Preview: Top 14, Round Two
Battle of the big spenders: Gerhard Vosloo and Brive visit Toulon
Boom! Boom! Boom! Whey-hey! We promised you upsets and Round one of the Top 14 certainly delivered. While the big question in Round two is just how Toulouse and Clermont will react, this weekend offers a host of intriguing match-ups.
Both of last year's finalists will be out to appease their fans on home soil after defeats on the road in Round one. Clermont host Montpellier, victors over the champions Toulouse last week - whether Montpellier actually go after a double upset or start the tactical games this early in the season remains to be seen.
Toulouse on the other hand host Dax, who look like becoming this season's whipping boys.
Les Landais could not have asked for a worse draw to start the season - they were smashed by Stade Français on Tuesday and now they must face the champions, who might have looked a little rusty in Montpellier, but who will have a lust for blood after an extra week to oil up the 'big red machine.'
The match of the weekend is arguably Castres' visit to Biarritz and Parc Aguilera, where they ruined Serge Betsen's fairwell match on the last day of last season. Biarritz are rebuilding but are already looking more of an attacking force than last year.
Castres will be smarting from a one-point home loss on the opening day, but a spate of injuries has left them a little short of ammunition for a trip to one of France's most well-guarded fortresses.
Toulon host Brive in the battle of the big-spenders. Toulon have already confirmed they can walk their owner's talk, but must be careful not to let the euphoria of Tuesday ruin their concentration on Saturday.
Elsewhere, two teams capable of upsetting the apple cart this year face off in Bayonne as Montauban travel to the Basque country. Dax's neighbours Mont-de-Marsan are in for a hiding in Paris while Perpignan must confirm their status as outsider contenders for the title when they head to Bourgoin.
Fixtures:
Saturday August 30
Toulon v Brive
Toulouse v Dax
Bayonne v Montauban
Stade Français v Mont-de-Marsan
Clermont v Montpellier
Biarritz v Castres
Bourgoin v Perpignan
Table after Round 1
1. Stade Français 5
2. Montauban 5
3. Perpignan 4
4. Biarritz 4
5. Toulon 4
6. Montpellier 4
7. Bayonne 4
8. Castres 1
9. Toulouse 1
10. Clermont 1
11. Bourgoin 1
12. Brive 0
13. Mont-de-Marsan 0
14. Dax 0
Previews:
RC Toulon v Brive
Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon.
Toulon could not have wished for a better start. A sensational victory over heavyweights Clermont, a host a new stars that lived up to their reputations and second home game on the horizon against a team struggling to find their feet.
Coach Tana Umaga's countrymen, Jerry Collins and Sonny Bill Williams are already massive hits at Stade Felix Mayol, and SBW already has the mademoiselles swooning.
Good thing Brive went on such a massive recruitment drive, they've got a worryingly long injury list at the moment. Ben Johnston, Alix Popham, Jean-Philippe Bonrepaux and Alexis Palisson are all crocked after their opening round defeat to Perpignan. Popham has a fractured hand and will be sidelined for a couple of weeks.
Toulon are waiting on the arrival of Springbok loose forward Joe van Niekerk, who is scheduled to arrive next Friday.
Prediction: Toulon have their tails up and Brive are missing a couple of game breakers: Toulon by 8
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Didier Mene
Touch judges: Jean-Claude Bes, Alain Moretto
Assessor: Jean-Claude Legendre, Patrick Thomas
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui
Stade Toulousain v US Dax
Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse.
No prizes for guessing who are favourites to win here. Toulouse were below par on Tuesday after a relatively late start to their preparations. They'll be gagging to show everyone why they are the champions.
Scrum-half Byron Kelleher, who offered fans the first tasty battle of the season on Tuesday against Justin Marshall, has a knee niggle and is expected to be rested. Thierry Dusautoir is also going to take it easy.
Young gun Maxime Médard, however, has recovered from an appendicitis operation and should start.
Prediction: Toulouse are not used to losing, neither are their fans. If you're a Dax fan, you might want to make alternative plans this weekend. Toulouse by 20
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Philippe Bonhoure
Touch judges: Claude Tajan, Fernand Pereira
Assessor: Michel Izquierdo, Alain Fernandez
Television match official: Daniel Gillet
Bayonne v Montauban
Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne
After getting their campaign off to a promising start by beating newcomers Mont-de-Marsan by 18 points, Montauban hit the road and travel to the Basque country to face Bayonne, who had a successful start to the season by beating Castres away from home.
Montauban, who have relied heavily on their pack and place-kickers in the past, have added some venom to their back-line, especially their new Fijian winger Vilimoni Delasau. Unable to get any game time at Clermont (since he was stuck at the back of a queue that included Aurélien Rougerie, Napoliani Nalaga and Julien Malzieu), Delasau made his presence felt on the opening day - scoring two tries and creating a third.
Bayonne's new faces aren't doing too badly either. Remy Martin led his side by example on Tuesday, carrying the ball well and tackling like a machine. Martin was ably assisted by back row partner Julien Puricelli - Bayonne look the business this season.
