Rematch: Toulouse host Montpellier
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Rematch: Toulouse host Montpellier
Top 14 preview: Final round
2012-05-11 08:38:08The Top 14 play-off fixtures have yet to be decided as Montpellier visit Toulouse for a rematch of last year’s final
Rematch: Toulouse host Montpellier
The long relegation battle has virtually been settled with Brive set to get axed along with Lyon unless les Brivistes can create the upset of the decade and win - with a bonus point - in Clermont this weekend.
The match of the weekend is in Toulouse where the hosts will want to get some momentum for the knock-out stages by finishing the regular season at the top of the standings.
Toulouse and Clermont have both already qualified for the semi-finals in June, leaving Toulon, Montpellier, Castres and Racing Metro to do battle in the play-offs in a fortnight.
Toulon need just a single point from their trip to Lyon on Saturday to be assured of a home play-off with Castres the favourites to book the other home fixture when they host Bayonne.
Racing Métro face a tricky trip to Agen, who are in a four-way tussle with Bordeaux-Bègles, Perpignan and Biarritz for a place in the top ten.
Fixtures:
Saturday, May 13
Agen v Racing Métro
Biarritz v Stade Français
Bordeaux-Bègles v Perpignan
Castres v Bayonne
Clermont v Brive
Lyon v Toulon
Toulouse v Montpellier
Standings:
1 Toulouse 83
2 Clermont 82
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3 Toulon 69
4 Montpellier 66
5 Castres 65
6 Racing Métro 63
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7 Stade Français 58
8 Perpignan 49
9 Bordeaux-Bègles 49
10 Biarritz 48
11 Agen 48
12 Bayonne 47
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13 Brive 42
14 Lyon 31
Previews:
Stade Toulousain v Montpellier HR
Stadium de Toulouse
Over 30 000 tickets have already been sold for the showdown at Toulouse’s soccer stadium.
The hosts will have more than just the top spot in the standings on their minds as they look to turn around their recent bad run of form.
This time last year les Toulousains were hitting top gear after a slow start to the season. By contrast, they dominated most of the campaign this term but have now lost six of their last nine games.
Montpelleir really struggled during the early season but have been one of the most exciting teams in France in recent months and are gunning for a home play-off.
Based on their home record and the result in Montpellier earlier this year, Toulouse will nevertheless start as favourites. The defending champions looked very good in the first half in Toulon last week, before slipping off the pace in the second half. Guy Novès will demand a 80-minute performance this time around.
Montpellier will travel west with plenty of ambitions, but les Héraultais have not won in eight attempts on Toulouse soil.
Toulouse now have four hookers on their injury list after Georgian Jaba Bregvadze’s season was ended prematurely be a neck injury.
“He had a few throws to touch with us this week and suffered pain in his neck and had to stop again,” said Bru.
Bregvadze was recruited in January to cover for injuries but the 24-year-old has played just six times after injuring himself at the end of March.
Romain Millo-Chluski and Gurthro Steenkamp are fit to play though and should start.
Montpellier will be without injured skipper Fulgence Ouedraogo.
Previous result: Toulouse won 45-25 in Montpellier
Prediction: Toulouse need to reassuring performance ahead of the knock-out games. Toulouse by seven points
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Franck Maciello
ASM Clermont Auvergne v CA Brive Corrèze
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand
To say it’s been a season of near-misses for Brive would be an understatement. Les Correziens have picked up no less than TEN losing bonus points. If they had converted just half of those narrow losses into victory, they’d be vying for a place in Europe.
Now they must beat Clermont with a bonus point to have even the slightest hope of staying up. Considering Brive have averaged just one try per game this season and no visiting team has won at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin in three years, it’s a mission impossible.
After resting most of the first-choice team for last week’s loss in Castres, Clermont will recall their big guns as they prepare for the semi-finals.
The hosts will also welcome back French international prop Thomas Domingo.
Previous result: Clermont won 9-6 in Brive
Prediction: Brive will fight to the end, but only the clinically insane would bet against Clermont at home. Clermont by twelve points
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Castres Olympique v Aviron Bayonnais
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres
After last week’s win over Clermont, Castres will fancy their chances of bagging a home play-off and finally putting an end to their series of ‘almost there’ seasons. If CO secure home fixture, they are set to move their play-off (likely against Montpellier) to Toulouse.
