais
Stade Felix Mayol, 14.30
One more win for Toulon would ensure they got their cherished play-off place and they'd be confident of grabbing it at home to a Bayonne side very much in the thick of the relegation battle if Montauban's execution is stayed.
No major new injury concerns for either side, but Bayonne are still without Benjamin Fall after his ankle injury suffered on international duty. He is having an IRM scan on Friday to determine the progress but after he signed for Racing Metro this week it is debatable whether he will play for Bayonne again.
Prediction: Toulon to guarantee a play-off place and win by ten.
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CA Brive-Corrèze v CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
Stade Amedée-Domenech, 14.30
Bourgoin are another club under investigation by the DNACG, the financial watchdog that relegated Montauban this week.
The Berjalliens have already flirted with disaster in this way, with several player licences withheld at the start of the season while they searched for funds.
In the meantime, they need to ensure mathematical survival and have a decent shot at gaining four invaluable points this week against a Brive team whose play-off hopes went up in smoke at Racing Metro last week and whose squad is becoming increasingly restless.
Prediction: A surprise, Bourgoin to win by a gnat's wing.
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Biarritz Olympique v Montauban
Parc des Sports Aguilera, 14.30
The main Biarritz casualty from last week's win over Toulouse was Samoan lock Palu Taele, whose internal lateral ligament tear means a six-week lay-off and a probable break until next season.
But Biarritz will not have a problem against Montauban, lousy travellers at the best of times and now reeling from their relegation. Not a peep has been heard from the club since Thursday's verdict and there is unlikely to be much on the pitch in the Basque country either.
But that's good news for Biarritz, who could pull to within two points of sixth spot and the play-off positions if results this weekend go their way. They have the form to do it.
Prediction: Biarritz to further shell-shock Montauban and win by 20 points.
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Stade Français v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Stade de France, 16.25
In ordinary seasons this could even be a final but this has been no ordinary season for the Parisians, who have seen two coaches come and go and are also under investigation by the DNACG.
That is likely to lead to less catastrophic consequences than, say, Montauban's, because of Max Guazzini's capacious pockets but