Montpellier taking on Toulon will be the focus for many on Sunday as two fiercely ambitious and talented squads go head-to-head.
Before that, 19-time French champions Toulouse face 14-time winners Stade Francais as both sides attempt to get their season back on track.
Saturday
Toulouse vs Stade Français
Agen vs La Rochelle
Lyon vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Pau vs Castres
Clermont Auvergne vs Brive
Sunday
Racing 92 vs Oyonnax
Montpellier vs Toulon
Toulouse vs Stade Français
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
These are two traditional giants of the French game who have struggled over the past couple of years and that decline shows no sign of abating.
In fairness to Toulouse they gave a good account of themselves, despite going down to Toulon last weekend, but they still appear to be some way off the best in this division.
However, with Stade having a slow start to the campaign Ugo Mola’s men will go into the encounter as favourites.
The visitors, but for an impressive victory over La Rochelle in Round Two, have been underwhelming and Les Rouge et Noir will look to capitalise on their sluggishness.
Last year’s result: Toulouse won 23-18
Kick-off: 14:45 local (12:45 GMT)
Referee: Thomas Charabas
Assistant referees: Sebastien Minery, Patrick Pechambert
TMO: Mourad Zitouni
Agen vs La Rochelle
Stade Armandie, Agen
Agen may well have lost to fellow promoted side Oyonnax last weekend but they are unlikely to be too despondent going into this contest.
Home matches will ultimately decide whether they are able to stay in the division and their only encounter at the Stade Armandie so far this season resulted in a rather unexpected victory over Racing 92.
Philippe Sella will hope that they can repeat the feat against La Rochelle on Saturday but, against a team that found their stride last weekend, it may prove to be too big a challenge.
Patrice Collazo’s men were outstanding in their dominant 51-20 triumph over champions Clermont Auvergne, recapturing the off-loading game which proved so successful last season.
Last year’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 18:00 local (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos, Laurent Breil
TMO: Eric Gauzins
Lyon vs Bordeaux-Bègles
Matmut Stadium de Gerland, Lyon
Lyon’s bright start came to a rather abrupt halt last weekend but a home game offers them an opportunity to regain some lost momentum.
Bordeaux will provide stern opponents, however, if they repeat their performances against Clermont Auvergne and Stade Francais on Saturday.
Tight match-ups such as this tend to favour the hosts, as evidenced by the result last season, and Pierre Mignoni’s side do have a fierce forward pack, but UBB have certainly shown more invention with ball in hand this year.
Last year’s result: Lyon won 19-16
Kick-off: 18:00 local (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Ludovic Cayre
Assistant referees: Mathieu Delpy, Laurent Perrin
TMO: Patrick Dellac
Pau vs Castres
Stade du Hameau, Pau
Following an inauspicious start, Pau showed how home comforts tend to bring out the best in French teams and a second successive encounter at the Stade du Hameau should be to their liking once more.
After impressively defeating Top 14 dark horses Lyon, they will take on a Castres side reeling from an agonising 22-17 loss to Montpellier in the previous round.
Christophe Urios will argue that his squad should be three from three, running Racing 92 and last Saturday’s opponents both incredibly close, but the odd defensive error has cost them at crucial times.
Last year’s result: Pau won 18-12
Kick-off: 18:00 local (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz
Assistant referees: Laurent Millotte, Thierry Guilloton
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure
Clermont Auvergne vs Brive
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand
The bottom two face off in Saturday’s late game when Clermont entertain Brive in a match which has taken on added importance for both teams.
It is frankly almost impossible to make a claim for Clermont remaining in the lower reaches of the league table for too much longer, but there is no doubt that they have struggled early on this season.
Auvergne’s defeat to Bordeaux appeared to be just a blip but their next away game was an unmitigated disaster, shipping over 40 points to La Rochelle in the first half alone.
Fortunately for them, they are taking on a side who have lost every game so far, and it is difficult to see that changing here.
Even though Brive somehow managed to emerge victorious at the virtually impregnable Marcel Michelin last season, Nicolas Godignon’s men have so far been a shadow of that team in 2017/18.
Last year’s result: Brive won 26-21
Kick-off: 20:45 local (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin
Racing 92 vs Oyonnax
Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes
Racing slipped up in their last encounter against a promoted side but Oyonnax will have to go some to repeat what Agen achieved in Round Two.
The Parisians were embarrassed by Philippe Sella’s side after seeing Anthony Tuitavake sent-off but only another piece of ill-discipline should threaten them at home.
Adrien Buononato will focus on picking up points at the Stade Charles-Mathon and anything other than a heavy defeat in Colombes will be a bonus.
Last year’s result: Did not play
Kick-off: 12:30 local (10:30 GMT)
Referee: Tual Trainini
Assistant referees: Frederic Bouzac, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Maxime Chalon
Montpellier vs Toulon
Altrad Stadium, Montpellier
The game of the weekend sees two sides go head-to-head determined to stamp their authority on the league.
Montpellier, under the guise of ex-Clermont boss Vern Cotter, have started superbly and are the only team with a 100 per cent record.
Their away victory over Castres hinted at their capabilities and the star-studded squad will look to back up that performance on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Toulon, still adjusting to life with Fabien Galthie as their head coach, had to battle to overcome Toulouse last weekend.
Cotter’s men appear to be on a roll but the visitors always have the talent to upset the odds should they get it right on the day.
Last year’s result: Montpellier won 33-29
Kick-off: 16:50 local (14:50 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Assistant referees: Jonathan Dufort, Akim Hadj-Bachir
TMO: Eric Gonthier
The post Top 14 Preview: Round Four appeared first on Planet Rugby.