The last time the teams met Bayonne won 25-18, but all of their points came from the now retired Richard Dourthe, their new manager.
Prediction: It'll be close, but Montauban have a nasty habit of not travelling well. Bayonne by 5
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Eric Gauzins
Touch judges: Olivier Migne, Patrick Bellet
Assessor: Pascal Bouchet, Roger Duhau
Television match official: Jean-Claude Levrier
Clermont Auvergne v Montpellier HRC
Parc de sports Marcel-Michelin, Clermont
Before the season kicked-off, Montpellier must have been shaking their heads at the prospect of facing last season's top two teams on consecutive weekends. However, after giving the champions a lashing on the opening day, les Heraultais must be feeling quite good about themselves.
That said, the Parc de sports Marcel-Michelin is not consistently sold out for nothing. Clermont will be smarting after being taught a harsh lesson about being over confident and the need to play for 80 minutes. Expect a backlash of note.
Unfortunately it looks like Montpellier are not backing themselves to cause a double upset and two of their best players, French internationals Louis Picamoles and Fulgence Ouedraogo won't be on the bus to the volcanic region of the Auvergne.
The visitors will also be without fly-half Federico Todeschini, who hurt a bicep against Toulouse. In François Trinh-Duc, the apple of France coach Marc Lièvremont's eye, they have a more than adequate replacement. On his outside Englishman Ollie Smith has impressed and his tussle with the Clermont midfield could be a highlight. Justin Marshall is also in the squad and should have a wonderful scrap with Pierre Mignoni.
Montpellier could be in for a long night though, as Clermont welcome back some back-line fire-power in the form of Marius Joubert, Napoliani Nalaga and Anthony Floch.
Prediction: Clermont are just too good to stumble twice in a row. Clermont by 10
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Touch judges: Gilbert Darrieutort, Jean-Christophe Clot
Assessor: Francis Bourgade, Marc Desclaux
Television match official: Vincent Azoulay
Stade Français v Stade Montois
Jean-Bouin, Paris
We've become used to the 'battle of the Stades' being an epic showdown between the giants of Paris and Toulouse. Unfortunately when Mont-de-Marsan travel to the capital, it'll be a case a David versus Goliath, except David won't have a slingshot.
That might seem like a harsh assessment but the truth of the matter is that Stade Français will not be happy with anything less than their second bonus point win of the season.
New boy scrum-half Falie Oeslchig has come in for glowing praise from the French press and new coach Ewen McKenzie seems to have the ball rolling along nicely.
Prediction: It could be a massacre. Stade Français by 25
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Bruno Bessot
Touch judges: Régis Gabard, Alain Rongier
Assessor: Patrick Costa, Marc Daroque
Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat
Biarritz Olympique v Castres Olympique
Parc Aguilera, Biarritz
The rock on which Castres Olympique is built has a knee injury. France's captain Lionel Nallet has a sprain and won't be doing any line-out jumping for three weeks. He's not alone either: wings Phillip Christophers and Brad Fleming, centre Steven Kefu, and scrum-half Sébastien Tillous-Borde are amongst the walking wounded.
The Castres brains trust said that their problem in the opening round was a mental one. Too much pressure on their shoulders resulted in too many mistakes. Pressure? In Round one? Perhaps the sea air in Biarritz will calm their nerves in Round two.
For Biarritz, Magnus Lund has so far proved capable of filling Serge Betsen's large boots. BO will be out for revenge after the last season's long battle with Castres for championship table superiority.
Prediction: It should be a cracker but Castres are not at full strength. Biarritz by 7
Kick-off: 16:45 (14:45 GMT)
Referee: Patrick Pechambert
Touch judges: Jacques Laplace, Frédéric Ducatez
Assessor: Daniel Pascal, Joël Dume
Television match official: Daniel Dartigeas
Bourgoin v USA Perpignan
Stade Pierre-Rajon, Bourgoin
Perpignan cast aside the doubts surrounding their form after a less-than-successful pre-season to run three tries past Brive and win on Tuesday. That victory can largely be attributed to the cohesion of a team that has hardly been changed since last season - a rarity in the Top 14 this year.
Bourgoin will not be unhappy with their 29-22 loss to Biarritz on Tuesday. They deserved their bonus point as they showed real initiative and pushed the BO all the way. Their first game at home should give an indication of whether they can better their disappointing performance last season.
English prop and often Perpignan captain Perry Freshwater is a doubtful starter after hurting his shoulder against Brive.
Bourgoin have a couple of injury worries too, including French international centre Yann David, who is equally unsure if he'll be fit on time.
Prediction: Perpignan usually travel well, so we'll give them the benefit of the doubt: Perpignan by 6
Kick-off: 20:30 (18:30)
Referee: Eric Darriere
Touch judges: Didier Dussaut, Eric Briquet Campin
Assessor: Philippe De Miranda, Serge Marzullo
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
By Ross Hastie