Top 14 Preview: Round One

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26 Aug 2011 9:02 PM

The Top 14 season kicks off on Friday as defending champions Toulouse visit Bayonne before Toulon host Biarritz on Saturday.

The new Top 14 season kicks off on Friday as defending champions Toulouse visit Bayonne before title contenders Toulon host Biarritz on Saturday.

Last season's losing finalists Montpellier travel to the capital to face Racing-MÃ©tro in a rematch of July's thrilling semi-final while play-off hopefuls Castres are in Perpignan.

Elsewhere, newcomers Lyon and Bordeaux have tough opening-day assignments on the road to Clermont and Stade FranÃ§ais respectively.

Fixtures:

Friday, August 26

Bayonne v Toulouse
Brive v Agen
Clermont v Lyon
Stade FranÃ§ais v Bordeaux
Perpignan v Castres
Racing MÃ©tro v Montpellier

Saturday, August 27
Toulon v Biarritz Olympique

Rugby Union betting odds

Previews:

Aviron Bayonnais v Stade Toulousain
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne

The defending champions have a tricky road trip on their hands as they are missing a raft of players, particularly in the front-row.

Already short of numbers owing to the upcoming World Cup, Toulouse open their season without prop Daan Human, who had surgery on Wednesday on his left arm which he hurt in Saturday's league warm-up encounter against Northampton after coming on for Kiwi Carl Hoeft (who starts on Friday.)

Toulouse full-back Clement Poitrenaud is, however, set to return from a back problem. Jean Bouilhou (shoulder) and Falefa Johnston (ankle) are also ruled out.

Luke McAlister starts on the bench alongside Yannick Juazion.

Bayonne have brought in a host of high-level recruits during the off-season, but none of them have been included in the matchday squad. We'll have to wait another week before we see Sione Lauaki in light blue.

Toulouse XV: Poitrenaud – Matanavoiu, David, Fritz, Donguy – BÃ©zy, Doussain – Nicolas, Galan, Nyanga – Maestri, Nyanga – MontÃ¨s, Vernet Basualdo, Hoeft

Prediction: Bayonne have nevertheless named a strong group. We'll go for the hosts. Bayonne by three or four points.

Kick-off: 18:45 (16:45 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Berdos

CA Brive CorrÃ¨ze v SU Agen
Stade AmÃ©dÃ©e Domenech, Brive

Two teams set for a season-long tussle to avoid relegation face off on Day One. Agen won both the games between these sides last year: 30-12 on the road and 36-10 at home.

Agen finished last season in great form and seem to have carried that momentum into the new term. A winning streak in the pre-season warm-ups mean les Agenais have won their last four fixtures (against Perpignan, Biarritz, Wasps, and Aironi).

It doesn't bode well for the hosts, who are without captain Antonie Claassen due to a knee injury.

Prediction: Wins on the road are rare in France but Agen look in good shape. Agen by a whisker.

Kick-off: 20:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: Cedric Marchat

ASM Clermont Auvergne v Lyon Olympique
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand

If ever there was a venue you wouldn't want to visit in your first game in the top flight, it's fortress Marcel Michelin where Clermont maintained their perfect record last season.

ASMCA are missing no less than 13 internationals but they still have the luxury of lining-up a star-studded team featuring new signings Gerhard Vosloo, Regan King and Benjamin Kayser.

Lyon have been struck by a spate of early-season injuries and will travel to Volcano country without eleven players.

Prediction: Clermont won both their pre-season friendlies so there is no reason to suspect they'll be overly rusty. Clermont to win with a bonus point.

Kick-off: 20:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: Stephan Pomarede

Stade FranÃ§ais Paris v Bordeaux-BÃ¨gles
Stade CharlÃ©ty, Paris

After a disastrous campaign last time out and an inter-season full of drama, Stade FranÃ§ais will be out to reassure their fans.

On paper, this looks the ideal start for the Parisians but their pre-season loss to Bordeaux (22-21) will have planted a seed of doubt into their minds.

But friendlies are one thing – it's an entirely different kettle of fish to travel to Paris when championship points are on the line.

Julien Dupuy captains the home side, who will debut an all-new front-row (Wright- De Malmanche-Milloud). Anton van Zyl gets his first start in the second-row, as does returning scrum-half Jerome Fillol. Byron Kelleher is on the bench.

Stade FranÃ§ais XV: Rokobaro – Arias, Turinui, Gobelet, Fainifo – Fillol, Dupuy (cap) – Rabadan, Lyons, Chollon – Flanquart, van Zyl – Wright, de Malmanche, Milloud

Prediction: No mystery here. Stade FranÃ§ais by at least twelve points.

Kick-off: 20:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: Sebastien Minery

Perpignan ended last season with another disappointing loss at home to…Castres. So, back to square one? Not quite.

This season represents the start of a new era for the hosts as former Biarritz and Stade FranÃ§ais boss Jacques Delmas takes the reins. A test against one of the most consistent teams in the championship will be a good indicator of where the Catalans are going.

Despite missing twelve players to international call-ups and injury, Perpignan have not included former Wallaby Ryan Cross in their team, preferring rather to give him more time to adapt.

Castres have shown some strong early form, beating Northampton 38-9 in a warm-up game last week.

Prediction: Tough one to call, but history suggests it would be unwise to bet against Perpignan at home. Perpignan by three or four points.

Kick-off: 20:00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: Jerome Garces

Racing have a chance to right the wrongs of last season immediately as they kick-off with a rematch of their last competitive fixture.

Les Racingmen insist that they have digested the 26-25 loss to Montpellier in last season's semi-final final but you'd be forgiven for thinking there is a hint of revenge in the air.

Montpellier have never won in Colombes since Racing's return to the top flight and without their best players, Montpol's lack of depth could be exposed early on. Julien Tomas is also injured so Benoit Paillaugue wears number nine for the visitors.

Jonathan Wisniewski starts for Racing while Sebastien Chabal is on the bench.

Racing XV: Fall – Bobo, Chavancy, BoussÃ¨s, Vakatawa – Wisniewski, Durand (cap) – Qovu, Cronje, Leo'o – van der Merwe, DellapÃ© – Zimmerman, Noirot, Brugnaut

Montpellier XV: ThiÃ©ry – Peyras, Audrin Combezou, Artru, Lagarde, Paillaugue – Martin, Tulou, Bost – Fakate, Privat – Jgenti, Caudullo, Chobet

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