It is first versus second as Montpellier host Racing 92 in the weekend’s big clash on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere, Toulouse could move into the top-two with a victory over fellow play-off chasers Lyon, while Brive face Clermont Auvergne in another huge clash at the bottom.
Saturday
Montpellier vs Racing 92
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Oyonnax
Pau vs La Rochelle
Toulon vs Agen
Brive vs Clermont Auvergne
Sunday
Stade Francais vs Castres
Toulouse vs Lyon
Saturday
Montpellier vs Racing 92
Altrad Stadium
An excellent way to begin Round 20 with a couple of title challengers going head-to-head at the Altrad Stadium on Saturday.
Despite a blip against Pau two weeks ago, Racing have been in fine form and have closed the gap on this weekend’s opponents to just three points.
Meanwhile, Vern Cotter’s men have struggled to find consistency in performance recently and their loss to relegation-threatened Agen was a particularly disappointing setback.
Despite it taking place during the Six Nations, neither team are hugely affected so it should still be a mouth-watering contest.
Last season’s result: Montpellier won 54-3
Kick-off: 14:45 local (13:45 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Sebastien Minery, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Oyonnax
Stade Chaban-Delmas
It has been an excellent couple of weeks for Oyonnax, with successive victories significantly boosting their survival aspirations, so can they make it three in a row?
The comparisons to their previous two wins are apt with Bordeaux, like Stade Francais and Clermont Auvergne before them, on a particularly atrocious run.
Four successive league defeats has effectively put paid to Bordeaux’s top-six ambitions and they may have to start looking over their shoulders should Adrien Buononato’s men emerge triumphant on Saturday.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 20:30 local (19:30 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Sebastien Boyer, Frederic Chazal
TMO: Denis Grenouillet
Pau vs La Rochelle
Stade du Hameau
Five victories and counting for Pau, who can stop Simon Mannix’s juggernaut?
Mannix’s men were superb in defeating Castres at the Stade Pierre-Fabre last weekend, snatching a win following Julien Tomas’ try, and an out-of-form La Rochelle are next in their sights.
Patrice Collazo’s side have succumbed to three consecutive losses in the Top 14, with the latest coming at struggling Clermont.
Although they have all been narrow defeats, it appears a good time to face last season’s league leaders and the hosts now have a chance to close the gap on the top-two.
Last season’s result: La Rochelle won 23-13
Kick-off: 20:30 local (19:30 GMT)
Referee: Cedric Marchat
Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas, Jean-Claude Labarbe
TMO: Laurent Sclafer
Toulon vs Agen
Stade Mayol
Toulon’s three-match winning run may have come to an end at Lyon, but they will expect to get back on track against Agen.
Philippe Sella’s men have been excellent over the past two weeks, claiming impressive triumphs over Stade Francais and Montpellier, but you sense that this is a game too far after those efforts.
Fabien Galthie’s side will be seeking the full five points and it is difficult to see anything other than a dominant victory for the home team.
The Stade Armandie-based outfit struggle defensively on the road, having conceded 71 points to Lyon and a further 34 to Stade over the last two outings, so Toulon should have little problem this weekend.
Last season’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 20:30 local (19:30 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Dufort
Assistant referees: Laurent Millotte, Laurent Breil
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Brive vs Clermont Auvergne
Stade Amedee-Domenech
There must have been a significant sigh of relief among the Marcel Michelin faithful when Clermont finally secured a Top 14 victory, after they beat La Rochelle last Sunday, but their worries are still not over.
Brive, who reside in 13th position, are their next opponents and a defeat to the team currently in the relegation play-off would tighten things once again.
Realistically, it is difficult seeing a side with the quality of Les Jaunards dropping that far down the table, but Nicolas Godignon’s side have an opportunity to increase the pressure on Franck Azema.
While Brive have struggled for form recently, they are not a bad team and will look to gain revenge for their humiliating 62-6 defeat to Clermont back in September.
Last season’s result: Clermont won 40-16
Kick-off: 20:45 local (19:45 GMT)
Referee: Adrien Descottes
Assistant referees: Mathieu Noirot, Arnaud Blondel
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Sunday
Stade Francais vs Castres
Stade Jean-Bouin
Stade have continued their drift into obscurity and desperately need a victory to ease the concerns of their supporters.
Despite going down to five consecutive defeats, the Parisians have somehow managed to avoid dropping into the bottom two, but this may be the weekend where they finally end it in 13th position.
With Castres looking for a place in the play-offs, it may be another long afternoon for the hosts. Their opponents have struggled for consistency, however, and last weekend’s home loss to Pau was a frustrating setback for Christophe Urios.
Urios’ men had impressively overcome Bordeaux and Lyon over successive rounds before that reversal and the visitors will need to regather themselves if they want a late season surge.
Last season’s result: Stade won 29-25
Kick-off: 12:30 local (11:30 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Julien Castaignede, Jacques De Lemos
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Toulouse vs Lyon
Stade Ernest-Wallon
Toulouse may have a rich history but they have arguably been the surprise of the campaign having overcome last season’s turgid season to put themselves in Top 14 contention.
Going into 2017/18, there was huge pressure on Ugo Mola after ending the previous year in 12th in the league, but they begin this weekend one point behind second place.
A victory over Lyon, with Montpellier and Racing 92 going head-to-head, could see Les Rouge et Noir move into the top-two.
At this stage of the season, it would be an excellent achievement but their supporters demand more and will expect Mola’s men to claim a semi-final place.
On paper, the visitors should provide a stern challenge but inconsistency has blighted them over recent rounds and Toulouse may ultimately have too much.
Last season’s result: Toulouse won 42-26
Kick-off: 16:50 local (15:50 GMT)
Referee: Tual Trainini
Assistant referees: Nicolas Datas, Patrick Pechambert
TMO: Eric Gonthier
The post Top 14 Preview: Round 20 appeared first on Planet Rugby.