Top 14 Preview: Round Five

It's panic stations at Biarritz, who host Top 14 leaders Stade Français on Sunday while Montpellier go after another scalp in Clermont.

It's panic stations at Biarritz, who must host Top 14 leaders Stade Français on Sunday while Montpellier go hunting another big scalp in Clermont.

Sunday is set to be tough day for the smaller clubs whose limited resources will be stretched to the maximum in the third matchday in eight days.

Self-proclaimed favourites Toulon have an impressive squad on paper but have failed to impress on the pitch so far this season – at home at least – and will be hoping to continue their winning form on the road when they travel to Brive.

La Rochelle have surprised everyone but face they toughest test of their top flight credentials when they head to Toulouse.

Elsewhere, in-from Bayonne visit struggling Bourgoin while Castres face Parisian opposition for a second straight week when they host Racing-Métro.

Fixtures:

Sunday , September 5

Castres v Racing-Métro
Clermont v Montpellier
Toulouse v La Rochelle
Bourgoin v Bayonne
Agen v Perpignan
Brive v Toulon
Biarritz v Stade Français

Standings:

1 Stade Français 13
2 Bayonne 13
3 Montpellier 13
4 Racing-Métro 12
5 Toulouse 11
6 Clermont 11
7 Castres 10
8 Toulon 10
9 La Rochelle 9
10 Perpignan 8
11 Biarritz 6
12 Brive 6
13 Agen 5
14 Bourgoin 4
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Previews:

Castres Olympique v Racing-Métro 92
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres

Castres literally came within inches of a stunning comeback win on Wednesday. Despite losing to Stade Français in an eight-try thriller, les Castrais will take heart from their continued improvement since their opening day shocker in La Rochelle.

The home side will be one of those teams who might struggle to be competitive for a third time in little over a week. But after resting kicking Romain Teulet and fly-half Cameron McIntyre midweek, Castres can be expected to revert to their no-frills yet highly effective gameplan.

Racing-Métro's fourth away game in five rounds finds them just a single point behind the leaders after dominating champions Clermont on Wednesday.

Test veterans Sebastien Chabal and Lionel Nallet sat out training of Friday, suggesting they might not play on Sunday. Scrum-half Nicolas Durand has been ruled out but Juan Martin Hernandez is expected to start for the first time at fly-half.

Results last season: Castres won 9-6 at home; 20-20 draw in Paris
Prediction: It'll be close but Racing have yet to prove they can be consistent, so we'll back the home side. Castres by a whisker
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
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ASM Clermont Auvergne v Montpellier HR
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand

Clermont had the luxury of being able to line up an entirely new starting XV on Wednesday, but the champions' second-stringers failed to front up to Racing, especially in the set pieces.

Back home and with the first team set to take over, Les Jaunards will be looking for a repeat of the 38-point hiding they handed Montpellier at Marcel Michelin last March.

Such a one-sided affair is unlikely however considering Montpellier's extraordinary run of late which has seen them topple Racing, Perpignan and Toulouse in successive games!

Coach Fabien Galtié has Montpol playing some good-looking rugby but a trip to champs won't be easy by any means.

Clermont have openly admitted that they have a vast margin for improvement after a lukewarm start to the season but it's just a matter of time before the tries start flooding in.

Clermont Julien Pierre tore a muscle on Wednesday, so he'll watch from the stands where he will be joined by Brent Russell (hamstring) and Jason White (concussion).

Results last season: Montpellier won 16-9 at home; Clermont won 41-3 at home
Prediction: Few teams can compete with Clermont at home and the list doesn't include Montpellier. Clermont to win by ten points
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Patrick Pechambert
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Stade Toulousain v Stade Rochelais Atlantique
Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse

You wouldn't want to be wearing a La Rochelle jersey on Sunday.

Smarting from their one-point loss to Montpellier, Toulouse will be hunting a bonus point against the newcomers.

Guy Novès' European champions should be wary of being overconfident however as les Maritimes have shown that they can compete at this level.

Few would have expected the smallest club in the league to be above the likes of Perpignan and Biarritz in the standings after four rounds but La Rochelle's enthusiasm and commitment has been a commendable.

Their defence has been solid too, having conceded just one try in their three homes games.

A trip to Toulouse is a different kettle of fish however. France's lightweights against the kings of Europe? We can see only one result.

Prediction: On paper, this shouldn't be much of a contest. Toulouse to win with a bonus point
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: David Rosich
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CS Bourgoin-Jallieu v Aviron Bayonnais
Stade Pierre Rajon, Bourgoin

Bourgoin got their heads above water with their first win on Wednesday but in-from Bayonne will be a much tougher challenge than Agen.

Bayonne have been a revelation this season. On pure sporting terms they should have been relegated in June but three months later and they are sitting pretty at the top end of the standings.

The Basques showed real grit to come from beyond and edge out Brive on Wednesday and the sense of belief that was missing last season is clearly strong amongst Thomas Lièvremont's team.

Results last season: Bayonne won 53-6 at home; Bourgoin won 12-6 at home
Prediction: Bourgoin should not be underestimated at home, but on current form they'll struggle.Bayonne by five points
Kick-off:15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Laurent Cardona
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SU Agen v USA Perpignan
Stade Armandie, Agen

'Clumsy but reassured' read one headline regarding Perpignan's hard-fought win over Biarritz on Wednesday.

The former champions have been decimated by injuries in the early season and their shock home loss to Montpellier was a major knock for morale.

Victory over BO is significant in that it saw the Catalan pack rule the tight stuff which will come as a relief for coach Jacques Brunel.

Agen's expansive game will suffer if they cannot get their hands on the ball, and with