Preview: Top 14, Round 16

The big occasion is 2 vs 3, Stade Français vs Perpignan, at Stade de France before a full stadium. It will be brilliant, the best fun in France this weekend.

That's the battle at the top. Down at the bottom there is a desperate battle as 13 plays 14 - Toulon against Mont-de-Marsan.

That's not the only significant basement brawl. Castres want to get out of there as well while Brive are probably keen to hand them off as they seek to head for the Heineken Cup, whose winners they once were. Bourgoin would also like to get their heads further above water. Both Castres and Bourgoin are at home where they are always far happier.

In terms of log points, Clermont Auvergne and Bayonne should be close but of late the Auvergnats have been in the ascendant while Bayonne are on the wane after a great start to this season's Top 14.

Montpellier will find Dax a handful while the match in Biarritz may well produce a victory for the Basques, which in the context of the whole season is almost unthinkable but in the circumstances of the present is feasible. After all Toulouse is making a massive contribution to France's Six Nations campaign and coach Guy Novès has said that he will take a much weakened side to the Atlantic coast. After all victory does not do much for Toulouse at present. Mind you, Biarritz are also weeping about injuries.

Fixtures for Round 16

Friday, 30 January 2009

20.35: Toulon vs Mont-de-Marsan at Stade Mayol

Saturday, 31 January 2009

14.30: Clermont Auvergne vs Bayonne at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
14.30: Montpellier vs Dax at Stade Yves du Manoir
14.30: Biarritz vs Toulouse at Parc des Sports d'Aguilera
14.30: Bourgoin vs Montauban at Stade Pierre Rajon
14.30: Castres vs Brive at Stade Pierre Antoine
16.30: Stade Français vs Perpignan at Stade de France

Results from Round 3

This was at the reverse venues from Round 16.

Stade Français vs Perpignan, 26-11
Bayonne  vs Clermont Auvergne,  17-6
Montpellier vs Dax, 9-6
Mont-de-Marsan  vs Toulon   25-18 
Toulouse  vs Biarritz   20-6  
Montauban  vs Bourgoin   18-14
Brive  vs Castres   16-16

Log after Round 15

1. Toulouse 57
2. Stade Français 54
3. Perpignan 51
4. Clermont Auvergne 45
5. Bayonne 40
6. Brive 37
7. Montauban 37
8. Montpellier 32
9. Biarritz 30
10. Dax 26
11. Bourgoin 24
12. Castres 22
13. Mont-de-Marsan 20
14. Toulon 20

Predictions: The one at Stade de France is a hard call. Both sides are playing away from home but the Catalans are further away. The ferocity of home support is likely to be diminished in the festivities of the day and we take Perpignan to win. We also foresee victories for Clermont Auvergne, Dax, Toulon, Biarritz, Montauban and Castres, who showed in the Heineken Cup what they can do when they have to. Their victory over London Wasps was one of the most telling in Round 6.

Teams

We shall publish what we manage to get but French sides are niggardly with information.

Biarritz, who had to replace their goalposts after a storm blew their down, have several in the sick bay - Marcelo  Bosch, Fabien Cibray, Valentin  Courrent, David Couzinet, Benjamin Noirot and  Benjamin Thiery.

For Montpellier Danie Thiart is back to prop the scrum.

Dax have Joël Koffi back after several weeks off with a knee injury.

With the continued speculation at Toulon ended, it seemed that Tana Umaga would be on the field  against Stade Montois. He had been training with RCT - not just at training but running around in boots like a player himself. His return, it seemed, had been hastened by an injury to centre Mafileo Kefu. In the end Toulon did not pick him.

Daniel Carter will be running out onto Stade de France for Perpignan's, back from his Achilles' problem. But Steve Meyer who stood in for Carter is out for the season after picking up a knee injury against Treviso and the Catalans have a prop problem. Perry Freshwater and Kisi Pulu are out injured and now Sébastien Chobet is doubtful. Young Jérôme Schuster may well be starting at Stade de France. Perpignan continue to defy the IRB andplay suspended Marius Tincu.

Toulouse may be without many. One of them is Frédéric Michalak who has been in hospital with a serious throat infection, causing him to miss the match in Bath.  But big David Skrela is fit again, and Jean-Batiste Elissalde is available as France, somewhat surprisingly, did not choose him. But Florian Fritz and Clément Poitrenaud are out injured.

Brive will be without lock Arnaud Méla who was cited for something naughty against Overmach Parma and suspended for a month

Clermont Auvergne will miss Seremaia Baï, Grant Esterhuizen and Fabien Alexandre because of injuries and Thibault Lacroix because of flu.

Bayonne are without mercurial back Pépito Elhorga who is out for a month with a damaged knee.

