Round 22 of the Top 14 season will get underway on Saturday the 27th of April, and rugby fans are in for a treat as there are some cracking fixtures in store.
With the Champions and Challenge Cup finals participants now decided, the focus returns back to European domestic play-offs run-in. While the Gallagher Premiership and PRO 14 are nearing their regular season close, there are still four weeks of round-robin action left in the Top 14, which means there are a number of teams still in with a shout of reaching the French top tier’s play-offs.
Pau v Racing Metro 92
Saturday 27 April
Stade du Hameau
To Win (80 Mins)
Pau 33/20
Draw 20/1
Racing 5/10
The weekend gets underway with a tie between 11th-placed Pau and fourth-placed Racing. The two sides are fighting at opposite ends of the table with Racing looking to move into the ‘Top 3’ and Pau looking to pull away from the relegation battle.
The hosts head into this one off the back of a four-game losing streak with their most recent loss being a 72-21 drubbing at the hands of La Rochelle. Racing have fared better over their last five games winning four and drawing one. They head into the tie off the back of a 26-25 victory over Montpellier.
Verdict: Racing 5/10
The visitors will be keen to keep their unbeaten streak going and I can see them doing just this. My money is on Racing taking this one by five points or more.
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Castres v Toulouse
Saturday 27 April
Stade Pierre-Fabre
To Win (80 Mins)
Castres 11/20
Draw 20/1
Toulouse 15/10
Next up we have the reigning champions taking on the current table-toppers with Castres playing host to Toulouse. The visitors enjoyed a disappointing time of it in Europe last weekend as they bombed out of the Champions Cup with a whimper going down 30-12 to Irish province Leinster.
Toulouse’s recent domestic form has been sensational, however, and they have won four of their last five with their most recent victory being a 47-44 win over Clermont.
Castres have also enjoyed a solid time of it in the Top winning four of their last five. They head into the clash off the back of a hard-fought 12-16 victory over the Bordeaux Begles.
Verdict: Castres 11/20
I think Toulouse may well struggle here. They will still be feeling the effects of last weekend’s European defeat and I reckon they’ll come into this one undercooked.
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Montpellier v Grenoble
Saturday 27 April
Altrad Stadium
To Win (80 Mins)
Montpellier 1/12
Draw 30/1
Grenoble 6/1
It’s over to the Altrad Stadium for our next fixture where a desperate Montpellier side will take on an equally desperate Grenoble side. The hosts currently lie in ninth-place and are seven points off the play-offs, while Grenoble find themselves in 13th-place – two points off Agen who are clear of the relegation zone in 12th.
Both teams have been in relatively good touch of late with Grenoble winning their last two and Montpellier winning four of their last five. The hosts do come into this one off the back of a Round 21 defeat to Racing, however.
Verdict: Montpellier 1/12
I’m backing the hosts here. They really need the points and they had been in good touch up until that narrow defeat to Racing.
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Agen v Lyon
Saturday 27 April
Stade Armandie
To Win (80 Mins)
Agen 13/10
Draw 20/1
Lyon 13/20
We head over to Agen for our net fixture which will see the hosts – who sit 12th on the log – taking on a Lyon side who are in prime position to make the play-offs.
The visitors have been in great touch recently and are on a three-game winning streak with their latest victory being a 47-9 win over minnows Perpignan. Agen haven’t fared as well of late and head into the game off the back of three consecutive losses with their latest defeat being an admirable 25-22 loss to Stade.
Verdict: Lyon 13/20
The Wolves have no problem with travelling and I can see them getting another away win under the belt here.
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Perpignan v La Rochelle
Saturday 27 April
Stade Aime Giral
To Win (80 Mins)
Perpignan 37/20
Draw 20/1
La Rochelle 9/10
It’s bottom of the log Perpignan tackling play-off hunting La Rochelle in our next instalment. The visitors had a weekend to enjoy last weekend as they secured a spot in the European Rugby Challenge Cup final after beating the Sale Sharks 24-20.
The visitors also head into this one off of a solid domestic result with their Round 21 71-21 victory over Pau ending a long-standing losing streak.
Perpignan haven’t fared as well on the domestic front of late and head into this one off the back of four losses in their last five outings.
Verdict: La Rochelle 9/20
The visitors will be desperate to get the win here and move back into the battle for the play-off berths. I can see them achieving this goal on Saturday.
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Toulon v Bordeaux
Sunday 28 April
Stade Mayol
To Win (80 Mins)
Toulon 5/10
Draw 18/1
Bordeaux 17/10
The penultimate game of the weekend will see struggling Toulon take on a Bordeaux Begles side that currently occupy the final play-off berth.
The hosts have endured a nightmare season and are currently languishing in 10th-place on the log. They have little to play for here as they are safe of relegation and they are too far off the ‘barrage’ places to mount a late tilt for the play-offs.
Bordeaux, on the other hand, have it all to play for with the Begles right in the mix for a play-off. They will need to be more consistent when it comes to results during the final four weeks as they have endured some patchy form this term and head into the clash having won two of their last five fixtures.
Verdict: Toulon 5/10
I can see the hosts playing some decent rugby in the final few weeks with the shackles now well and truly off.
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Stade Francais v Clermont
Sunday 28 April
Stade Jean-Bouin
To Win (80 Mins)
Stade 7/10
Draw 20/1
Clermont 12/10
The round will come to a close in Paris where eighth-placed Stade will tackle second-place Clermont. The hosts have endured some patchy form of late and head into this one having only won two of their last five fixtures. They did manage to win their last game though as they beat minnows Agen 25-22 in a far from convincing performance.
Clermont have been in better touch than their opponents and have won three of their last five while drawing another and losing one. They will also be full of confidence here having secured a spot in the Challenge Cup finals by beating Harlequins 32-27 last weekend.
Verdict: Clermont 12/10
Clermont really need to get the full five-point haul from this one to keep the pressure on log leaders Toulouse. While I can’t see them achieving a bonus point victory, I can see them beating a Stade side who are in free fall.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
