Round 20 of the Top 14 should be an absolute cracker with some eye-catching fixtures including the weekend opener between Montpellier and Clermont, Saturday’s final clash between Toulon and Stade Francais, as well as Sunday’s sole offering which will see Racing and Toulouse lock horns.
Saturday 4 March
Montpellier 37/100 | Draw 22/1 | Clermont 23/10
Handicap
Montpellier (-6.5) 17/20 | Clermont (+6.5) 17/20
We kick things off at the GGL Stadium where tenth-placed Montpellier will take on ninth-placed Clermont. The hosts and reigning champions, Montpellier, are a point adrift of Clermont on the ladder and both teams need to start bagging points as they currently sit nine and ten points off Bordeaux, who occupy the final play-off berth.
Last weekend was not kind to Montpellier who were outclassed by Stade Francais who beat them 27-17. This was Montpellier’s fourth domestic loss on the trot and they are now in serious danger of missing out on the play-offs.
Clermont had a far better time of it in Round 19 as they beat Toulon 36-21. It was a real statement win for this Clermont outfit who have struggled for results this season.
I reckon a big home fixture is just what the doctor ordered for Montpellier. The crowd will be behind them this weekend and I can see this spurring them on to break their four-game losing streak.
Clermont (+6.5) 17/20 here.
Perpignan 48/100 | Draw 20/1 | Bayonne 18/10
Handicap
Perpignan (-4.5) 17/20 | Bayonne (+4.5) 17/20
Fifth-placed Bayonne will be looking to further their play-off credentials when they take on a Perpignan side who have their eyes on pulling away from the relegation battle.
The hosts for Saturday’s encounter head into this one off the back of a heavy 43-7 defeat to the Bordeaux Begles. The defeat broke a three-game domestic winning streak for the hosts and they’ll be keen to get back to winning ways this Saturday.
Bayonne’s solid run of form continued this past weekend as they registered their second domestic win in four games, racking up an impressive 41-10 bonus point win over Castres.
The visitors are in solid touch and I can see them getting a vital away win over a very hit-and-miss Perpignan outfit.
Bayonne 18/10 is the way to go.
Pau 5/4 | Draw 25/1 | La Rochelle 7/10
Handicap
Pau (+2.5) 17/20| La Rochelle (-2.5) 17/20
We head to the Stade du Hameau next for a tie between relegation-threatened Pau and fourth-placed La Rochelle. The hosts are only six points off last-placed Brive and have a massive battle on their hands to avoid relegation, while La Rochelle sit only three points adrift of second-placed Stade.
The two sides experienced contrasting fortunes in Round 19 with Pau losing their third fixture in their last four outings as they went down 34-10 away to ladder-leaders Toulouse, while La Rochelle won their second game on the trot beating Brive 32-16. For those of you who enjoy numbers, La Rochelle also racked up 32-points the round prior, beating Castres 17-32.
Pau are really struggling and I can’t see anything but an away win here.
Get on La Rochelle to clear the handicap.
Castres 53/100 | Draw 22/1 | Lyon 33/20
Handicap
Castres (-4.5) 17/20 | Lyon (+4.5) 17/20
11th-placed Castres will lock horns with third-placed Lyon at the Stade Pierre Fabre in our next fixture. The hosts are in serious danger of being dragged into the relegation zone as they sit level on points with 12th-placed Pau and only six points adrift of last-placed Brive. Lyon are in far better shape and look a dead cert for a play-off berth. They will be looking to push into the ‘top 2’ now which would assure them an automatic home semi-final.
Catres head into this one off the back of their third successive domestic defeat as they went down 41-10 to Bayonne this past weekend. They have shipped 114 points in their last three games and need to solidify their defence if they are to have any chance of avoiding a relegation scrap.
Lyon had a far better Round 19 as they registered a mightily impressive 45-11 victory over Racing 92. This was their fifth domestic win on the trot and they seem to be hitting form at just the right time.
Lyon are in red-hot form at the minute and I cannot see them slipping up against a struggling Castres outfit.
Lyon at 33/20.
Brive 97/100| Draw 18/1 | Bordeaux 91/100
Saturday’s penultimate game features two sides on the opposite end of the spectrum with Brive currently sat in last place on the ladder while Bordeaux are in sixth and gunning for a play-off berth.
The two sides experienced contrasting fortunes in Round 19 with Bordeaux hammering Perpignan43-7 while Brive suffered their 14 defeat of the season going down 32-16 to La Rochelle.
Brive are in all sorts of trouble and I can’t see them getting one over this vastly experienced Bordeaux outfit.
Get on Bordeaux 91/100.
Toulon 3/10 | Draw 25/1 | Stade Francais 11/4
Handicap
Toulon (-8.5) 17/20 | Stade Francais (+8.5) 17/20
Saturday’s action comes to a close with an absolute cracker of a game with eighth-placed Toulon taking on second-placed Stade Francais. This game could have a massive bearing on the playoff berths with Toulon six points adrift of the final play-off place while Stade are clinging on to second place on the ladder with Lyon two points adrift of them and breathing down their necks.
Toulon’s impressive three-match winning streak came to an end this past weekend as they were unable to build on their highly impressive 17-6 win over ladder-leaders Toulouse, going down 36-21 away to Clermont.
Stade fared far better in Round 19 beating reigning champions Montpellier 27-17. This was the ideal response to their somewhat surprising 29-26 defeat to Bayonne in Round 18.
The hosts tend to produce the goods at the Stade Mayol and can see them bagging another home win this weekend.
Toulon should clear the handicap here.
Sunday 5 March
Racing 92 32/100 | Draw 25/1 | Toulouse 26/10
Handicap
Racing (-7.5) 17/20 | Toulouse (+7.5) 17/20
We bring things to a close with the pick of the Round’s action as ladder-leaders Toulouse travel to Paris to take on seventh-placed Racing. The hosts will be desperate to bag what would be a statement win as it would heavily increase their chances of making the play-offs.
Racing had a miserable time last weekend as they went down 45-11 Lyon at the Stade Mahmut. This was their second defeat in their last four outings which illustrates perfectly how hit-and-miss they have been this term.
Toulouse had a far better time of it last weekend as they responded to their Round 19 defeat at the hands of Toulon by claiming a 34-10 bonus point win over Pau.
I’m going for the away team here. Racing hasn’t been great at home this term and I can see Toulouse grabbing the win in the French capital.
Toulouse at 26/10 are great odds.
