Top 14 Preview: Round Ten
Basque-Catalan clash: Biarritz visit Perpignan
Perpignan host Biarritz and Toulon must visit the champions on a Top 14 weekend marked by the absence of no less than 52 players away on international duty.
The first of four weekends that clash with international fixtures this season looks set to be the most severely affected. Not only are the French and Italian internationals missing (as will be the case during the Six Nations) but a host of Argentines and Pacific Islanders have left their respective clubs limping.
While the big clubs will all be involved in big games, the real make-or-break stuff is happening at the other end of the table. Castres, Toulon, Mont-de-Marsan, Bourgoin will all be playing for their lives as the relegation battle has already begun.
After a week's holiday, the action kicks off in Montpellier on Friday when co-leaders Stade Français roll into town aiming to avoid their third consecutive defeat.
On Saturday, the heavyweight shock between Perpignan and Biarritz could leave the Basques in unexpected and unwelcome difficulty.
Fixtures:
Friday, November 14
Montpellier v Stade Français
Saturday, November 15
Toulouse v Toulon
Dax v Montauban
Bourgoin v Bayonne
Castres v Mont-de-Marsan
Brive v Clermont
Perpignan v Biarritz
Standings:
1 Toulouse 31
2 Stade Français 31
3 Perpignan 30
4 Bayonne 28
5 Clermont 25
6 Montauban 24
7 Biarritz 23
8 Montpellier 23
9 Dax 18
10 Brive 16
11 Bourgoin 14
12 Toulon 14
13 Castres 13
14 Mont-de-Marsan 7
Montpellier HRC v Stade Français
Yves-du-Manoir, Montpellier
After steam rolling their way to the top of the table with an extended undefeated run, Stade Français have hit a speed wobble.
Although the Parisians have only lost once to Montpellier in three seasons, travelling to the Mediterranean city without eight top players (seven on international duty plus Lionel Beauxis who has been sidelined for a month) will be no easy task.
Beauxis and Juan Martin Hernandez have been carving the opposition up with their kicking this season, but without either's boot the Parisians will have to rely on Brian Liebenberg's right-foot cannon to do their punting.
Forwards coach Fabrice Landreau has admitted the situation is not ideal
"Especially when we don't have a solution at number ten," he complained.
"But also in the back row in the absence of Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse (with Italy), Simon Taylor (with Scotland) and Juan-Manuel Leguizamon (with Argentina).
"We will dip into the reserves of our young players." he added.
Montpellier are in a similar boat. Two defeats in their last two home outings and the absence of arguably their three best players (Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles and François Trinh-Duc, who is injured) mean they look a lot less dangerous than they did when they beat Toulouse on the opening day.
Prediction:The visitors' strength-in-depth should come to the fore: Stade Français to win by seven points.
Kick-off: 20:30 (19.30 GMT)
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Touch judges: Patrick Dellac, Denis Grenouillet
Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat
Stade Toulousain v RC Toulon
Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
Neither the fact that this match clashes with France's Test nor the fact the twelve internationals are missing from the Toulouse roll-call have discouraged the home fans as Ernest-Wallon is sold out, as usual.
Why wouldn't the locals turn up? No David Skrela and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde? They'll have to make do with Byron Kelleher and Fred Michalak, who will make his return long-awaited return...Shame!
Despite all the missing stars there are still twelve internationals in the Toulouse starting line-up.
It's been fifteen years since RCT beat Toulouse, and if they ever needed a win, it's now. Defeat is almost certain to drop Tana Umaga's troops in the relegation zone. The last time the two sides met in Toulouse, in 2006, the season Toulon were relegated, the home side won 53-0 - it should de a much closer encounter this time.
The visitors haven't been spared from the international call-ups either. Three Toulonais (Lozada, Fitzgerald, Koyamaibole) will be absent but former Stormers hooker Tiaan Liebenberg is ready for duty after recovering from a broken finger.
There's good news for Toulouse fans too. Vincent Clerc took part in his first training session on Tuesday morning - seven months after undergoing surgery to fix the ligaments in his left knee. He's not taking contact yet but should be ready to play in the new year. Veteran hooker William Servat, however, is still battling a back injury and is not available.
Prediction: Toulon might not have had the best start to the season, but still have a team full of quality players - not good enough to beat the champions though. Toulouse to win by ten points.
Kick-off: 14:30 (13:30 GMT)
Referee: David Rosich
Touch judges: Patrick Bellet, Gilbert Darrieutort
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui
US Dax v Montauban
Maurice-Boyau, Dax.
This should be a cracker of a game between two sides with a healthy dose of confidence and eager to play enterprising rugby. Both sides are coming off the backs of solid wins (Dax over Bourgoin, Montauban over Clermont and Toulon).
Dax aren't used to being victims of international fixture clashes, but they'll be missing two Samoans (Kasiano Lealamanua, Gavin Williams) and two Pumas (Federico Martin Aramburu, Nicolas Vergallo). Montauban will be without two internationals, their number-one striker Vilimoni Delasau, and Pumas centre Miguel Avramovic.
