Top 14 Preview: Round Seven

The complexion of the Top 14 is set to change this weekend as international stars begin to flood back to France from the World Cup.

The complexion of the Top 14 is set to change this weekend as international stars begin to flood back to France from the World Cup.

No less than 20 Pumas and Springboks touched down in France this week. Add to the mix a host of returning Samoans, Fijians, Tongans and a handful of Scots and Georgians and, of course, a certain Jonny Wilkinson.

After a week off, pace-setting Toulouse's solid start to the defence of their crown will come under close scrutiny against second-placed Castres on Friday, when the lead of the championship threatens to change hands yet again.

There are four games on Friday but arguably the clash of the weekend is on Saturday when Toulon host Perpignan for a Mediterranean derby.

Like Toulouse and Castres, Clermont have won five of their first six matches and face what appears to be easier competition when they host eighth-placed Agen.

Elsewhere, Biarritz and Montpellier are on the road to Brive and Bayonne respectively as they seek gain momentum after poor starts to the season.

Fixtures:

Friday, October 14
Bayonne v Montpellier
Bordeaux-Bègles v Racing Métro
Brive v Biarritz
Clermont v Agen
Castres v Toulouse

Saturday, October 15
Toulon v Perpignan

Sunday, October 16
Lyon v Stade Français

Standings:

1 Toulouse 23
2 Castres 22
3 Clermont 21
4 Perpignan 17
5 Toulon 15
6 Racing Métro 15
7 Stade Français 15
8 Agen 15
9 Bayonne 11
10 Bordeaux-Bègles 9
11 Brive 8
12 Montpellier 8
13 Biarritz 8
14 Lyon 6

Previews:

Friday, October 14

Aviron Bayonnais v Montpellier HR
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne

Bayonne have not lost at home in ten games but the last team to taste success when visiting Stade Jean Dauger was none other than…Montpellier.

Indeed, last season's losing finalists will travel west looking for just their second win of the new term after finally getting off the mark a fortnight ago at home to Toulon.

The aftermath of that clash has been the main talking point off the field this week with Montpellier flank Remy Martin left with ten stitches in his lip following a brawl at the post-match function with Olivier Missoup.

The hosts are coming off the back of a solid win over Racing Metro and welcome back South African flyer Joe Pietersen, who starts at full-back after an injury layoff.

Bayonne: Pietersen – Gerber, Visensang, Mazars, M.O'Connor – Boyet, C.Garcia – Marmouyet, Baget, Haare – Boutaty, Linde – Boyoud, Roumieu, Iguiniz.
Replacements:Manukula, Lafond, Lafitte, Lauaki, Puricelli, Audy, Otazo, Baiocco

Prediction: Montpellier's poor start to the season and Bayonne home record points to a win for the hosts. Bayonne by six points
Kick-off: 20:00 (19.00 GMT)
Referee: Frank Maciello

Bordeaux-Bègles v Racing-Métro 92
Stade André Moga, Bègles

Stade Andr̩ Moga has happy memories for Racing: their last visit to UBB Рin 2009 Рassured them of the ProD2 title and thus promotion to the Top 14.

In contrast to last season, Racing's attack has outshone their defence: the 14 tries scored in six games have been soured by the ten conceded.

The Parisians welcome back a host of Italian and Fiji internationals and have also brought in Pumas wing Juan José Imhoff as a 'medical joker', to cover for injured wings Benjamin Fall and Mirco Bergamasco. The Azzzurri stalwart is set for an operation.

For the hosts, Bruce Reihana starts at full-back while Fabien Rofes returns to the front row.

Bordeaux-B̬gles: Reihana РBrana, Le Bourhis, Rey, Connor РFraser, H.Adams РClarkin, Houston, Purll РJaulhac, Treloar РFlorea, Rofes, Delboulb̬s.
Replacements: Avei, Neveu, Tisseau, Ternisien, Seron, C.Lopez, Carballo, Turini

Prediction: Both sides are looking to bounce back from defeat last time out, but Racing's returning internationals should give them the edge. Racing by six points.
Kick-off: 20:00 (19.00 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere

CA Brive Corrèze v Biarritz Olympique
Stade Amédée Domenech, Brive

Two teams looking for form face off in the Correze. While Biarritz got their first win in Round Six, Brive are coming off the back of four straight losses.

Brive have lost their last four clashes against Biarritz. The home side are also struggling with a long list of injuries with prop Pablo Cardinali the latest addition to the infirmerie.

American wing Takudzwa Ngwenya is back from the World Cup and starts on the wing for Biarritz, who are seeking their third win in as many visits to Brive.

Biarritz: Haylett-Petty – Ngwenya, Baby, Burotu, Bolakoro – Barraque, Peyrelongue – Guyot, Faure, Lauret – E.Lund, Thion (cap) – Marconnet, Terrain, Watremez.
Replacements: Héguy, Buckle, Taele, Molcard, Lesgourgues, Gimenez, Couet-Lannes, Johnstone

Prediction: Brive's form at home has left much to be desired while Biarritz finally seem to be coming right. Biarritz by five
Kick-off: 20:00 (19.00 GMT)
Referee: Jérôme Garces

ASM Clermont Auvergne v SU Agen
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand

Clermont are looking to return to the top of the leaderboard after conceded their first defeat of the season to Toulouse. Agen have been well worth their mid-table standing but are unlikely to have the firepower needed to crack the league's best defence and end Clermont's long unbeaten run at home.

Clermont welcome back France fly-half David Skrela, whose World Cup ended early due to a right shoulder injury suffered against Japan, and prop Thomas Domingo who has fully recovered from ruptured knee ligaments.

Also included in Clermont's squad are Scotland lock Nathan Hines and Italy centre Gonzalo Canale, who are among the World Cup returnees.

Clermont: Buttin – Fofana, R.King, Canale, Nakaitaci – Skrela, Radosavljevic – Lapandry, Vermeulen (cap), Vosloo – Jacquet, J.White – Ric, Kayser, Faure.
Replacements: Domingo, Debaty, Hines, Audebert, Senio, B.James, Swanepoel, Kotze.

Prediction: Betting against Clermont at home is suicide. Clermont by twelve points
Kick-off: 20:00 (19.00 GMT)
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal

Castres Olympique v Stade Toulousain
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres

First meets second in Friday's big game.

A year ago Guy Noves's Toulouse side succumbed 22-16 to Castres in a match played at Beziers, with the corresponding fixture a year earlier also ending in defeat for the French giants.

To say revenge is on everyone's mind in La Ville Rose would be an understatement – in the three previous years Toulouse had beaten Castres, only 75 km to the east, at the Stade Pierre