Rodrigo Roncero is back from suspension to joing the Stade Français  squad.

Mont-de-Marsan look likely to get back  prop Nicolas Etcheverry and flyhalf Yannick Lafforgue. They are still without hooker Romain Lauga (ankle), Marc Giraud (broken jaw), back Baptiste Chedal-Bornu (thigh) and scrumhalf  Lionel Dutilh (ankle). They are able to choose prop Patrick Blanco, the South African loose forwards Roland Bernard and Philip Van Schalkwyk, scrumhalf Frédéric Urruty, centre Murphy Taele and the scrumhalf Clément Briscadieux, who is 20 years of age and will make his debut in this potentially explosive match - a baptism of fire.

Bourgoin have lost lock Camille Levast for at least a month with a calf injury.

Bayonne squad:  Pierre-Philippe Lafond, Julien Fiorni, Arnaud Heguy, David Roumieu, Denis Avril, Rodney Blake, Cédric Bergez, Nicolas Lafitte, Mikaera Tewhata, Guillaume Bernad, Rémy Martin, Julien Puricelli, Marc Baget, Dwayne Haare, Cédric Garcia, Mickaël Lopez, Manny Edmonds, Mathieu Maillard, Vincent Inigo, Craig Gower, Filimone Bolavucu, Sam Gerber, Benjamin Lhande, Julien Peyras

Biarritz: 15 Nicolas Brusque, 14 , 13 Andrea Masi, 12 Damien Traille, 11 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 10 Julien Peyrelongue, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Samui Vahafolau, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jérôme Thion (captain), 3 Campbell Johnstone, 2 Benoît August, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Benoît Denoyelle, 17 Bourrust, 18 Terry Hall, 19 Peio Som, 20 Philippe Bidabé, 21  Tranier, 22 Romain Cabannes, 23 Eduardo Coetzee

Bourgoin squad: Pablo Cardinali, Pascal Peyron, Arnauld Tchougong, Karena Wihongi, Jean-Philippe Genevois, Tone Kopelani, Coenie Basson, Bryce Williams, Albin Louchard, Julien Frier, Bogdan Leonte, Sylvain Nicolas, Yan Labrit, Thomas Genevois, Morgan Parra, Mickaël Forest, Benjamin Boyet, Sébastien Laloo, Rudy Coetzee, Yann David, Jean-François Coux, Matias Viazzo, David Janin, Florian Denos

Brive squad: Davit Khinchagishvili, Pierre Capdevielle, Pascal Idieder, Pétrisor Toderasc, Steve Thompson, Jean-Philippe Bonrepaux, Damian Browne, Christian Short, Johan Van Zyl, Antonie Claassen, Alix Popham, Simon Azoulai, Alex Manta, Gerhard Vosloo, Arnaud Pic, Jean-Baptiste Pejoine, Liam Davies, Andy Goode, Lachlan Mackay, Ben Johnston, Suka Hufanga, Ronnie Cooke, Fabrice Estebanez, Norman Ligairi, Alexis Palisson, Barry Davies

Clermont Auvergne: Martín Scelzo, Thomas Domingo, Laurent Emmanuelli, Davit Zirakashvili, Mirko Lozupone, Mario Ledesma, Loic Jacquet, Julien Pierre, Jamie Cudmore, Julien Bonnaire, Alexandre Lapandry,  Alexandre Audebert, Elvis Vermeulen, Pierre Mignoni, John Senio, Brock James, Russell, Gonzalo Canale, Marius Joubert, Napolioni Nalaga, Julien Malzieu, Aurélien Rougerie, Anthony Floch.

Dax squad: Julien Brugnaut, Kasiano Léalamanua, Nicolas Decamps, Renaud Boyoud, Yves Pedrosa, William Bonet (or Jimmy Jaen), Anthony Mazel, Pierre Caillet, Jannie Bornman, Joel Koffi, Vincent Deniau, Matthieu Lievremont, Kane Thompson, Nicolas Morlaes, Nicolas Vergallo, Maxime Petitjean, Laurent Marticoréna, Lucas Borges, Néumi Nanuku, Fédérico Martin Aramburu, Gavin Williams, Duncan Bell, David Bortolussi

Montauban squad: Bogdanel Balan, Laurent Delboulbès, Silviu Florea, Goderdzi Shvelidze, Benjamin Sa, Grégory Parriel, Brice Mach, Matthias Rolland, Frost, Karim Ghezal, Abdelatif Boutaty, Yannick Caballero, Matthew Clarkin, Romain Sazy, Ibrahim Diarra, Fabrice Culinat, Petre Mitu, Régis Lespinas, Cédric Rosalen, Yoan Audrin, Jahouer, Jean-Philippe Viard, Vilimoni Delasau, Shannon Paku, Julien Laharrague, Fabien Fortassin

