Top 14 Preview: Round 14
Toulouse and Toulon go head-to-head on Saturday in the game of the round as two giants of French rugby look to boost their play-off prospects.
Sunday also produces a couple of intriguing contests as out-of-form Lyon face Pau before Castres go to Clermont off the back of six successive domestic victories.
Saturday
La Rochelle vs Agen
Stade Francais vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Brive vs Montpellier
Oyonnax vs Racing 92
Toulouse vs Toulon
Sunday
Lyon vs Pau
Clermont Auvergne vs Castres
La Rochelle vs Agen
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
After being shocked 29-19 by Bordeaux-Bègles the previous weekend, Patrice Collazo’s men have the ideal opponent to regain their lost momentum.
Successive defeats have halted the La Rochelle juggernaut somewhat but a match against strugglers Agen should see them get back on track.
Philippe Sella’s side will have been delighted to start their Christmas with a victory over fellow relegation candidates Brive but this will most likely be a step too far.
Last year’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Jonathan Dufort, Jacques De Lemos
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Stade Francais vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Jean-Bouin
This will be Jacques Brunel’s last game in charge before he takes the France job for the Six Nations and his team will look to send him off in the best possible fashion.
They began the Christmas and New Year period in impressive fashion by overcoming La Rochelle, a result which left them just outside the play-offs.
With Saturday’s opponents, Stade, failing to meet the standards expected of them and coming off the back of a disappointing loss at Castres, this is a chance for UBB to display their top-six credentials.
Away wins are generally pretty rare in the Top 14 but Bordeaux will need to find the right formula, particularly against the lower sides, if they are to make the end of season knockout matches.
Last year’s result: Stade won 32-9
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Cedric Marchat, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Maxime Chalon
Brive vs Montpellier
Stade Amedee-Domenech
Nicolas Godignon’s men were defeated by Agen last weekend in a clash between two of the league’s strugglers and another loss on Saturday could see them drift into the grasp of basement-dwellers Oyonnax.
It will once again be a difficult ask for the hosts with Saturday’s opponents regaining their position at the top of the table following a superb 38-17 triumph over Lyon.
Brive have improved following a disastrous start to the season but Vern Cotter’s team are just a class above and beginning to find their range.
Last year’s result: Brive won 28-25
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Adrien Descottes
Assistant referees: Nicolas Datas, Laurent Perrin
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Oyonnax vs Racing 92
Stade Charles-Mathon
Adrien Buononato’s men remained rooted to the foot of the table with just a single victory all season in the Top 14 and it is difficult to see where their next one is coming from.
Financially impoverished in comparison to most, if not all, of their rivals, Oyonnax’s lack of fiscal power has been shown up this season.
Confidence has also been an issue and, although they battled well against Toulon last weekend, it was a game they never looked like winning.
Their task is made even harder by taking on an in-form Racing, who reside in fourth place, five points off league leaders Montpellier, following an excellent 23-19 triumph over Toulouse.
Last year’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Sebastien Minery
Assistant referees: Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylette, Philippe Milani
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Toulouse vs Toulon
Stade Ernest-Wallon
Arguably the game of the weekend takes place on Saturday night as sixth faces fifth in the Top 14. They have, however, endured contrasting fortunes domestically over recent times with the visitors winning their last two and the hosts losing their previous couple of matches.
In particular, Ugo Mola will be disappointed after seeing a positive opening to the campaign dissipate somewhat. Les Rouge et Noir are now under significant pressure, with Lyon, Bordeaux, Pau and Clermont Auvergne not far behind in the table, and a win is almost a must for Toulouse.
Toulon boss Fabien Galthie is also under duress and, despite victories over Lyon and Oyonnax gaining the former French scrum-half some breathing space, the three-time European champions must start performing away from home.
Last year’s result: Toulon won 32-15
Kick-off: 20:45 local (19:45 GMT)
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre, Akim Hadj-Bachir
TMO: Thomas Charabas
Lyon vs Pau
Matmut Stadium de Gerland
Sunday begins with an intriguing clash as an out-of-form Lyon look to halt their awful run when they take on Pau at home.
They have suffered five successive league defeats and, after once leading the standings, the team have dropped nine points behind Montpellier.
In Lyon’s defence, these set of fixtures have been particularly tough and Sunday’s game arguably offers Pierre Mignoni’s men their best chance of re-finding their form.
Although Pau are play-off chasers themselves, and secured a dramatic victory over Clermont Auvergne last weekend to keep themselves well in contention, Simon Mannix’s side have been inconsistent.
Last year’s result: Lyon 27-22
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Tual Trainini
Assistant referees: Laurent Millotte, Frederic Chazal
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Clermont Auvergne vs Castres
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
Franck Azema must be immensely frustrated with his team’s inadequacies at the moment. Once again, a potential victory was taken from their grasp last weekend as a late penalty, all of Clermont’s making, allowed Pau to snatch a 22-21 triumph.
With in-form Castres, who are on a run of six successive Top 14 victories, their next challenge, Les Jaunards may slip further behind the play-off race.
Christophe Urios’ men have comfortably been the best team in France over the last two months and currently reside in third place, four points behind the leaders.
Their run will have to end at some point and Auvergne are always strong at the Marcel Michelin, but the defending champions are not exactly a predictable side this season.
Last year’s result: Clermont won 29-19
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Assistant referees: Julien Castaignede, Sebastien Hebert
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin