Top 14: Round 25 preview
There is everything to play for in the Top 14 with just two games of the regular season remaining.
By Ross Hastie
Last Updated: 16/04/10 9:55am
There is everything to play for in the Top 14 with just two games of the regular season remaining.
Perpignan and Toulon are set to slug it out for top spot, while there are play-off spots still up for grabs.
The action gets underway on Friday as fourth-paced Clermont entertain third-placed Castres - with both sides still in with a shout at the top two.
Once again Clermont must find the strength to lift themselves after a disappointment. Just how they lost against Leinster in the HEC quarter-finals is a mystery to many and it'll be interesting to see the reception given to hero-turned-villain Brock James.
A points' machine during the regular season, last week's misadventure in Dublin has again raised doubts over the Australian's ability to produce the goods under pressure.
In their last game of the season at home Les Auvergnats will be under pressure to get the job done as the final match - a road trip to Biarritz - is anything but a sure thing.
Leaders for most of the season, Castres face the prospect of missing out on a place in the leading duo considering their trip to Toulouse next week.
Castres have France's best defensive record, but it's been nearly six months since they won away from home.
Survival
Good news for Clermont is that Napolioni Nalaga has recovered from a calf injury to be included in the extended squad. Lionel Faure, Willie Wepener, Tasesa Lavea, Brent Russell and Seremaïa Baï are also back in contention.
A week after defeat in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, Bourgoin must now concentrate on assuring their survival in the Top 14 - although they face a daunting prospect against Toulouse.
With Montauban still searching for the money to save themselves from relegation, Bourgoin know their future in the top flight is not yet secured.
After turning in a classy performance against Stade Français in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, Toulouse look to have hit top form at just the right time.
Guy Novès and his team need a big result this week if they are to host their play-off game, especially considering a tricky game against Castres next week.
Toulouse will be without Yannick Jauzion and William Servat. The French international duo who are obliged to take the week's rest stipulated in the LNR rules that they have been unable to take so far.
Young guns Maxime Médard and Louis Picamoles are doubtful starters with ankle injuries.
The perennial late-season show-down between Montauban and Montpellier has been soured this year by the former's financial troubles.
Montpellier will travel to Sapiac knowing that victory against their embattled hosts will assure their survival - and after handing Albi a hiding last week, les Heraultais will arrive in confident mood.
In stark contrast, Montauban must somehow find a way to forget the saga surrounding their potential administrative relegation because if they can't win on Saturday, they'll probably take the plunge even in the do find the money to balance their books.
Stade Français need two big wins and a miraculous combination of other results to go their way if they are to avoid missing the out on a place in Europe for the first time in their history - although a trip to already relegated Albi should provide one of them.
Jacques Delmas will ask his much-changed team to cut loose a try save some face.
The Parisians best hope of qualifying for Europe is probably finishing seventh and then hoping Toulouse earn France an extra spot with winning the tournament.
Undefeated
Despite struggling to get the better of Albi when they met the capital earlier this year, the Parisians will back themselves to do the business against a team with nothing left to play for.
Toulon will eye the top of the table when they clash with leaders Perpignan - with the winners all-but assured of a semi-final berth.
After storming into the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals last weekend and undefeated in seven starts in the Top 14, the whispers of a possible European-domestic double for Toulon have started.
Of course it's a little early to start counting chickens, especially considering Saturday's visitors from down the cost are the defending champions and current leaders.
Having had last weekend off, Perpignan's fresher legs could be telling in the final weeks of the championship.
But the Catalan's poor away form has plagued then this season and Toulon are unbeaten at home this term.
Perpignan will be without wing Adrien Planté and scrum-half David Mélé due to injury but lock Remis Alvarez-Kairelis is one a four played to be fit again.
Plenty at stake at Jean Dauger on Saturday as Bayonne try drag themselves out of the drop zone and Brive cling onto play-off hopes.
Following the arrival of new head coach Christian Gajan, a string a good results got Bayonne's train back on track but losses to Castres and Toulon have put the Basques back into trouble. Their last-day trip to Montauban could be a fiery affair.
For Brive, it's do or die. They must win or say good-bye to the play-offs. Even if they do win they'll need to Biarritz to do the same in Paris. The Brivistes then come up with something special against Toulon next week.
Bayonne have been given a boost by the return from injury of full-back Pepito Elhorga of international wing Benjamin Fall.
Impressive
Riki Flutey's season is over. Another shoulder injury means will have played just five games for Brive this season.
The other big clash of the weekend has the most at stake as a victory for Racing Metro over Biarritz will settle the play-off qualifiers once and for all.
Just three points separate Biarritz from their hosts meaning that a win for the Basques will but both them and Brive (assuming they win) right back in the mix.
The Parisians have lost three of their last four games but Pierre Berbizier's men will know that they must seize their chance as next week's derby against Stade Français at Charléty offers no guarantees.
If there was any doubt as to hoe serious this clash is, Racing shut their doors to all outsiders this week for the first time all season.
Biarritz late-season revival has been impressive and the Basques will head to the capital brimming with confidence after making the HEC semi-finals.