Mont-de-Marsan: 15 Jean-Marc Mazzonetto, 14 Yohan Durquet, 13 Benjamin Thuries, 12 Alban Genthieu, 11 Damien Cler, 10 Yannick Lafforgue, 9 François Tandonnet, 8 Franck Maréchal, 7 Julien Tastet, 6 Roland Bernard, 5 Jérôme Dhien (captain), 4 Jeandré Mynhardt, 3 Sébastien Ormaechea, 2 Piet Grobler, 1 Nicolas Etcheverry.
Replacements: 16 Trevor Leota, 17 Patrick Blanco, 18 Rudolphe Berek, 19 Philip van Schalkwyk, 20 Clément Briscadieu, 21 Dimitri Senio, 22 Murphy Taele, 23 Ben Coutts

Montpellier squad: Pietman van Niekerk, Eugene van Staden, Joan Caudullo, Fabien Rofes, Clément Baïcco, Bruce Douglas, Danie Thiart, Michel Macurdy, Mamuka Gorgodze, Drikus Hancke, Jérôme Vallée, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Vassili Bost, Johan Wasserman, Louis Picamoles, Julien Tomas, Adrien Tomas, François Trinh-Duc, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Grant Rees, Ollie Smith, Thierry Brana, Frikkie Welsh, Sébastien Kuzbik, Jean-Matthieu Alcalde, Olivier Sarramea.

Perpignan: 15 Philip Burger, 14 Farid Sid, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Gavin Hume, 11 Adrien Planté, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Nicolas Durand, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Jean-Pierre Perez, 6 Ovidiu Tonita, 5 Olivier Olibeau, 4 Rimas Alvarez-Kairélis, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Jérôme Schuster
Replacements: 16 Charles Geli, 17 Sébastien Bozzi, 18 Gerrie Britz, 19 Guillaume Vilaceca, 20 David Marty, 21 David Mélé, 22 Jérôme Porical

Stade Francais squad: Mathieu Blin, Dimitri Szarzewski, David Attoub, Rodrigo Roncero, Sylvain Marconnet, Franck Montanella, Arnaud Marchois, David Auradou, Robins Tchale-Watchou, Simon Taylor, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Sergio Parisse, Pierre Rabadan, Mauro Bergamasco, Alexandre Albouy, Noel Oelschig, Lionel Beauxis, Juan Martni Hernandez, Bousses, Brian Liebenberg, Mathieu Bastareaud, Mirco Bergamasco, Mark Gasnier, Julien Arias, Nicolas Jeanjean

Toulon: 15 Orene Ai'i, 14 Martin Jagr, 13 Sonny Bill Williams, 12 Kiri Mariner, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Olivier Missoup, 7 Joe van Niekerk, 6 Jocelino Suta, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Yoann Maestri, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Guillaume Ribes, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau
Replacements: 16 Philip Fitzgerald, 17 Benjamin Bastères, 18 Esteban Lozada, 19 Thomas Sourice, 20 Anthony Giacobazzi, 21 Sébastien Fauqué, 22 Luke Rooney, 23 Alessio Galasso.

Match officials

Stade Français vs Perpignan
Referee: Chris White (England)
Touch judges: Patrick Dellac, Régis Gabard
Assessor: Pascal Bouchet, Christian Zidel, Joël Dumé
Television match official: Daniel Gillet

Clermont Auvergne vs Bayonne
Referee: Romain Poite
Touch judges: Denis Grenouillet, Jean-Paul Vermande
Assessor: Francis Coup, Patrick Robin
Television match official: Jean-Pierre Pellaprat

Montpellier vs Dax
Referee: David Rosich
Touch judges: Claude Tajan, Alain Rongier
Assessor: Pierre Guichard, Patrick Thomas
Television match official: Daniel Dartigeas

Toulon vs Mont-de-Marsan
Referee: Patrick Pechambert
Touch judges: René Bordeneuve, Alain Moretto
Assessor: Daniel Pascal, Marc Desclaux
Television match official: Jean-Christophe Gastou

Biarritz vs Toulouse
Referee: Franck Maciello
Touch judges: Hervé Gilard, Olivier Migne
Assessor: Michel Forget, Michel Lamoulie
Television match official: Gérard Borreani

Bourgoin vs Montauban
Referee: Jérôme Garces
Touch judges: Gines Cerezuela, Jean-Christophe Clot
Assessor: Philippe De Miranda, Serge Marzullo
Television match official: Jean-Claude Levrier

Castres vs Brive
Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Touch judges: Gilbert Darrieutort, Jean-Claude Bes
Assessor: Bernard Bach, Alain Fernandez
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui