Top 14 Preview: Round Four
Wednesday offers a host of intriguing Top 14 fixtures as Biarritz visit Perpignan while Clermont travel to Paris to face Racing-Metro.
Wednesday offers a host of intriguing Top 14 fixtures as Biarritz visit Perpignan while Clermont travel to Paris to face Racing-Metro.
Round Four is the second of three matchdays over an eight-day period with all clubs set to compete again on Sunday. Add the rather hot weather in France at the moment to the equation and you can expect to see some tired legs and lots of early replacements.
Montpellier made all the headlines last weekend when they became the first French team to win in Perpignan since September 2008. But Fabien Galthié's team face another stiff challenge in Round Four as they must host current leaders Toulouse.
Stade Français for their part will bid to regain the early momentum they had gained under new coach Michael Cheika as they recall their big guns for a home clash with Castres.
There are no unbeaten sides left in the championship but Bourgoin are the only winless club. They will have one of their best shots at victory this season when they host newcomers and fellow strugglers Agen.
A shock presence in the top half of the table, La Rochelle will look to continue their bright start against the league's biggest underachievers this term, Toulon.
Elsewhere, Bayonne, who have had a surprisingly strong start to the campaign, will host Brive.
Fixtures:
Wednesday, September 1
Montpellier v Toulouse
Perpignan v Biarritz
Bayonne v Brive
La Rochelle v Toulon
Bourgoin v Agen
Stade Français v Castres
Racing-Metro v Clermont
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Standings:
1 Toulouse 10
2 Clermont 10
3 Stade Français 9
4 Bayonne 9
5 Montpellier 9
6 Castres 9
7 La Rochelle 8
8 Racing Metro 8
9 Toulon 6
10 Biarritz 5
11 Brive 5
12 Perpignan 4
13 Agen 4
14 Bourgoin 0
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Previews:
Montpellier HR v Stade Toulousain
Stade Yves Du Manoir, Montpellier
First Racing, then Perpignan – Montpellier are making a habit of knocking over heavyweights.
But they don't get any heavier than the Big Red Machine, fresh from an impressive victory over Stade Français. However, Toulouse's only other road trip this season saw a very average performance and a loss to Castres.
Montpellier will line-up their strongest team Рincluding Fulgence Ouedraogo and in-form Fran̤ois Trinh-Duc Рafter many first-choice players started off the bench in Perpignan.
Toulouse welcome back fit-again flanker Yannick Nyanga after nearly a year out with knee injury. In a strong team, Byron Kelleher features at scrum-half as he works his way back to match fitness. Nicolas Bezy, who made a big impact last week, starts at fly-half.
Results last season: Toulouse won both games: 30-12 away; 34-3 at home
Prediction: Tough to make a call against Montpellier considering their recent form, but Toulouse won there so easily last season. Toulouse by three or four points
Kick-off: 18:00 (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garces
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USA Perpignan v Biarritz Olympique
Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan
Two huge clubs gripped with self-doubt face off in the week's crunch match.
Who would have expected to see 2009 champions Perpignan languishing in twelfth place? That shock loss to Montpellier did not go down well on the Catalan coast. Expect a reaction.
For Biarritz, an early-season crisis has become par for the course and although comments coming out of the camp insist there is no panic, there certainly is lots of pressure after their poor show in Agen.
Already overflowing, the USAP infirmerie has had a couple more additions, including loose forward Damien Chouly and full-back Joffrey Michel.
Good news for the Catalans however is that Perry Freshwater has recovered from the knock he took against Montpellier. Stalwarts Nicolas Mas, Maxime Mermoz, Guilhem Guirado and Henry Tuilagi, who were rested last week, are all back.
Sorely missed during Biarritz's loss in Agen on Saturday, Dimitri Yachvili is back at scrum-half to marshal the Basque attack.
Former Western Force full-back Dane Haylett-Petty starts in the number 15 jersey with Iain Blashaw (who played fly-half last week) nowhere to be seen on the teamsheet.
BO are not taking the risk of rushing Damien Traille back, but he is expected to be fit for Sunday's match against Stade Français.
Results last season: Biarritz won 27-12 at home; Perpignan won 19-14 at home
Prediction: Lightning seldom strikes the Catalan coast twice. Perpignan to grind out a seven-point win
Kick-off: 19:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Berdos
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Aviron Bayonnais v CA Brive Corrèze
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
After a super start to the season, Bayonne's poor discipline last week saw them give away a half-time lead and slip to their first defeat of the campaign. Back at home, the Basques will aim to retain a place amongst the leaders.
Brive will have to pick themselves up from the lashing they took in Clermont, although few expected them to surprise the defending champions.
Former Bourgoin hero and current Bayonne first-choice fly-half Benjamin Boyet will not play.
Zimbabwean wing Garth Ziegler will make his Bayonne debut while Aretz Iguiniz, Renaud Boyoud, Rob Linde and Dwayne Haare all return.
Results last season: Brive won 19-14 at home; Bayonne won 33-25 at home
Prediction: At home Bayonne should be good enough. Bayonne to win by nine points
Kick-off: 19:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Franck Maciello
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Stade Rochelais Atlantique v RC Toulon
Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle
Two home defeats at fortress Mayol were not the way Toulon expected the season to start.
A few weeks ago, one would have expected RCT to smash the new boys, but now we're not so sure.
It would still be a big shock if Toulon didn't get four points but La Rochelle have made it clear that they won't be swept aside easily – at least not at home and not while most of their first-choicers are still operational.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal hasn't spoken to his players since Friday's upset but has promised to do so prior to the game on Wednesday. They shouldn't expect pleasantries. Injured centre Mafileo Kefu might not be so sad to miss this one!
Philippe Saint-André had hoped to rest some of his stars but that is no longer an option.
Prediction: Surley a third home win for La Rochelle is asking too much. Toulon to win by ten points
Kick-off:19:00 (17:00