CO have a habit of grinding out results on home turf and points machine Romain Teulet will be looking to end the season as the league’s top points scorer.
For Bayonne, a losing bonus point will be enough to avoid relegation even if Brive win in Clermont
Castres have announced the signing of Toulon lock Christophe Samson on a two-year-deal.
Good news for Bayonne is that hooker David Roumieu and lock Abdel Boutaty have extended their contracts.
Previous result: 16-16 draw in Bayonne
Prediction: Castres have it all to play for and are very solid at home. Castres by ten points
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Sébastien Cloute
Biarritz Olympique v Stade Français Paris
Parc des Sports d’Aguilera, Biarritz
Biarritz have assured their survival while Stade Français look set to finish seventh, irrespective of the result.
The only hope for the Parisians to make the play-offs is an unlikely large bonus-point win in the Basque country and for Racing-Métro to leave Agen empty handed.
That scenario seems unthinkable considering Stade’s away form this year. They have also lost on their last two visits to Biarritz.
French rugby’s most-capped prop, Sylvain Marconnet (84 Tests), will play his last Top 14 game this weekend, against his former club.
Biarritz have lost Benoit Baby for the last two fixtures this season including next weekend’s Amlin Challenge Cup Final.
Previous result: Stade Français won 23-10 in Paris
Prediction: Biarritz have hit a solid run of form and will use this as a rehearsal for next week’s European final. Biarritz by five points.
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Berdos
SU Agen v Racing-Métro 92
Stade Armandie, Agen
After a mid-season wobble, Racing-Métro are just one point short of the play-offs but will be gunning to host their knockout game.
Pierre Berbizier’s team have shaken off their behind-the-scenes troubles to return to their best form at just the right time and will be looking to profit from the fact that Agen have nothing left to play for. The hosts have lost five of their last six games.
Les Franciliens look set to face Toulon in the play-offs and will be hoping to gain some momentum by winning at a venue where they have tasted defeat on their last two visits.
Racing centre, Fabrice Estebanez was rested in training this week after picking up a knock in the win over Stade Français last weekend but will travel.
Centre Henry Chavancy and lock Jone Qovu have however been left at home.
Previous result Racing-Métro won 26-8 at home
Prediction: The visitors have it all to play for. Racing-Métro by less than five points
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Lyon Olympique v RC Toulon
Matmut Stadium, Lyon
Toulon will want to send a message to their play-off rivals with a big win over already-relegated Lyon. RCT will also be eager to see Jonny Wilkinson regain some form after a handful of below-par performances from the kicking tee by his high standards.
Bernard Laporte will want his side to build on their second-half performance against Toulouse last week, when they came behind to claim a crucial victory.
Toulon welcome back Joe El Abd and Dean Schofield while Steffon Armitage and Joe Van Niekerk have been rested.
Lyon are bidding for an immediate return to the top flight next season and have signed Wales hooker Huw Bennett for two years.
The 29-year-old, who won 51 caps for Wales and was first-choice Wales hooker at the World Cup, will join up with recently recruited back row forward Sebastien Chabal and lock Lionel Nallet, who both arrive from Racing Metro, and scrum-half Fabien Cibrai and centre Julien Dumora who signed from Toulon.
Former fly-half Xavier Sadourny was also confirmed as the club’s coach.
34-year-old Sadourny retired from playing with Lyon this season after being appointed in the place of sacked coach Mathieu Lazerges.
Previous result: Toulon won 20-15 at home
Prediction: LOU are down and out. Toulon by ten points.
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Union Bordeaux-Bègles v USA Perpignan
Stade André Moga, Bègles
Not much to play for here as both clubs have assured their survival. While Perpignan were expected to finish mid-table, Bordeaux-Bègles have been a surprise this season, seducing many with their positive style of play and claiming a few big scalps along the way, notably that of Toulouse.
Perpignan will be without French international hooker Guihem Guirado, who has been suspended following his red card for a dangerous tackle against Lyon last week. The visitors have also named a handful of youngsters in their squad.
Previous result: Perpignan won 38-13 at home
Prediction: UBB will be keen to with finish with a bang. Bordeaux-Bègles by a whisker
Kick-off: 16.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Patrick Pechambert