I took this from Planet rugby.
Friday, August 31
Grenoble v Stade Français
Saturday, September 1
Biarritz v Toulouse
Castres v Bayonne
Clermont v Perpignan
Montpellier v Agen
Racing Métro v Bordeaux-Bègles
Mont-de-Marsan v Toulon
Previews:
FC Grenoble v Stade Français Paris
Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble
These teams have met four times in the last decade and Stade
Français have won every time. In fact, going even further back, the
Parisians have not lost in their last five visits to Grenoble.
But considering Stade Français's form away from the capital in
recent years, Grenoble - under the guidance of former Stade stalwart
Fabrice Landreau - will fancy their chances in their first top division
home game in seven years.
Both clubs have a victory and a defeat under their belts this
season but Stade Français have won just one of their last 20 games on
the road!
Grenoble sharpshooter Valentin Courrent starts at scrum-half
while Shaun Sowerby, who started his career in France with Stade, is at
number eight.
Felipe Contepomi is at ten for the visitors in the absence of the injured Jules Plisson.
Grenoble: 15 Fabien Gengenbacher, 14 Lucas Dupont, 13 Rida
Jaouher, 12 Nigel Hunt, 11 Joaquin Tuculet , 10 Blair Stewart , 9
Valentin Courrent , 8 Shaun Sowerby, 7 Roland Bernard, 6 Jonathan Best, 5
Naude Beukes, 4 Benjamin Hand, 3 Dayna Edwards, 2 Vincent Campo
castillo, 1 Gregory Fabro:
Replacements:16 Kenan Mutapcic, 17
Laurent Bouchet, 18 Cyril Veyret, 19 Henry Vanderglas, 20 Viliame
Waqaseduadua, 21 Aloisio Butonidualevu, 22 Jonathan Pelissie, 23 Karim
Kouider.
Stade Français: 15 Jerome Porical, 14 Waisea Vuidravuwalu,
13 Morgan Turinui, 12Paul Williams, 11 Paul Sackey, 10 Felipe
Contepomi, 9 Jerome Fillol, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Olivier Missoup, 6 Scott
Lavalla, 5 Pascal Pape, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 David Attoub, 2 Laurent
Sempere, 1 Romain Frou.
Replacements: 16 Remi Bonfils, 17
Rabah Slimani, 18 Alexandre Flanquart, 19 David Lyons, 20 Julien Dupuy,
21 Paul Warwick, 22 Hugo Bonneval, 23 Zurabi Zhvania.
Previous result Stade Français won 28-8 in 2005.
Prediction: Grenoble have made a decent start and will be up for it at home. Grenoble by a whisker
Kick-off: 20.50 (18.50 GMT)
Referee: Jean-Luc Rebollal
Pete disagrees with Planet rugby pick. Stade have just too many superstars. Yes they have sucked away from home, but its time for these nancy boys to step up and earn their fat pay checks. It shouldn't matter where you play. Stade by 10. It should be much more.
Game now finished and Grenoble out hustled Stade . Owner should ask for half the Stade players' salaries back.
Biarritz Olympique 8/11v Stade Toulousain11/8
Parc des Sports d'Aguilera, Biarritz
The co-leaders face off in the Basque country where Biarritz seem
to have rediscovered some form. It's been four years since BO started
the season with back-to-back wins. Counting their Amlin Challenge Cup
title of last season, the Basques are on a winning streak not seen for
ages.
Toulouse have won the last eight games between these sides in all
competitions and six of the last eight games in Biarritz. But the
defending champions struggled in their opening games, needing late
surges from their bench to win at home against Castres and
Mont-de-Marsan.
Toulouse have been uncharacteristically indisciplined and will need to tighten up to maintain their unbeaten record.
Former Crusaders and Leinster fly-half Matt Berquist has
recovered from a hamstring tear and will play for the Biarritz youth
team this weekend in the hope of breaking into the senior side in the
coming weeks.
Toulouse will wait until late on Friday to make a decision regarding Luke McAlister, who injured a calf muscle last week.
Results last season: Toulouse won 24-0 at home and 20-15 in Biarritz
Prediction: Toulouse seem to still be in 'pre-season mode'. Biarritz by three points
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
Waiting for team sheet before making picks.
Team sheets
Biarritz
Le XV de départ: Balshaw; Ngwenya, Gimenez,
Traille (c.), Brew; (o) Barraque, (m) Lesgourgues; Dubarry, Lakafia,
Lauret; Taele, Thion; Gomez Kodela, Heguy, Blaauw.
Les remplaçants: Genevois, Barcella, Lund E., Lund M., Peyrelongue, Baby, Burutu, Van Staden.
Toulouse
Le XV de départ: Poitrenaud ; Clerc, David,
Fritz, Huget ; (o) Beauxis, (m) Burgess ; Dusautoir, Picamoles, Bouilhou
; Millo-Chluski, Maestri ; Johnston, Botha, Steenkamp.
Remplaçants: Poux, Lacombe, Guillamon, Lamboley, Nyanga, Doussain, Jauzion, Pujol.
Petes preview
The loss of Yachvili didn’t stop Biarritz picking up an away win at
Agen last week. They have scored 60 points, 5 tries in their opening
games and conceded just 29.
Toulouse have won 3 of the last 4 games scoring between 20-24 points each time.
