The Top 14 will serve up an intriguing fixtures list this coming weekend. Darry Worthington runs the rule over the seven French top tier fixtures.
The race for the ‘Barrage’ places is about to reach its boiling point with a whole host of teams in with a shout of qualifying for the play-offs. This weekend could be a defining one in the French top tier with a number of play-off contenders squaring off against each other.
Toulouse v Pau
Saturday 4 May
Stade Ernst-Wallon
14:35
To Win (80 Mins)
Toulouse 1/25
Draw 30/1
Pau 15/2
The first fixture of the weekend will see first-placed Toulouse take on 11th-placed Pau at the Stade Ernst-Wallon.
The hosts have lost just one of their last five fixtures and head into this one off the back of a hard-fought 20-21 away victory over Castres. They may well rest a few of their first stringers, however, as they will play Saracens in the European Rugby Champions Cup Final on Saturday the 12th of May.
Pau have been far less impressive form over the past two months but they did manage to snap their longstanding losing streak with an impressive 29-27 victory over Racing last weekend.
Verdict: Pau 15/2
I have a sneaky suspicion we may well see an upset here. Pau will be at full strength while Toulouse are likely to field a very weak side with one eye on the Champions Cup. As such, I will be having a very small strike on the away side.
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Clermont v Perpignan
Saturday 4 May
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Clermont 1/100
Draw 30/1
Perpignan 1/11
Clermont will be looking to keep their slim hopes of usurping Toulouse at the top of the log alive when they take on a Perpignan side who are already relegated and are desperate for the season to come to a close.
The visitors suffered their 21st loss of the campaign last week going down 29-49 to La Rochelle. Clermont enjoyed a far more profitable round as they beat Stade Francais 25-41 away from home.
Verdict: Clermont 1/100
Things could well get messy for the visitors here as Clermont will be on the hunt for a bonus point. I can see the hosts winning this one by 25 points or more.
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Castres v Montpellier
Saturday 4 May
Stade Pierre-Fabre
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Castres 4/10
Draw 18/1
Montpellier 19/10
We’re off to cast for our next fixture with the hosts, who currently lie in fourth place on the standings, taking of seventh-placed Montpellier. Only seven points separate the sides on the standings and this game could have a massive bearing on which of the duo claims a home play-off.
Castres head into this one having lost two of their last five fixtures while Montpellier have lost just one of their last five. The two teams experienced contrasting fortunes last weekend with Castres going down by one point to Toulouse and Montpellier beating Grenoble 47-12.
Verdict: Montpellier 19/10
I’m going to back another upset here. Montpellier look to be picking up form at just the right time and I can see them pipping their opponents here.
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Grenoble v Agen
Saturday 4 May
Stade des Alpes
18:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Grenoble 9/20
Draw 18/1
Agen 18/10
We move from the ‘Barrage Battle’ to the ‘Battle to avoid the drop’ with 13th-placed Grenoble taking on 12th-placed Agen. The sides are separated by just six points on the standings and a bonus point win for the hosts could see that margin drop down to just a solitary point headed into the penultimate set of round-robin fixtures.
The hosts saw their two-game winning streak snapped last weekend as they were heavily defeated by a rampant Montpellier side, while Agen managed to end a three-game losing streak by racking up an impressive 25-15 victory over Lyon.
Verdict: Grenoble 9/20
I think the hosts will get the job done on home soil. They know the win will keep them in the hunt to avoid the drop and I can see their desperation getting them through.
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La Rochelle v Toulon
Saturday 4 May
Stade Marcel-Delfrandre
20:45
To Win (80 Mins)
La Rochelle 2/9
Draw 20/1
Toulon 31/10
Next up it’s a between ‘Barrage’ hunting La Rochelle and a Toulon side that is playing with a huge amount of freedom with the play-off places unattainable for the French giants.
Both teams head into this one off the back of impressive victories with the hosts beating Perpignan 29-49 and Toulon registering a 45-17 victory over Bordeaux.
Verdict: La Rochelle 2/9
While Toulon did give a good account of themselves last weekend they still strangely looked a side in turmoil with Julian Savea employed at inside-centre in one of the strangest selections of all time. I cannot see this experimental Toulon side getting one over a quality La Rochelle outfit.
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Lyon v Bordeaux Begles
Sunday 5 May
Stade Gerland
12:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Lyon 2/11
Draw 20/1
Bordeaux 36/10
The penultimate game of the weekend will see two wounded sides in the form of Lyon and Bordeaux square off at the Stade Gerland.
Both teams suffered rather embarrassing defeats last weekend with Lyon going down by 10 points to Agen and getting hammered by a makeshift Toulon outfit.
The duo are still well-placed for play-off qualification, however, with Lyon lying in third and Bordeaux sitting in eighth – five points off sixth-placed La Rochelle. A loss for the visitors would all but scupper their chances of making the ‘Barrage’ places, however.
Verdict: Lyon 2/11
They’re a quality outfit and I can see a return to home soil culminating in a return to form for the Wolves.
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Racing Metro 92 v Stade Francais
Sunday 5 May
Paris La Defense Arena
16:50
To Win (80 Mins)
Racing 1/8
Draw 30/1
Stade 47/10
The round will come to a close out in Paris where fifth-placed Racing will take on arch-rivals and ninth-placed Stade Francais.
The visitors have been struggling for form of late and have only won two of their last five, while the hosts have won three and drawn one of their last five. Racing do come into this one off the back of a 29-27 defeat to Pau, however, while Stade went down 45-21 to Clermont.
Verdict: Racing 1/8
Stade are in freefall and I cannot see them getting anything out of this game with a Racing side who know how to grind out wins on home soil.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
