We head into the final round of French Top 14 fixtures before domestic competition breaks for the European Champions and Challenge Cups. Darry Worthington previews.
There are some big games on the cards this weekend including a clash between Bordeaux and Toulouse while Stade Francias will face off against La Rochelle.
This weekend’s fixtures take on extra significance with teams wanting to take momentum into their continental competitions.
Saturday 4 December
Lyon 1/10 | Draw 33/1 | Brive 6/1
We kick things at the Stade Matmut where Lyon will take on Brive. The hosts’ woes continued last weekend as they went down 19-13 to a hit and miss Toulon side. This was their sixth defeat of the season and while they are still sitting pretty in fifth place on the log, they have lost four of their last six games.
Brive, who occupy tenth place on the Top 14 ladder, gave a decent enough account of themselves last weekend going down 18-11 away to log-leaders Toulouse. They have proved stubborn opposition at times this season and will be a difficult nut for Lyon to crack. Lyon should have enough about them at home to claim the points here.
Castres 56/100 | Draw 20/1 | Racing 31/20
Castres and Racing are next up and with only a point separating the sides on the standings – Racing sit in sixth and Castres in seventh – this game should be a rather close-run affair.
Both teams suffered defeats last weekend but Castres were far more heroic in defeat than their counterparts as they went down 25-24 away to Montpellier. Racing, on the other hand, were dominated by Bordeaux going down 14-37 in Paris. This was their third defeat in four games, not ideal preparation heading into the European Champions Cup where they kick things off away at Northampton.
With not much to choose between the two sides at the minute, I have to back the hosts due to their home ground advantage, which plays a major role in the Top 14.
Clermont 1/12 | Draw 33/1 | Biarritz 7/1
Continuing with Saturday’s action now, our next instalment will take place at the Marcel Michelin where eighth-placed Clermont will take on last-placed Biarritz.
The two sides experienced contrasting fortunes in Round 11 with Clermont suffering a shock 26-24 defeat to lowly Perpignan while Biarritz delivered a solid showing and beat Stade Francais 17-14. This was just their fourth win of their campaign and the points are of vital importance as it gets them closer to pulling away from the foot of the ladder.
As you can tell by the odds, not many people expect anything bar a home win. I’m in that camp as well.
Montpellier 1/14 | Draw 35/1 | Perpignan 7/1
Perpignan will be looking to do some more giant-slaying this weekend when they take on a Montpellier outfit stacked with talent. The hosts are having a solid old season and have won six and drawn one of their 11 fixtures. One of the aforementioned defeats came last weekend where they beat Castres 25-24. While it was hardly a vintage performance, it did show that they are able to grind out wins.
Perpignan, as noted earlier, were in sensational touch in Round 11 as they beat Clermont by two points. This was their second win in three games. It must be noted, however, that they have struggled at home this term. There’s only one result here and that’s a Montpellier home win.
Pau 76/100 | Draw 20/1 | Toulon 11/10
Saturday’s penultimate fixture will see Pau take on Toulon. Both sides sit at the wrong end of the table with Pau residing in ninth and Toulon in 11th.
The visitors have been extremely hit and miss this term as their recent record of three wins and three losses from their last six games illustrate. They were more hit last weekend, however, as they beat Lyon 19-13.
Pau have an even worse record in their last six losing four and winning only two. Unlike their opponents, the hosts head into this one off the back of a defeat going down 36-8 to La Rochelle.
While Toulon are the better side, they tend to struggle on the road which is why I’m backing the hosts here.
Bordeaux 57/100 | Draw 20/1 | Toulouse 15/10
Saturday’s action comes to a close with a clash between big guns Toulouse and Bordeaux. The visitors currently sit two points above the hosts on the log standings and a win for Bordeaux would see them move to the summit of the ladder.
Bordeaux had a solid time of it in Round 11 beating Racing 14-37 in Paris. This was their eighth win of the campaign. Toulouse were less impressive as they huffed and puffed their way to an 18-11 win over Brive.
I really think the visitors have a chance here. This is a big game and they seem more set up to grind to wins than their opponents.
Sunday 5 December
Stade Francais 76/100 | Draw 22/1 | La Rochelle 11/10
The Round 12 action will come to a close at the Stade Jean Bouin where 12th placed Stade will take on fourth-placed La Rochelle.
The visitors have been in solid touch of late winning six of their last five games with their latest victory being a 36-8 win over Pau.
Stade have been slightly less impressive but have registered four wins from their last six games. They were on the end of a heartbreaking loss last weekend as they went down by just three points to Biarritz.
I really do fancy La Rochelle. They have won some games on the road this term and I fancy them to add to their away day scalps here.
