After two weeks in the Champions Cup where many French teams were able to revive or confirm their form, La Rochelle hosts Clermont for the duel of the day.
Invigorated by two successes against Bath and Bristol, the teammates of a Grégory Alldritt who has become sharp again have raised the bar after two failures in the Top 14, including a humiliating defeat at home against the promoted Vannes (23-14).
A maritime inconstancy to be erased
It remains to be proven that this renewed energy is not a flash in the pan in the championship, where the Maritimes have so far been inconsistent. The Clermont reception, 3e after its big victory against Castres (54-10) and beaten with difficulty by Leinster (15-7) in the Champions Cup, is an excellent test of the ambitions of the two teams.
The clash between the steel pack of Rochelais, spearheaded by the Australian colossus Will Skelton in the second row, promises to face the enthusiasm of young Clermont forwards like Barnabé Massa and Killian Tixeront who, after having martyred Treviso (28-0 ), made Leinster suffer, a painful winner (15-7) over Auvergnats who were not rewarded for their efforts.
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Toulon and Bordeaux to follow
This day will also be marked by the trip from Bordeaux to Castres, which is still undefeated this season at home. Dolphins of Toulouse, the Bordelais took advantage of the European Cup to forget their sad 9-6 success against Montpellier, by outclassing Leicester and Ulster. The objective is to continue at the same pace in the Top 14, against a Tarn team which won a prestigious victory against Munster (16-14) last week.
After winning in South Africa with the Stormers, Toulon emerged victorious from their showdown against Glasgow, and got off to a good start in the Champions Cup, confirming their good start to the season. The return to form of New Zealand center Leicester Fainga'anuku, recovered from a rib injury and scorer of a double against the Scots, is good news for the Toulonnais. Less for the Palois, who travel poorly this season (five defeats in five trips, only one bonus).
Lyon facing “the team to beat”
The challenge will be great for Lyon. The Challenge Cup was a breath of fresh air for Lou and his new coach Karim Ghezal, with two successes against Cardiff and the Italians Zebre. A welcome respite after five successive defeats in the league for the Lyonnais, 13es but who will recover the hinge Baptiste Couilloud and Léo Berdeu.
It won't be too much to face the reigning Toulouse champion, “the team to beat” recognizes assistant coach David Mélé. Even deprived of its executives (Dupont, Ramos, Cros…) left to rest after two cards against Ulster and Exeter, the Toulouse have the squad to make a blow to Lyon, already beaten twice at home this season.
One point ahead of Lyon in the standings, Stade Français, twelfth, has multiplied its defeats (three in a row, including two in the Champions Cup) and cards (three in two matches). The Parisians must regain their calm against Perpignan, 11e tied on points and which remains on a home defeat against Toulon.
Cross-fertilization between Racing and Montpellier?
Still at the bottom of the table, the red lantern from Vannes, which won its first European success against Gloucester (43-19), hosts Rabine Bayonne in its lair, 5e from the Top 14 but fell from behind in the Challenge in Edinburgh (52-12).
In the middle of the table, Racing 92 is still in the dark. Non-existent in Sale (29-7), the Racingmen, 8esdo not have “no margin” recognizes scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, before a perilous trip to Montpellier (9e). A defeat against the MHR, which continues its rise from the bottom of the ranking, could knock the Ile-de-France residents out of the Top 6.
