Top 14 Preview: Round 23
Agen and Oyonnax go head-to-head on Saturday in a clash which will go some way to determining who will finish bottom of the Top 14.
At the top of the table, Montpellier host La Rochelle on Sunday while Champions Cup semi-finalists Racing 92 face Toulon in the weekend’s final encounter.
Saturday
Castres vs Toulouse
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Pau
Brive vs Lyon
Stade Francais vs Clermont Auvergne
Agen vs Oyonnax
Sunday
Montpellier vs La Rochelle
Racing 92 vs Toulon
Castres vs Toulouse
Stade Pierre-Fabre
A huge game for both sides with the teams looking to improve their play-off prospects for differing reasons.
While Toulouse are firmly embedded in the top-six, they are just one point behind Racing 92, who reside in second place, and a victory would significantly improve their semi-final prospects.
In contrast, Castres have stuttered of late and have won just two of their past five matches. A victory is therefore crucial for the hosts and they will be looking for a repeat of their previous performance against Les Rouge et Noir where Christophe Urios’ men emerged 41-31 triumphant at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
Last season’s result: Castres won 52-7
Kick-off: 14:45 local (12:45 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Laurent Cardona, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Pau
Stade Chaban-Delmas
Following an awful run of form, this may be a chance for Bordeaux to regain some pride, but it will not be easy against an in-form Castres.
At one stage UBB were genuine play-off contenders but a run of six defeats in seven has seen them drift down to 10th, 18 points off Saturday’s opponents Pau in the top-six.
Potentially being drawn into a relegation scrap also became an issue but their narrow 15-10 victory over Agen in Round 21 should have allayed those concerns.
As a result, they have very little to play for and Simon Mannix’s men will think they can continue their fine form, but current UBB boss Rory Teague is a man under pressure and it will interesting to see how his players react.
Last season’s result: Pau won 18-16
Kick-off: 17:45 local (15:45 GMT)
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Assistant referees: Cedric Marchat, Arnaud Blondel
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Brive vs Lyon
Stade Amedee-Domenech
This is an encounter which has ramifications at both ends of the table with Brive fighting to avoid the drop and Lyon looking towards the play-offs.
It is tight in the battle to stay in the Top 14 with just three points separating the bottom four. Nicolas Godignon’s men are currently in 13th and reside narrowly ahead of basement-dwellers Oyonnax, so this is a huge match for the hosts.
Their form has been poor in the latter part of the season and, while they importantly overcame Agen in their previous league contest, Godignon’s side need to pick up more points in the home games.
Lyon may well offer them an opportunity to do just that after Pierre Mignoni saw his team go down to both Racing 92 and La Rochelle in Rounds 22 and 21 respectively.
Those losses have severely hampered their top-six ambitions but they have a reasonably kind run-in, facing Brive, Stade Francais and Oyonnax, so Mignoni’s outfit could make a late surge.
Last season’s result: Brive won 22-6
Kick-off: 17:45 local (15:45 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini, Patrick Pechambert
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Stade Francais vs Clermont Auvergne
Stade Jean-Bouin
Like Brive, Stade Francais are desperate to see their form improve having gradually drifted closer to the relegation trapdoor.
While the losses have not been catastrophically bad – the largest margin of defeat in the past four reversals being six points – they are failing to win tight games.
The Parisians will need to buck that trend when they host a Clermont Auvergne side that are hurting after seeing their Champions Cup dreams ended by Racing the previous week.
Clermont’s season is effectively over following that result so how will Les Jaunards react when they head to the Stade Jean-Bouin?
Last season’s result: Stade and Clermont drew 30-30
Kick-off: 17:45 local (15:45 GMT)
Referee: Thomas Charabas
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset, Frederic Chazal
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin
Agen vs Oyonnax
Stade Armandie
It is no surprise to see these two promoted sides be embroiled in a relegation battle, but both have given a good account of themselves considering their fiscal disparity to the rest of the league.
Oyonnax have particularly impressed over the last few weeks, despite going into Round 23 at the bottom of the table. Before their defeat to Pau, Adrien Buononato’s men had gone on a run of four successive victories to provide them with hope going into the latter part of the campaign.
This could therefore be a defining encounter as a victory for the visitors could take them above Agen and provide them with the catalyst they need to escape the drop.
The home side are in a slightly better position, however, and a triumph at the Stade Armandie could be enough to keep them up, particularly if Brive falter at home to Lyon.
Saturday’s late game may not be the best encounter in terms of quality, but it is certainly the most important of the weekend.
Last season’s result: Oyonnax won 31-26
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Jerome Garces
Assistant referees: Jonathan Dufort, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Maxime Chalon
Montpellier vs La Rochelle
Altrad Stadium
Sunday sees four play-off challengers in action and it starts with leaders Montpellier hosting losing Champions Cup quarter-finalists La Rochelle.
Vern Cotter’s men are in such a strong position that it is all about the home games for the title contenders. A win this weekend and another against Pau in three weeks’ time should be enough to confirm their semi-final place, irrespective of what happens in the other two matches.
As for Patrice Collazo’s side, they have improved slightly after a disappointing run of form, defeating both Lyon and Bordeaux in their past two encounters, but they have not been entirely convincing displays.
Injuries have no doubt played a part in their dip from the 2016/17 season where they finished at top of the table and, despite currently residing in fifth position, it would not be a surprise to see them just miss out this year.
Last season’s result: Montpellier won 12-11
Kick-off: 12:30 local (10:30 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre, Sebastien Hebert
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Racing 92 vs Toulon
U Arena
Round 23 finishes with a huge clash at the top of the table as second plays fourth when Racing 92 and Toulon go head-to-head.
They endured contrasting fortunes in the Champions Cup, with the Parisians defeating Clermont and Fabien Galthie’s men narrowly succumbing to Munster, so the reaction to those results may be crucial at the U Arena.
Will Racing’s semi-final appearance in Europe’s top-tier distract them or will they take that form back into domestic action against the forlorn visitors?
The manner of Toulon’s loss at the Irish province will have been of particular disappointment to their head coach, but they will have to respond on Sunday.
Last season’s result: Racing won 41-30
Kick-off: 16:50 local (14:50 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Assistant referees: Julien Castaignede, Akim Hadj-Bachir
TMO: Denis Grenouillet