Leyds' La Rochelle battle for Top spot

TOP14 PREVIEW: This weekend, Springboks wing Dillyn Leyds' club La Rochelle can go top of the Top 14 as they head to Racing 92.

The Sunday fixture between the Top 14 was originally postponed due to coronavirus cases among the visitors' squad last month.

La Rochell will certainly fancy their chances, given the home side will be without Scotland's Finn Russell and France's Teddy Thomas away on Six Nations duty while centre Virimi Vakatawa has a knee injury.

"I think it would have been a great test to go up against Russell and Thomas and Vakatawa, who are world-class players," Leyds, who joined La Rochelle this season, said.

"Racing, without those names, are still pretty stacked and we're keen to go and give them a proper crack on their turf."

On Friday, Clermont play host to Lyon as the two teams kick-off this weekend's actions.

There is only one fixture on Saturday - Montpellier versus Stade Francais.

The big news is that Argentina skipper Pablo Matera will miss Stade Francais' away game at Montpellier on Saturday after picking up a short ban for having accumulated three yellow cards.

Matera, who scored his first try in the Top 14 in last weekend's 29-9 victory over Castres but also received a third yellow card in four months, is suspended until February 6, said the LNR, the body that runs professional rugby union in France.

Top 14 Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Clermont v Lyon (19.45)

Saturday

Montpellier v Stade Francais (20.00)

Sunday

Racing 92 v La Rochelle (13.15)

Castres v Bayonne (17.00)

Source: AFP