The French Top 14 enters its seventh round this weekend and there are some seriously enticing games on the go including clashes between Montpellier and Clermont, Toulon and Racing 92 as well as Lyon and Toulouse.
Saturday 16 October 2021
Brive 5/4 | Draw 18/1 | La Rochelle 67/100 (15:00)
We kick things off with a clash between a La Rochelle side that has started to find some form in recent weeks and a Brive outfit who’ve been a bit his and miss recently.
The hosts head into this one off the back of a 13-9 loss against Toulon. The fixture was a game of attrition and Brive did well to keep themselves in the hunt and claim a losing bonus point top-quality opposition.
La Rochelle had a more positive Round 6 as they claimed a 29-10 home win over Castres. This was only their second win of the campaign and they are yet to claim a win on the road.
Verdict: Brive 5/4
La Rochelle have really struggled away from home this term while Brive are yet to lose a game on their own patch. With this in mind, I’m backing the hosts for a win.
Perpignan 81/100 | Draw 22/1 | Stade Francais 21/20
We have a battle of the lower regions next up as 13th placed Stade Francais travel to Perpignan.
These teams have endured horror starts to the campaign with both sides only managing two wins from their opening six fixtures.
In terms of last weekend’s results, Stade head into this one off the back of a very impressive upset that saw them beat Clermont 22-14, while Perpignan also impressed during their 17-14 defeat to Racing 92.
Verdict: Stade 21/20
I honestly don’t know how to feel about Stade. They blow so hot and cold. I will be backing them for a small stake as I think they offer some good value here.
Pau 78/100 | Draw 16/1 | Bordeaux 11/10 (15:00)
The Bordeaux Begles will be looking to maintain their hot streak when they take on Pau. The hosts have a healthy record at home and this could well provide some solid viewing.
As mentioned above, Bordeaux have hit a rich vein of form winning four and drawing one of their last five games. They head into this one off the back of two standout victories, beating Lyon 15-20 away from home in Round 5 and then following that up with a 27-23 home win over Montpellier.
Pau have been more hit and miss in recent weeks winning three of their last five, while suffering two defeats with the most recent coming last weekend where they went down 38-10 to log-leaders, Toulouse.
Verdict: Bordeaux 11/10
They’ve proved they can do it on the road and I’m backing Bordeaux to make it five wins on the trot.
Castres 1/50 | Draw 40/1 | Biarritz 12/1
Castres and Biarritz are next up and the visitors will be looking to stop the rot having lost four of their last five fixtures.
The new boys were in solid touch earlier in the season but have dropped right off the boil and now sit at the foot of the Top 14 ladder. To make matters worse, they head into Saturday’s fixture having been hammered 5-40 by Lyon this past weekend.
Castres, on the other hand, have had a decent enough start to their campaign winning three, drawing one and losing two. Their most recent defeat came last weekend where they were outclassed by La Rochelle and went down 29-10.
Verdict: Castres 1/50
Biarritz are in freefall and I can’t see them stemming the tide against a Castres side who knows how to get the job done at home.
Montpellier 36/100 | Draw 20/1 | Clermont 23/10 (17:00)
The first of three heavyweight clashes is next up as Montpellier welcomes Clermont to the GGL Stadium. Both teams have got off to rather unsteady starts with Montpellier currently sitting in eighth on the ladder and Clermont lying in 11th.
Montpellier are currently on a very poor run of form and have lost three of their last four fixtures with their only win in that period coming against La Rochelle in Round 5. That game seemed to have been something of a statement maker, and while they gave a good account of themselves away to Bordeaux last weekend – they only went down by four points – the same old issues of consistency seem to be dogging the side.
Clermont have also been struggling for consistency and have only registered two wins from their six games. They suffered yet another defeat last weekend as they were beaten 22-14 by a Stade side who have not been all too flash this year.
Verdict: Montpellier 36/100
Not much to choose between these sides but I reckon home ground advantage gives Montpellier the edge in this one.
Toulon 12/10 | Draw 22/1 | Racing 69/100 (21:05)
The penultimate game of the weekend is another big one with a Toulon side desperate for points taking on a Racing outfit that sits in fourth place.
As per usual, Toulon have flattered to deceive this term winning two and drawing one while losing three. They head into Saturday’s clash off the back of only their second win of the campaign which was a hard-fought 13-9 home victory over Brive.
Racing have registered four wins for their six games. It’s rather strange when you look at their results, though, as they have fared decently against the big boys but struggled against the minnows beating Perpignan by just two points and going down to Biarritz. Their solid run of form against the more established sides in the compeition came to an end last week though as they went down 26-17 to Clermont.
Verdict: Racing 69/100
I don’t really fancy this Toulon side at the minute which is why I’m in Racing’s corner for this one.
Sunday 17 October
Lyon 15/20 | Draw 22/1 | Toulouse 23/20 (21:05)
We close things out at the Stade Gerland where Lyon will be trying to kick start their season when they take on an unbeaten Toulouse outfit.
The hosts have enjoyed a flawless start to the campaign and were highly impressive last weekend as they cruised to a 38-10 victory over Pau.
Conversely, Lyon are struggling to string a run of results together with this weekend’s hosts winning three and losing three of their games. They have failed to claim back to back wins thus far this campaign, which does not bode well considering they beat Biarritz 5-40 this past weekend.
Verdict: Lyon 15/20
Lyon love a good home result against the big boys and I reckon they’ll hand Toulouse their first defeat of the season here.
