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French Top 14

PREVIEW: Toulon/ Toulouse showdown headlines Top 14 restart

We have got a cracker of a Top 14 fixture list headed our way with Round 18 of the French top tier throwing up some titanic clashes including games between high-flying Bayonne and Stade Francais, a tie between Lyon and Montpellier and the headline fixture of the week between powerhouses Toulon and Toulouse.

We have got a cracker of a Top 14 fixture list headed our way with Round 18 of the French top tier throwing up some titanic clashes including games between high-flying Bayonne and Stade Francais, a tie between Lyon and Montpellier and the headline fixture of the week between powerhouses Toulon and Toulouse.

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Saturday 18 February

Bayonne 43/100 | Draw 22/1 | Stade Francais 2/1ย 

Handicap
Bayonne (-5.5) 17/20 | Stade Francais (+5.5) 17/20

We kick things off over at the Parc des Sports Jean Dauger with a clash between sixth-placed Bayonne and second-placed Stade. The sides are separated by nine points on the Top 14 ladder and this game is vital for both as Stade look to strengthen their grip on second-placed while Bayonne will be looking to sure-up their play-off credentials.

The hosts enjoyed a decent fortnight before the two week 6 Nations hiatus as they registered a 39-9 home win over Brive and then grabbed a bonus point away to log-leaders Toulouse, who they went down 21-16 to.
Stade endured a tougher time of it before the break losing 31-24 to minnows Perpignan before bouncing back with a solid but scrappy 12-6 win over Bordeaux.

They have been brilliant at home this term and I can see Bayonne adding another famous home victory to their every-growing tally.

Lyon 41/100 | Draw 22/1 | Montpellier 2/1

Handicap
Lyon (-6.5) 17/20 | Montpellier (+6.5) 17/20

We’ve got an absolute cracker next up with third-placed Lyon taking on reigning champions Montpellier. The visitors have struggled this term and currently sit eighth on the ladder. They are only five points off Lyon, however, and a win here would make things look a lot rosier for Montpellier.ย 

The visitors had a tough old time of it before the 6 Nations break as they went down 23-9 to Toulouse and then 18-20 at home to a Toulounย outfit that tends to struggle on the road.

Lyon carries far better form into this one having beaten Clermont 34-14 and La Rochelle 16-20 prior to the break. They were mightily impressive in the latter fixture as they showed their ability to ground out results.

I’m on another host side here. Lyon have really upped their game over the past few months and I can see them getting one over this hit and miss Montpellier outfit.ย ย 

Castres 84/100 | Draw 21/1 | La Rochelle 1/1

11th-placed Castres will be looking to pull away from the relegation zone when they take on fourth-placed La Rochelle, who will be looking to close the seven-point gap between them and second-placed Stade.ย 


Castres produced a mixed-bag during the fortnight prior to the 6 Nations break beating Bordeaux 23-18 at home while going down 41-26 away to Clermont. The two results kinda encapsulateย their season as they have produced some good rugby on home soil but have struggled on the road.ย 


La Rochelle were more consistent with their results prior to the break, although they were not positive as they went down 39-36 to Racing in Paris and 16-20 to Lyon at home.ย 

Once again, I’m on the hosts. While La Rochelle are by far the better side, Castre tends to get the results at the Pierre Fabre.ย 

Perpignan 48/100 | Draw 21/1 | Pau 18/10

Handicap
Perpignan (-4.5) 17/20 | Pau (+4.5) 17/20

We’ve got a relegation dogfight next up with cellar-dwellersย Perpignan taking on 12th-placed Pau. Six points separateย the sides on the Top 14 ladder, and a win for the hosts would make the relegation battle even more intriguing headed into the final few weeks of the regular season.

For Perpignan, the 6 Nations break couldn’t have come at a worse time as they were just building up a bit of steam registering impressive wins over Stade Francais (31-24) and Briveย (22-24).

Pau, while not as impressive as their opponents before the break, did manage some positive results beating Racing 38-19 after putting in a gutsy display during their 27-16 defeat to Toulon the week prior.ย ย 

I like Perpignan here. They have been decent at home over the past few months and those wins prior to the break will have filled them with confidence. They should clear the handicap.

Racing 92 1/6 | Draw 33/1 | Brive 42/10

Handicap
Racing 92 (-14.5) 17/20 | Brive (+14.5) 17/20

It’s off to Paris for our next fixture which will see fifth-place Racing 92 look to solidifyย their position in the ‘top 6’ when they take on 13th placed Brive, who will be desperate for a result knowing that their fellow relegation candidates, Perpignan or Pau, will be picking up points this weekend.ย 

Racing’s defensive frailties were laid bare before the 6 Nations hiatus with the Parisians managing to edge La Rochelle 39-26 in a high-scoringย thriller and then go down to Pau 38-19 the following week.ย 

Brive were also suffered a heavy loss leading into the break as they went down 37-9 to Bayonne. They were better the following week but still suffered a defeat as they went down 22-24 to Perpignan.ย 

I reckon Racing will put up a cricket score here. Brive aren’t the biggest threat on attack and this should play into Racing’s hands. Hosts on the minus.

Toulon 31/100 | Draw 23/1 | Toulouse 26/10

Handicap
Toulon (-8.5) 17/20 | Toulouse (+8.5) 17/20

We’ve got another belter next up as traditional powerhouses Toulon and Toulouse lock horns at the Stade Velodrome.ย 

The hosts currently sit ninth on the ladder but a win here would move them rightย into play-offs contention. Their opponents are sitting pretty at the top of the standings and have an eight-point lead over second-placed Stade Francais.ย 

Toulon had a really solid run before the break beating Pau 27-16 and then Montpellier 18-20. Toulouse also managed two wins in the same period of time as they beat Montpellier 23-9 and then Bayonne 21-16.ย 

I like Toulouse here. They have a tidy recent record against Toulon.ย ย 

Sunday 19 February

Bordeaux 42/100 | Draw 22/1 | Clermont 2/1

Handicap
Bordeaux (-5.5) 17/20 | Clermont (+5.5) 17/20

The round comes to a close at the Stade Chaban-Delmas where Bordeaux and Clermont will square off.ย 

The hosts currently lie seventh on the ladder and looked primed for a play-off berth while the visitors are tenth and need to string a couple of wins together if they are to make the play-offs.ย 

In terms of their results before the break, Bordeaux struggled going down 23-18 to Catres and 12-6 to Stade Francais, while went down 34-14 to Clemront and bounced back with a 41-26 win over Castres.

This is another game I will be backing the hosts side to win. Clermont on the plus here.
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