Real test starts now for Bayonne
Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:26
Bayonne sit pretty atop the Top 14 ahead of their sixth game of the season against Clermont on Friday, a situation the Basque team could but dream of at the end of last season.
Bayonne finished last season in one of the league's two relegation places, but escaped the financially debilitating drop down into Pro D2 only because of rivals Montauban's financial problems which saw the third-bottom team relegated instead.
With four wins in their five opening fixtures, including away to Bourgoin and Toulon, Bayonne host Clermont vowing that their light would continue burning in a run of tough games against the traditionally most successful teams in the league.
"We're not going to blow out," said Bayonne coach Christian Gajan. "We've had a good string of early fixtures - the calendar has been favourable to us.
"Now it's up to us to string some results together. We're playing Clermont, the French champions, on Friday and then the European champions, Toulouse.
"After that we'll face the French runners-up, Perpignan, and the losing European Cup finalists, Biarritz," Gajan said.
"We'll have to raise our game. These games will allow us to see if we can really step up."
Ex-All Black lock Troy Flavell (hamstring) and full-back Pepito Elhorga (thigh) return for Bayonne after injuries that have seen them ruled out since the start of the season.
Italy's Australian-born utility back Craig Gower is also back in the squad, but Kiwi lock Ross Filipo is not yet ready for first team duty.
Gajan put a large part of his side's success down to some clever off-season recruitment.
"Yes, the new recruits have integrated very well," he acknowledged. "The players who were there last year have made them most welcome.
"Everyone's enjoyed working together. We have a quality squad which allows us to replace one player with another without fearing that the team might be weakened or upset."
Clermont will arrive in Bayonne on the back of 27-10 win over Montpellier last weekend that saw them sitting in third place alongside Castres.
But the team's driver, France scrumhalf Morgan Parra, was left unimpressed with the hard-fought win over the south coast team which saw Clermont fail to bag a winning bonus point.
"We were bad," he said. "We're trying to find ourselves and raise our level, but it's not easy to play three matches in one week.
"But there's no reason to worry. With 14 points, we're up at the top of the table.
"We know full well that this championship is very tough with big games every weekend. We have to try and take points wherever."
After the Bayonne match, Clermont then travel to Marseille to face big-spending Toulon.
"It's an important time for us. We'll be facing a very good Bayonne team that is top of the table. The week after, we'll play a Toulon side that is hungry for points and who'll not have the right to lose once again in front of their home support."
Parra highlighted the off-season arrival of flyhalf Benjamin Boyet from Bourgoin as a bonus for Bayonne.
"Boyet has brought what Bayonne was missing," said Parra, who played inside Boyet at Bourgoin.
"I think Benjamin Boyet has found what he was looking for. He did the same thing at Bourgoin in a different context. He basically controls the team with his game."
Saturday's games see Parisian outfits Racing-Metro and Stade Francais hosting newcomers La Rochelle and Brive respectively.
Second-placed Toulouse travel to Biarritz, Montpellier host Castres, Toulon entertain Agen and Bourgoin are on the road to Perpignan.
Round Six fixtures:
Friday, September 10:
Bayonne v Clermont, 20.45 (18.45 GMT)
Saturday, September 11:
Perpignan v Bourgoin, 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Racing-Metro v La Rochelle, 14.30
(12.30 GMT)
Stade Francais v Brive, 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Montpellier v Castres, 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Toulon v Agen, 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Biarritz v Toulouse, 16.25 (14.25 GMT)
AFP
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