Prediction: Another tough one to call. Montauban have travelled well this season and Dax will battle to replace their missing stars. Montauban by five points.
Kick-off: 14:30 (13.30)
Referee: Franck Maciello
Touch judges: Hervé Gilard, Didier Morin
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu v Aviron Bayonnais
Pierre-Rajon, Bourgoin
Bourgoin must get a result at all and any cost or join Mont de Marsan as favourites to go down - no easy task since their visitors have been the surprise package of the season and fully deserve their fourth place in the standings.
Bourgoin and Bayonne are two of just three clubs (with Mont de Marsan) not to be affected by this weekend's Tests, but the home side are without two of their best players - Morgan Parra and Yann David. Parra had to leave the national squad's camp with a broken finger while David has an ankle sprain and will have to take it easy for a month.
Prediction: Bayonne proved their worth in Biarritz last time out. Bayonne by eight points.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12:30 GMT)
Referee: Philippe Bonhoure
Touch judges: Jean-Paul Vermande, Jean-Claude Bes
Television match official: Jean-Claude Levrier
Castres Olympique v Stade Montois
Pierre-Antoine, Castres
The French press have called this fixture "the match of fear." It a genuine battle of the basement as second last hosts last.
Castres have a better record on the road than they do at home but a turnaround in form and fortunes - similar to the one they made last year - is long overdue. Their only home win of the season so far, against none other than Clermont, was confirmation of the fact they are a very good side when they get it right.
France captain Lionel Nallet and scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Bordes may be missing but surely the Tarnais will have enough grunt to get past the basement dwellers. Chris Masoe's participation is in doubt as his licence is yet to arrive.
Mont-de-Marsan hooker Trevor Leota has been given a 30-day suspension for a dangerous tackle and subsequent red card in the Round Eight match against Biarritz. As a result he will also miss the Landais derby against Dax.
Prediction: Castres to win by ten points.
Kick-off: 14:30 (13:30 GMT)
Referee: Akim Hadj Bachir
Touch judges: Eric Briquet Campin, Régis Gabard
Television match official: Gilles Cogne
CA Brive-Corrèze v Clermont Auvergne
Amédée-Domenech, Brive
This much-anticipated derby is set to be a far closer encounter than it has been in the past. Clermont are missing seven top players away on international duty, notably Julien Malzieu and Napolioni Nalaga, who will face off in Sochaux when France host the Pacific Islanders. Brive are missing three, including full-back Alexis Palisson.
Clermont got their ship facing in the right direction again by beating Stade Français two weeks ago while Brive's short-lived revival was halted by successive losses to Bayonne and Toulouse. Brive need a couple of points to keep clear of the relegation battle while Clermont must bag a few to stay in touch with the top four. Someone is going to be very disappointed.
They still have a sense of humour in Brive. After Arnaud Méla was given a miniature pig for being the player of the month, his successor, English fly-half Andy Goode, was 'awarded' a cockerel.
Prediction: It'll be close, especially considering Clermont's absentees. We'll stick our necks out and back Brive to win by two points.
Kick-off: 16:30 (15:30 GMT)
Referee: Eric Darrière
Touch judges: Didier Dussaut, Alain Rongier
Television match official: Daniel Dartigeas
USA Perpignan v Biarritz Olympique
Aimé-Giral, Perpignan
The behind-the-scenes drama at Biarritz continues. Their manger George Darrieumerlou has resigned, citing the deterioration of his relationship with coach Jacques Delmas as the reason. Former coach Laurent Rodriquez has made a comeback to the club as his replacement.
With seven wins from nine starts, Perpignan have the best defensive record in the Top 14, but have lost five of their last six games against their Basque rivals, who have one of the best attacks this season.
Perpignan are no slouches on attack either, averaging 24 points a match.
The signs point towards a cracking encounter - even the missing stars count is relatively even: Four international Biarrots won't be on the bus to Catalogne ( Bleus Damien Traille, Fabien Barcella, Imanol Harinordoquy and Azzure Andrea Masi) , while the home side will be missing five, all from their pack (props Nicolas Mas and Kisi Pulu, locks Nathan Hines and Rimas Alvarez-Kairélis and loose forward Viliami Vaki).
Perpignan will also be without centre Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, who, having just recovered from injury, has injured his ankle and will be out of action for two to three weeks. The good news for the hosts is that prop Sébastien Chobet, half-back David Mélé and loose forward Ovidiu Tonita have all returned to training.
Prediction: You have to go with the home side. Biarritz's home defeat to Bayonne confirmed at that all is not well on the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean coast isn't the best place to solve your problems. Perpignan to win by six points.
Kick-off: 20:45 (19:45 GMT)
Referee: Patrick Pechambert
Television match official: Serge Marzullo