Preview: Top 14, Round Fourteen

The return legs of the Top 14 start this weekend as we move into the second half of the season with Toulon making a trip to the capital.

There is a distinctly unfamiliar look to the table this season as Castres aim for leadership while Biarritz and Stade Français struggle to stay in the top half of the standings.

It's November, so it's about time for Toulouse manager Guy Novès to have his annual rant about the how unfair it is to run the Top 14 on weekends when most of his players are away on international duty.

When his interviewer suggested that 'Toulouse should be getting used it by now,' Novès nearly had a meltdown, "No, you must not say that...It's getting worse every year."

And Monsieur Novès has a point. Only one of the top five teams in the standings last week, Castres, actually managed to win. Would Albi have been able to upset Perpignan if the Catalans had their internationals? Seeing outside centre Mathieu Bastareaud line up at number eight for Stade Français was simply farcical.

The Toulouse boss called the situation 'dishonest' and 'unprofessional' and he said he was 'nauseated' - wouldn't you be if asked to line up a team to face Montauban this weekend without the top 70 per cent of your playing staff?

Stade Français will be in a similar situation on Friday when they host Toulon, who will arrived with a back-line including Jonny Wilkinson, Felipe Contepomi and Sonny Bill Williams.

Elsewhere on Friday, Castres will want to cement their place at the summit of the standings when they host Biarritz while Racing Métro will be eyeing a spot in the top half of the table at home to Albi.

Champions Perpignan face a tough assignment away to rejuvenated Bayonne on Saturday while Montpellier are aiming to extend their winning streak to five matches at home to Brive.

Depleted as they are, Clermont should have too much firepower for Bourgoin.

Fixtures:

Friday, November 27

Stade Français v Toulon
Castres v Biarritz
Racing Métro v Albi

Saturday, November 28

Toulouse v Montauban
Montpellier v Brive
Bayonne v Perpignan
Clermont v Bourgoin

Standings:

1 Perpignan 41
2 Castres 41
3 Toulouse 36
4 Clermont 35
5 Toulon 34
6 Biarritz 32
7 Stade Français 32
8 Racing-Métro 31
9 Montpellier 29
10 Montauban 25
11 Brive 24
12 Bayonne 23
13 Bourgoin 23
14 Albi 14

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Previews:

Friday, November 27

Stade Français v RC Toulon
Stade Jean Bouin, Paris

Another tough weekend lies ahead for Stade Français after their loss to Racing in the Paris derby last week.

While the Parisians have been stripped of their internationals and have a troubling injury list, Toulon welcome back their star fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who will line up inside two other stars in Felipe Contepomi and Sonny Bill Williams.

Separated by just two points, Toulon will see this as a perfect opportunity to open a gap on Stade Français, thus taking a step closer to a play-off spot.

A 22-all draw in Toulon on the opening weekend of the season gave an indication that Toulon would be a force to reckoned with and a win in Paris will confirm the Varois as new members of the heavyweights club.

The visitors will however be without the inspirational captain Joe Van Niekerk, who has a shoulder injury, while Stade Français welcome back Pascal Papé, James Haskell and Hugo Southwell,

Prediction:Considering the names missing from Stade Français' team, Toulon are in with a chance but Stade Jean Bouin is a tough place to visit. Stade Français by three points
Kick-off: 19:45 (18.45 GMT)
Referee:Jean-Pierre Matheu

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Castres Olympique v Biarritz Olympique
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres

Can Castres continue their amazing run? Victory over Toulouse last weekend, a draw with Clermont the week before and losing bonus point against Perpignan have pushed Castres up to the top of the table.

A fourth consecutive big match awaits les Castrais, but unlike their 24-12 win over Biarritz in Round One, another victory will surprise no one.

Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers' team have by no means played flashy rugby, but they certainly have been effective. Castres have a limited squad so it remains to be seen if they can keep up this pace when injuries come a knocking, but for the moment the clashes with international weekends have gone a long way to levelling the playing fields.

Biarritz arrive with renewed confidence after snatching victory in the dying minutes in Clermont last week, but will once again be missing a couple of key players away on national duty.

The Basques however welcome back Benoît August and Pelu Lan Taele to their pack while Ayoola Erinle is back from the England camp and on the bench.

Prediction: Despite last week's success in Clermont, Biarritz's form on the road has not been convincing. Castres to win by five
Kick-off: 21:00 (20.00 GMT)
Referee:Eric Gauzins

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Racing Métro 92 v SCA Albi
Stade Yves Du Manoir - Colombes (Paris)

Racing Métro will be looking to extend their winning run to six games against their former ProD2 rivals. After their historic win over Stade Français last week, les Racingmen look set to break into the top six for the first time since the opening weekend when they beat Albi 19-13 on the road.

