Round 12 of the Top 14 produces one of the more intriguing fixture lists as both the top and bottom two go face-to-face.
La Rochelle take on Montpellier before strugglers Brive and Oyonnax look to kick-start their season when they meet at the Stade Amedee-Domenech.
The final game of the weekend then sees Stade Francais and Racing 92 go head-to-head in what is sure to be a fiery Paris derby.
Saturday
La Rochelle vs Montpellier
Brive vs Oyonnax
Pau vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Toulouse vs Castres
Toulon vs Lyon
Sunday
Clermont Auvergne vs Agen
Stade Francais vs Racing 92
La Rochelle vs Montpellier
Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle
The league’s top two sides clash in a mouth-watering contest at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday afternoon.
A repeat of last season’s fixture would certainly do the game justice, where Nemani Nadolo came within a TMO decision of completing a remarkable comeback for the visitors.
However, home comforts will no doubt favour La Rochelle once again as Montpellier’s last match, an away game in Colombes, saw Vern Cotter’s men meekly succumb 26-0 to an in-form Racing 92.
Cotter will expect an improvement but Patrice Collazo’s side are almost unbeatable in front of their own supporters, so there could well be another changing of the guard at the Top 14 summit.
Last year’s result: La Rochelle won 40-37
Kick-off: 14:45 local (13:45 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre, Philippe Milani
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Brive vs Oyonnax
Stade Amedee-Domenech, Brive
In wonderful symmetry, following the top two’s battle in Saturday’s early game, the bottom two then go head-to-head in the evening.
Brive are arguably the team in better form having picked up a creditable away draw at Bordeaux in round 11, three weeks on from their excellent 20-19 victory over Stade Francais.
Although Oyonnax were similarly impressive in matching their fellow relegation battlers last weekend, holding Clermont Auvergne 32-all, the hosts will fancy their chances of defeating Adrien Buononato’s men and putting further pressure on the teams above them.
Last year’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini, Eric Soulan
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Pau vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade du Hameau, Pau
Bordeaux go into this weekend’s game just eight points behind the leaders, but they may regret their inability to overcome Brive last weekend.
That 27-all draw with the former Top 14 basement-dwellers continued a frustrating run of results for the play-off contenders.
Despite halting a streak of two successive losses by beating Agen, it was a subpar display. Having followed that up with another disappointing performance, tomorrow’s opponents Pau will therefore look to re-energise their own top-six ambitions.
Three defeats in four have seen Simon Mannix’s side drop down to 10th but a victory over Bordeaux would very much bring them back into the race.
Last year’s result: Bordeaux-Bègles won 30-28
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Adrien Descottes
Assistant referees: Thierry Mallet, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Toulouse vs Castres
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
After a slow start, Castres have brought themselves right into play-off contention. Christophe Urios’ men only emerged triumphant twice in their opening seven games, but four successive victories make them one of the form sides in the competition.
They will, however, be taking on a team that are much improved this season and managed to defeat former league leaders Lyon last weekend.
It was an excellent result for a club that had seen their positive beginning to the campaign halted by defeats to La Rochelle and Montpellier.
With both Toulouse and Castres both in fine form, it should prove to be an absolute humdinger.
Last year’s result: Toulouse won 16-15
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Maxime Chalon
Assistant referees: Francois Bouzac, Laurent Perrin
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Toulon vs Lyon
Stade Mayol, Toulon
For much of this season, Lyon have been the standard-bearers in the Top 14, but their star has slightly waned over recent weeks.
Three successive defeats, including two at home to La Rochelle and Toulouse, have seen the one-time leaders drop four points behind Patrice Collazo’s men.
They are not alone, however, in struggling during November with this weekend’s hosts matching their unwanted record.
Losses to Castres, Racing 92 and more surprisingly Agen have seen them slip to eighth. Although they are not far away from the higher echelons of the division, a loss would increase the pressure on head coach Fabien Galthie.
Last year’s result: Toulon won 31-17
Kick-off: 20:45 local (19:45 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos, Sebastien Hebert
TMO: Eric Gonthier
Clermont Auvergne vs Agen
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand
Agen will no doubt be mightily frustrated that their wins over Toulon and Stade Francais have not given them much breathing space, especially if they are in the bottom two by the end of the weekend.
With Brive and Oyonnax going head-to-head on Saturday, and the visitors facing a difficult task in the shape of Auvergne, Philippe Sella’s men could find themselves in the relegation play-off position.
Sella’s only solace comes in the shape of their opponents, who continue to underwhelm. Clermont, the 2017 Top 14 champions, keep threatening to find their form only to produce poor displays.
Their latest came last week when Les Jaunards allowed Oyonnax to come back from a 29-10 deficit and draw 32-all. On paper, Auvergne should win comfortably but the ‘curse of the champions,’ something which saw both Stade Francais and Racing struggle the season after their title wins, seems to be afflicting Franck Azema’s side.
Last year’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 12:30 local (11:30 GMT)
Referee: Cedric Marchat
Assistant referees: Laurent Millotte, Laurent Breil
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Stade Francais vs Racing 92
Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris
The Paris derby completes the weekend’s action, something which has taken on extra spice since last season when the two clubs almost ‘merged.’
Stade’s supporters and players voiced their opinion rather fervently over the proposed move and they were eventually heard.
German billionaire Hans-Peter Wild came into rescue the financially stricken club but his input has not improved matters on the field, with the Stade Jean-Bouin-based outfit struggling throughout.
A defeat could see them sucked into a four-way relegation tussle and Racing, who are in the midst of a four-game domestic winning streak, would love nothing more than to prolong the pain of their city rivals, particularly after their loss to an emotionally charged Stade last season.
Last year’s result: Stade won 27-23
Kick-off: 16:50 local (15:50 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas, Akim Hadj-Bachir
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin
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