Preview: Top 14, Round Twelve
On Friday Top 14 leaders Toulouse host second-placed Bayonne as the French championship approaches the half-way mark. The following day crisis-stricken Biarritz get paid a visit by Stade Français.
On Friday Top 14 leaders Toulouse host second-placed Bayonne as the French championship approaches the half-way mark. The following day crisis-stricken Biarritz get paid a visit by Stade Français.
Clermont and Perpignan both hit the road this weekend. Last season's losing finalists will expect a full haul of points in Mont-de-Marsan while the Catalans face a far tougher task in Montauban.
Elsewhere, Toulon seem to be emerging from their slump and should take another step forward against visiting Dax.
The weekend closes with a what is expected to be a closely-fought encounter between two ambitious clubs when Montpellier host Brive.
Toulouse have racked up seven consecutive wins, just three short of the record set by Clermont last season. With all of their next three games scheduled at their Ernest Wallon Fortress, a new record is on the cards.
Fixtures:
Friday, November 28
Toulouse v Bayonne
Saturday, November 29
Mont-de-Marsan v Clermont
Toulon v Dax
Castres v Bourgoin
Montauban v Perpignan
Biarritz v Stade Français
Montpellier v Brive
Standings:
1 Toulouse 39
2 Bayonne 37
3 Perpignan 35
4 Stade Français 35
5 Clermont 30
6 Montauban 27
7 Montpellier 27
8 Biarritz 24
9 Brive 24
10 Dax 21
11 Toulon 19
12 Castres 18
13 Bourgoin 16
14 Mont-de-Marsan 11
Previews:
Stade Toulousain v Aviron Bayonnais
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
In season's gone by, this fixture would have been a banker for Toulouse, but nothing could be further from the truth this time as Bayonne are brimming with confidence after a fantastic start to the season.
The Basque visitors to Ernest-Wallon have built their season on a rock solid scrum and an iron curtain defence. 36-year-old Biarritz discard Denis Avril and all 127 kgs of former Wallaby Rodney “Rodzilla” Blake have propped up the Bayonne scrum, turning it into an immovable object.
Unlike some of their big-spending French counterparts, Bayonne have spent their money on just a handful of quality players, who have all made a massive impact. Top of the list is former Stade Français and France loose forward bombshell Rémy Martin, who is revelling in his new found leadership role on the Atlantic coast. French international Thibault Lacroix has added new life to the midfield.
Off the field, Directeur Sportif and former points-machine Richard Dourthe has the full confidence of his players and has brought much-needed stability to a club that has had to fight to avoid relegation in the last three seasons.
As for the champions, their armada of internationals have returned. How they fit back into their club surrounds should make or break this match since, on paper at least, Toulouse start with a superior side.
Fred Michalak will again play fly-half for Toulouse as David Skrela has been ruled out with a groin twinge in midweek training. Michalak will be out to win back the confidence of the home fans who, booed and whistled when he missed five shots from the kicking-tee two weeks ago.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is on the bench after his enforced concussion lay-off. Wing Cédric Heymans is nursing a sore thumb and has been bracketed on the bench but hooker William Servat is back in the starting front row.
Number eight Shaun Sowerby has extended his contract with the champions for another two seasons, meaning he will stay in Toulouse until at least June 2011.
More good news for Toulouse fans emerged from training this week where star wing Vincent Clerc started taking contact for the first time since his knee operation.
For Bayonne, fly-half Manny Edmonds has recovered from a thigh niggle picked up during training and will start.
Prediction: With all their big guns back at home, Toulouse will want to get their team gelling ahead of the next round of Heineken Cup fixtures, and should have too much fire-power. Toulouse to win by seven points.
Kick-off: 20:35 (19:35 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Touch judges: Jean-Christophe Clot, Jacques Laplace
Television match official: Jean-Christophe Gastou
Saturday:
Stade Montois v Clermont Auvergne
Stade Guy-Boniface, Mont-de-Marsan
Clermont must go home with a full bag of points on Saturday in order to keep up with the pack in race for the semi-finals. Mont-de-Marsan scored only their second win of the season last week and with three of their next four games at home, they will know that the next month will decide whether or not they can avoid relegation.
While Clermont trained in the snow on Tuesday, South Africa centre Marius Joubert stayed out of the cold: he has a thigh injury and won't play this weekend. The visitors will also be without Fijian wing Napolioni Nalaga who is serving a three-week suspension for his dangerous tackle on Elissalde.
Benoit Baby, Julien Malzieu and Mario Ledesma have all been rested after a gruelling Test series.
Mont-de-Marsan's top points scorer, fly-half Benat Arrayet, has a shoulder injury and will have to wait until mid-January before making a return.
Prediction: Clermont to win with a bonus point.
Kick-off: 14:30 (13:30 GMT)
Referee: Franck Maciello
Touch judges: Hervé Gilard, Denis Grenouillet
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
RC Toulon v US Dax
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon
Will the soap-opera that is Toulon's season ever cease to grab the headlines? Probably not anytime soon. The newest member of the Toulon foreign legion is Word Cup-winning coach Jake White who will spend about three weeks with the club in December as a 'consultant.'
Toulon's win against Biarritz last week – which lifted them out of the relegation zone – is the first bit a good news they've had since beating Clermont on the opening day. The club from the Var have yet to win twice in a row, but Saturday presents the best opportunity they've had.
With fellow strugglers Castres and Bourgoin facing each other at Pierre-Antoine, a win for either of these teams will move them well clear of the relegation zone.
Toulon's win last week was largely thanks to their full-back Orene Ai'i. He beat three opponents with some fantastic stepping to score a wonderful try. He's been a star performer for the struggling team this season.
The rumour mill never stops turning when it comes to Toulon. The latest whispers are that owner Mourad Boudjellal had a meeting with Sale boss Philippe Saint-Andr̩ in Paris on 16 November where the possibility of a move back to France was discussed. Apparently the former French international could arrive with some interesting travel mates Рthe