Back in Paris and Francois Steyn and his team-mates should back themselves for success against the league's tail enders. Azzurri centre Andrea Masi and All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens are back in the hosts' side.

But Racing should not be over confident considering Albi's shock win over defending champions Perpignan last week.

Albi's start to the season couldn't have been mush worse, will we see a revival in the second half?

Eric Béchu's team have two American medical jokers in their side - Matekitoga Moeakiola (prop) and John Van Der Giessen (lock), but they are without their captain Vincent Clément, Pierre Correia, Paul Guffroy and their two internationals Julian Dumitras (Romania) and Lucas Borges (Argentina).

Prediction: Racing to win by ten points
Kick-off: 21:00 (20.00 GMT)
Referee:Bruno Bessot

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Saturday, November 28

Stade Toulousain v Montauban
Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse

After scrapping to a 17-16 win with a strong side in Montauban in August, Toulouse have a right to be worried when they host the return leg of this south-west derby.

Missing no less than 20 players through international call ups and injury (including Millo-Chlusky, Picamoles, Dusautoir, David, Jauzion, Médard, Heymans, Clerc, Johnston, Maka, Ahotaeiloa, Albacete, Vernet-Basualdo, Elissalde, Fritz, Nyanga, Skrela and Lamboley!) Guy Novès is forced to line-up a haphazard team full of youth players.

Having already lost five of their seven away games this term, Toulouse can't afford to lose at home.

Montauban arrive with a point to prove after being victims of a few dubious refereeing decisions in recent weeks. Heavy defeats in Montpellier and Bayonne have left Marc Raynaud's men dangerously close to the relegation zone, meaning they will be desperate for points when they visit their near neighbours.

Prediction: Despite their weakened side, Toulouse's record at Ernest Wallon is indisputable. Toulouse by a whisker.
Kick-off: 14:30 (12.30 GMT)
Referee:Franck Maciello

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Montpellier HRC v CA Brive-Corrèze
Stade Yves Du Manoir, Montpellier

After looking in a spot of bother a few weeks ago, Montpellier are riding high of the back of four straight wins. This week the Héraultais face the challenge of hosting a strong Brive side without their two best players.

With François Trinh-Duc and Fulgence Ouedraogo on duty with Les Bleus, who will steer the Montpol ship? That said, an impressive home record this season should stand the hosts in good stead.

Brive's troubles both on and off the pitch continue to hamper their progress and their inconsistency has left them teetering on the brink of the relegation zone.

After thumping Montpellier 30-9 in August, it's been nearly all downhill for Brive. Some below-par place-kicking hasn't helped but one feels it's just a matter of time before les Corréziens come right. There are too many good players in their squad not too. Will it be this week?

Prediction: Stade Yves Du Manoir has been good to Montpellier this year. Montpellier to win by five
Kick-off: 14:30 (12.30 GMT)
Referee:Patrick Pechambert

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Aviron Bayonnais v USA Perpignan
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne

Perpignan cannot afford to give away points like they did last week if they are to defend their title and a reaction is expected from the Catalans as they take a trip to the Basque coast.

Bayonne however will present the champs with very difficult assignment after finally getting their act together last week with a bonus point win over Montauban.

The Basques gave Perpignan a real run for their money in Round One, eventually losing 28-20 in a hard-fought encounter, so this week's host will believe they can win.

With former manager Richard Dourthe now out of the picture, Bayonne spent a week in a military camp to rebuild their team spirit, so expect them to be ferocious in combat.

In addition to missing their current Test players, including injured Maxime Mermoz, Perpignan will travel West without international loose forward Damien Chouly, who will be out for up to eight weeks after spraining medial collateral ligaments in his knee. In all, Perpignan must make do without 15 players!

Prediction: Tough one to call. We'll stick our necks out and back Bayonne to win by three
Kick-off: 16:25 (14.25 GMT)
Referee:Jean-Luc Rebollal

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Clermont Auvergne v CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand

Winless in four games, Clermont know that victory this week is a non-negotiable if they are to remain in contact with the leaders. Deprived of the core of their team in the last-gasp loss to Biarritz last week, l'ASM must once again put below strength side together.

Les Jaunards have been boosted however by the return of Mario Ledesma, who was released from the Pumas squad for the birth of his third child. France loose forward Alexandre Lapandry and Fiji centre Seremaïa Baï are also back.

While Clermont have been weakened in terms of players, Bourgoin are trying to climb out of a dip in morale. Three losses and a draw have seen the Isere club drop into the red zone while there has been more trouble off the field.

Iconic players Olivier Milloud and captain Julien Frier have resigned from their posts on the club's board after losing patience with the slow implementation of 'Objective 2012', a re-financing package aimed at resolving the club's ever-present funding issues..

Prediction: Clermont were 37-28 winners the last time the teams met and a similar result is likely in the Auvergne. Clermont by seven points.
Kick-off: 19:00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Eric Soulan