It may not be a full fixtures list but this weekend's Top 14 fixtures look rather intriguing with some tasty match ups in store
Friday 11 February
To Win Match
Toulouse | Draw | Stade (22:00) *betting tba
First up we’ve got a clash between two of the most successful clubs in the Top 14 with Toulouse welcoming Stade Francais to the Stade Municipal.
The hosts currently find themselves fifth on the standings but have a couple games in hand and a win here could see them move back into the top 4. Stade are currently in tenth, and like Toulouse, a win here would go a long way to getting them in the mix for a play-off berth.
In terms of their performances last weekend, Toulouse really struggled without their French internationals as they went down 36-13 to minnows Perpignan. Stade were a lot better in their defeat to Lyon as they managed to run their opposition close claiming a losing bonus point from their 26-22 loss.
Toulouse will be without their French big guns and this will no doubt hamper them. I’m all over the visitors who haven’t been as hard hit by international call-ups.
Saturday 12 February
To Win Match
Racing | Draw | Pau (15:15) * betting tba
We’re off to Paris next where sixth-placed Racing will take on ninth-placed Pau. Both teams will be desperate for the win here as they are both on the hunt for a play-off spot and time is running out for them to claim berths in the top 7.
Racing were at their devastating best last weekend as, despite missing Finn Russel, they still managed to register a highly impressive 57-19 victory over Brive. They truly were at their free-flowing best and their attack looked absolutely lethal on the counter.
Pau were handed a tough old assignment last weekend and they fell well short as they went down 29-12 to red hot Montpellier side.
If they’re even half as good as they were last weekend then Racing will take this one at a canter.
To Win Match
Brive | Draw | Clermont (16:05) *betting tba
Our penultimate game of the weekend pits a Brive side fighting a relegation battle up against a Clermont outfit who are looking to move back into the play-off places.
The hosts have been in very poor touch of late and head into this one off the back of five losses from their past six games. They did seem to be turning the corner a fortnight ago when they beat Biarritz 33-10 but this proved to be a false dawn as they were hammered by Racing the following week.
Clermont had their game against Bordeaux called off last week which would have disappointed them as they would have wanted to have bounced back from their 28-20 loss to Pau. They have been very hit-and-miss this term.
Brive are really struggling and I can’t see them doing anything against a patchy but dangerous Clermont side.
To Win Match
Toulon | Draw | Bordeaux (22:05) *betting tba
The round of catch-up fixtures will come to a close at the Stade Mayol where a struggling but stacked Toulon side will battle it out with log leaders the Bordeaux Begles.
The hosts currently sit at the foot of the table after a 10i-22 home defeat to Castres. it is absurd to think that a side packed with so much top-tier talent is struggling. And while they do have a couple games in hand over teams around them, they really need start picking up some wins starting ths weekend.
Bordeaux are having a polar opposite season and have won 12 of their 15 fixtures. Their game against Clermont was called off last weekend but they do head into this one off the back of a solid 23-10 win over Castres.
Toulon really haven’t clicked this term and I can see them struggling against the table toppers.
