Top 14 Round Seven: Preview
The complexion of the Top 14 is set to change this weekend as international stars begin to flood back.
Last Updated: 14/10/11 10:21am
The complexion of the Top 14 is set to change this weekend as international stars begin to flood back to France from the World Cup.
No less than 20 Argentina and South Africa internationals touched down in France this week. Add to the mix a host of returning Samoans, Fijians, Tongans and a handful of Scots and Georgians and, of course, a certain Jonny Wilkinson.
The England fly-half will return to a Toulon side that is looking to bounce back from a dour defeat to Montpellier against Perpignan on Friday.
Toulon have the second best defence in the championship but will have to put in disciplined performance or risk falling foul of Perpignan's points machine, Jerome Poetical, who has already racked up 90 points this season.
As well as Wilkinson, Toulon have also included Georgian World Cup prop Davit Kubriashvili and fit-again skipper Joe van Niekerk.
Beaten at home by Agen last week, the Catalans travel east looking for a reassuring performance after failing to set the fields alight this term.
Perpignan are struggling with injuries and will travel without Gerrie Britz, Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, Robins Tchale-Watchou, Kevin Boulogne, Grégory Le Corvec, Kisi Pulu and Perry Freshwater.
There are five games on Friday with pace-setting Toulouse's defence of their crown coming under close scrutiny against second-placed Castres.
Castres will be boosted by the fact Toulouse are still missing several frontline players to the World Cup, while they welcome back some of their own internationals - including Scotland's Max Evans, Fiji's Seremaia Bai and Samoa lock Joe Tekori.
Although Toulouse have not chosen returning World Cup players like Samoa's Census Johnstone and Argentine pair Patricio Albacete and Nicolas Vergallo, they welcome former France fly-half Lionel Beauxis to the fray.
Success
Beauxis, who has yet to play an official match due to a groin injury, could come on as a late replacement for New Zealander Luke McAlister, who has an impressive 68 points in only six games.
Bayonne have not lost at home in ten games but the last team to taste success when visiting Stade Jean Dauger was none other than Friday's visitors Montpellier.
Indeed, last season's losing finalists will travel west looking for just their second win of the new term after finally getting off the mark a fortnight ago at home to Toulon.
The aftermath of that clash has been the main talking point off the field this week with Montpellier flank Remy Martin left with ten stitches in his lip following a brawl at the post-match function with Olivier Missoup.
The hosts are coming off the back of a solid win over Racing Metro and welcome back South African flyer Joe Pietersen, who starts at full-back after an injury lay-off.
Bordeaux have named Bruce Reihana and Fabien Rofes in their line-up for the visit of Racing Metro.
The Parisians welcome back a host of Italian and Fiji internationals and have also brought in Pumas wing Juan José Imhoff as a 'medical joker' to cover for injured wings Benjamin Fall and Mirco Bergamasco.
Two teams looking for form face off as Brive, who have lost their past four games, face Biarritz.
Brive have lost their last four clashes against Biarritz. The home side are also struggling with a long list of injuries with prop Pablo Cardinali the latest addition to the treatment room.
Recovered
USA wing Takudzwa Ngwenya is back from the World Cup and starts on the wing for Biarritz, who are seeking their third win in as many visits to Brive.
Clermont will look to return to the top of the leaderboard when they take on Agen.
Agen have been well worth their mid-table standing but are unlikely to have the firepower needed to crack the league's best defence and end Clermont's long unbeaten run at home.
Clermont welcome back France fly-half David Skrela, whose World Cup ended early due to a right shoulder injury suffered against Japan, and prop Thomas Domingo who has fully recovered from ruptured knee ligaments.
Also included in Clermont's squad are Scotland lock Nathan Hines and Italy centre Gonzalo Canale, who are among the World Cup returnees.
In Sunday's only game, bottom-of-the-table Lyon entertain Stade Francais.
Lyon have a been somewhat of a paradox in their first season back in the top flight. Their defence has been outstanding - conceding just three tries in six games, making them equal best in the championship - while they have also scored eight.
Yet they trail the pack as they've lacked that ability to close out games within their reach.
Stade Francais are very much a team still under construction. While the Parisians have gotten the job done against Bordeaux, Bayonne and Brive, they've failed to match bigger guns like Castres and Toulon.