Toulon again in the firing line
Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:28
Ambitious Toulon, beaten last weekend at home by Bayonne, face the other Basques this weekend when they travel to sophisticated Biarritz. This time the Mediterranean travels to the Atlantic. It could be tough but they must be hurting.
It is probably the match likely to attract most attentions. After all Toulon lost and Biarritz were not all that convincing, threatening that the mediocrity of their season past may well be about to be prolonged.
Toulon are taking Jonny Wilkinson with them this week after last week's lay-off and instead rest Felipe Contepomi, no doubt looking after their aging flyhalves.
The other surprise of last weekend was La Rochelle's victory over Castres who made so much headway last season but they are likely to find their trip across to Paris difficult as the Parisians would like to recover from their poor showing last season and build on their big win away to Bourgoin in the first round. Stade Français have James Haskell in their side.
Bayonne will also look to build on last weekend's delight in Toulon while Agen will believe that neighbouring Bayonne may be kinder than Toulouse were last weekend.
Brive at home are not easy but Perpignan showed great resolve in their dour, cantankerous match with Clermont Auvergne who are away again this week to Bourgoin who are already struggling and would hate to develop a gallows look so early in the season.
Montpellier could well give Racing a tough time, even if Racing are playing their "injured" Springbok. Unfit to play for his country, François Steyn is fit to play for his club, which suggests there has been some insincerity somewhere.
On Saturday, Toulouse play neighbours Castres and one would again expect a fluent performance from Stade.
Top 14, Round Two fixtures:
Friday, 20 August:
18.45:
Bourgoin vs Clermont at Stade Pierre Rajon
19.00: Bayonne vs Agen at Stade Jean Dauger
19.00: Brive vs Perpignan at Stade Amédée Domenech
19.00: Montpellier vs Racing Métro 92 at Stade Yves Du Manoir
19.00: Stade Français vs La Rochelle at Stade Charléty
21.00: Biarritz vs Toulon at Parc des Sports d'Aguilera
Saturday, 21 August:
20.45: Castres vs Toulouse at Stade de la Méditérranée
Match Officials:
Bourgoin vs Clermont
Referee: Pascal Gauzère
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal, Frédéric Gourgues
Television match official: Jean-Claude Levrier
Bayonne vs Agen
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Assistant referees: Arnaud Blondel, Régis Gabard
Television match official: Gilles Cogne
Brive vs Perpignan
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Eric Gauzins,
René Bordeneuve
Television match official: Daniel Gilet
Montpellier vs Racing-Métro 92
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Assistant referees: Nicolas Datas, Christophe Graviou
Television match official: Bachir Akim Hadj
Paris vs La Rochelle
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Assistant referees: Laurent Sclafer, Gérard Gacon
Television match official: Bruno Bessot
Biarritz vs Toulon
Referee: Patrick Péchambert
Assistant referees: David Rosich, Dominique Parrini
Television match official: Jean-Marie Piraveau
Castres vs Toulouse
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Assistant referees: Laurent Valin, Bruno Fiche
Television match official: Gérard Borreani
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