Top 14 Preview: Round Six

This week sees one of the biggest clashes on the French calendar as leaders Clermont travel to defending champions Toulouse.

This weekend sees one of the biggest clashes on the French calendar as league leaders Clermont travel to defending champions Toulouse.

The big story in the Top 14 at the moment is the catastrophic starts to the season experienced by last June's finalists Montpellier and former champions Biarritz.

Montpellier coach Fabien Galthie said he had no answers as to how to correct his team's woeful form but that he will have to come up with something fast if they are not to become totally demoralised.

That will have to start at home to Toulon on Friday as they look for their first win after four losses and a draw this term, and are only above the equally beleaguered Biarritz by virtue of a slightly better points difference.

Their match is probably the highlight of Friday's action, before unbeaten table-toppers Clermont travel to Toulouse on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Stade Français will have to be on their guard against a Brive side that have travelled surprisingly well while Perpignan face a potential banana peel at home to Agen.

Fixtures:

Friday, September 30
Bayonne v Racing Métro
Bordeaux-Bègles v Biarritz
Lyon v Castres
Stade Français v Brive
Perpignan v Agen
Montpellier v Toulon

Saturday, October 1
Toulouse v Clermont

Standings:

1 Clermont 21
2 Castres 18
3 Toulouse 18
4 Perpignan 16
5 Toulon 15
6 Racing Métro 14
7 Agen 11
8 Stade Français 11
9 Brive 8
10 Bordeaux-Bègles 8
11 Bayonne 7
12 Lyon 5
13 Montpellier 4
14 Biarritz 4

Previews:

Aviron Bayonnais v Racing Métro 92
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne

Bayonne are under pressure. Having starting the season in the best possible fashion with victory over the defending champions, the Basques have not tasted victory in their four games since. Another loss and they are in danger of dropping into the relegation zone – a far cry from their lofty pre-season ambitions.

They must now host the team with the best attack in the league: Racing have scored 149 points in five games – that's 82 more than their hosts on Friday!

Racing were far from their best against Lyon last week but got the job done. While they've score more tries than anyone else (12) they've let in 10, meaning they've had to rely heavily on the boot of fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski.

The visitors are without Sebastien Chabal, who is injured. Julien Saubade starts on the wing.

Racing Métro Germain ; Jané, Chavancy, Matavesi, Saubade ; Wisniewski, Durand ; Qovu, Cronje (cap.), Leo'o ; Dellape, Ghezal ; Tuugahala, Arganese, Brugnaut.Replacements:Noirot, Ben Arous, Van der Merwe, Come, Descons, Vakatawa, Battut, Coetzee.

Prediction: Racing have not won in Bayonne since 2009 and have yet to win on the road this season. Bayonne by less than six points
Kick-off: 20:00 (18:00 GMT)
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal

Bordeaux-Bègles v Biarritz Olympique
Stade André Moga, Bègles

Biarritz make the short trip North looking to resurrect their season against the in-form newcomers in the Atlantique derby. Already 17 points behind the leaders and 10 short of a Heineken Cup berth, the Basques must react -now!

But Serge Blanco's boys have a tough task on their hands as Friday's hosts will be brimming with confidence after their 20-16 win on the road to Montpellier last week.

Biarritz are without Charles Gimenez, who was slapped with a 10-day suspension for a dangerous tackle against Toulouse. BO however welcome back former Clermont back Benoit Baby

Bordeaux are in spot of bother in the front row department, where they have a host of absentees: Nicolas Decamps, one of their best players this season, has a serious knee injury and is out for six months. Hooker Fabien Rofes is suspended and five others are injured.

22-year-old Camille Lopez starts at full-back in the absence of injured Bruce Reihana.

Bordeaux-Bègles Lopez ; Brana, Le Bourhis, Rey, Connor ; Fraser, Adams ; Clarkin (cap.), Houston, Purll ; Jaulhac, Treloar ; Neveu, Forges, Delboulbès.Replacements:Lauga, Davies, Tisseau ou Chalmers, Ternisien ou Madaule, Seron, Ferrères, Denêtre, Turini.

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

Prediction: These teams have not met since 2002 when Biarritz won both games. We suspect the Basque giant will finally lift it's head. Biarritz by a whisker.
Kick-off: 20:00 (18:00 GMT)
Referee: Laurent Cardona

Lyon Olympique v Castres Olympique
Stade Matmut, Lyon

As is their habit these days, Castres continue to run with the leaders without making any waves. Unbeaten in four games and three points off the top spot, CO could be the new leaders at the end of the weekend.

Amazingly, Castres have conceded just three tries in five games..but so have Lyon!

Don't be surprised if Castres edge out another try-less encounter. But they'll have to do so without their main kicker, Romain 'Robocop' Teulet, who has a ankle injury. He joins Georgian prop Anton Peikrishvili, centres Thomas Sanchou, Rémi Lamerat and Pierre-Emmanuel Garcia, wing Vincent Inigo and loose forward Ibrahim Diarra on the injury list!

Castres: Denos – Lakafia, Bonnefond, Cabannes, Andreu – Bernard, Kockott – Masoe (c), Caballero, Bornman – Capo Ortega, Murray – Wihongi, Mach, Forestier.Replacements: Bonello, Coetzee, Rolland, Malonga, Roussel, Albouy, Tales, Kruger.

LyonLespinas РRomanet, Wakanivuga, Raffault, Grosso РSadourny (cap), Januarie РManta, Cl̩ment, N'Zi РBasson, Vigouroux РToleafoa, Testa, Fiard.Replacements: Colliat, Tchougong, Marchois, Dorier, V̩niat, Sukanaveita, Tomachinel, Facundo.

Prediction: Considering the absentees in Castres's ranks, we'll go for the hosts. Lyon by six points
Kick-off: 20:00 (18:00 GMT)
Referee: Frank Maciello

Stade Français Paris v CA Brive Corrèze
Stade Charléty, Paris

Stade Fran̤ais continue to blow hot and cold, as illustrated by their heavy defeat to Toulon last week. The Parisians have the worst defence in the league, having conceded 14 tries Рthat's nearly three per match!

With just a single win on the board, at first glance Brive's season doesn't look great. But CAB have managed to pick up at least a bonus point in every game they've played – a sign their competitiveness.

Stade Français: Rokobaro ; Sackey, Turinui, Gobelet, Fainifo; Warwick, Dupuy ; Rabdan, Lyons, Tomiki ; Van Zyl, Flanquart ; Wright, De Malmanche, Slimani.Replacements: Sempéré, Attoub, Burban, Briatte, Kelleher, Fillol,