Biarritz have won 19 and drawn 3 of the last 27 home games and those
stats would surely be better were it not for their slump during the
World Cup.
Toulouse lost 4/5 away games at the end of the season and I’m still going to back them.
Just look at the quality all over the park. I just don't understand how they struggle so much. I shall watch the game at length tomorrow as it will be a cracker.
Toulouse by 5, which allows for a draw to collect half a point at superbru.
Game over.
Toulouse and their big fat pay checks suck. Biarritz play good rugby and won 22-17
Castres Olympique 2/11 v Aviron Bayonnais
Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres
Castres play their second consecutive game at home, where they have lost just once in two years.
It's been a frustrating start to the season for CO, who lost in
Toulouse in the dying minutes and threw away a winning bonus point
against Grenoble last week by conceding a late try while playing with 14
men.
Bayonne have impressed on defence so far having given up just two
tries and three penalties in two games. Last week's home win over Stade
Français, thanks to the accurate kicking of Jacques-Louis Potgeiter,
would have reassured the Basques after the fly-half failed dismally
against Clermont on the opening weekend.
However, Bayonne have yet to score a try and considering Castres'
defensive record they might go a third week without a five pointer.
Benjamin Boyet makes his return to the extended Bayonne squad
from injury this week while former Hurricanes fly-half Daniel
Kirkpatrick could make his debut for Castres.
Results last season: Castres won 31-19 at home; 16-16 draw in Bayonne
Prediction: Castres have won their last three home games against Bayonne. Castres by nine points
Kick-off: 18.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Laurent Cardona
Castres
Le XV de départ: Dulin ; Martial, Cabannes, Kirkpatrick, Andreu ; (o) Bernard, (m) Kockott ; Caballero, Tekori, Bornman ; Rolland, Capo Ortega ; Wihongi, Mach, Taumeopeau.
Remplaçants: Lazar, Rallier, Samson, Claassen, Teulet, Baï, Evans, Coetzee.
Bayonne
Le XV de départ: Heymans; Fuster, Lacroix,
Lovobalavu, Rokocoko; Potgieter (o), Garcia (m); Marmouyet, Baget,
Haare; Chisholm, Boutaty; Boyoud, Arganese, Iguiniz.
Remplaçants: Roumieu, Manukula, Linde, Puricelli, Phillips, Boyet, Mazars, Tialata.
Petes picks
Bayonne lost 12/13 away games last season, 6 of them being by 1-12 points. Another team that cannot play rugby on someone elses pitch...ridiculous.
Must go for castres and because they always do it via forwards it won't be by much.. In fact I like the Bayonne backs more.
Castres by 3
Game over.
Never watched the game because its practically impossible to find a feed on internet.
but they obviously did well by beating Bayonne 31-10
ASM Clermont Auvergne 1/7 v USA Perpignan
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand
The 2010 champions host the 2009 champions. But the comparisons
end there as Perpignan have had a miserable time over the past two years
and, so far, not much has gone right this season.
Win-less in two games and yet to cross the whitewash, the
Catalans are already in trouble. Fortress Marcel Michelin, where
Clermont have not lost since 2009, is not the place to expect to get
their season back on track, especially since Clermont have the best
defence in the league this term.
Title favourites Clermont play their first game at home having
claimed victory in Bayonne and a losing bonus point in Montpellier last
week.
The hosts have a sizeable injury list though with Julien Bardy,
Lee Byrne and Julien Bonnaire all ruled out while Aurélien Rougerie and
David Skrela are doubtful.
Results last season: Clermont won 29-23 at home and 39-3 in Perpignan
Prediction: USAP have lost 15 out of 17 games in Clermont since 1948. Clermont by ten points
Kick-off: 18.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Teams
Petes picks
Clermont have won 27/27 home games and 20 of them by more than 7
points. The last 2 home games against Perpignan have seen 6 point
winning margin.
Perpignan lost 12/13 away games last season.
Clermont
Le XV de départ: Byrne; Sivivatu, Stanley,
Fofana, Nalaga; (o) James, (m) Parra; Lapandry, Chouly, Bonnaire (cap);
Hines, Jacquet; Zirakashvili, Paulo, Debaty.
Les remplaçants: Cabello, Domingo, Pierre, Vermeulen, Radosavljevic, King, Nakaitaci, Kotze.
Perpignan
Le XV de départ: Hume ; Sid, Mafi, Piukala,
Battle ; (o) Bosch, (m) Cazenave ; Leo, Narraway, Perez ; Tchale
Watchou, Charteris ; Mas, Guirado, Taumalolo.
Remplaçants: Schuster, Terrain, Castex, Vahaamahina, Guiry, Mélé, Haughton, Strokosch.
Two good sides stuffed with talent. If Clermont play an open game they have the backs to dominate.
Clermont by 8
Montpellier Hérault Rugby 1/7 v SU Agen
Stade Yves Du Manoir, Montpellier
Second last in the standings, Agen have had a terrible start to
the season having lost both their opening games at home to Racing-Métro
(20-24) and Biarritz (19-25).
The record books suggest that Philippe Sella's team are unlikely
to get their first win this weekend since they have not tasted victory
in Montpellier since 1997.
Montpellier got their first points of the season last week with a
solid home win over Clermont, which would have come as a massive boost
after a poor pre-season and a big defeat in Paris.
With tough fixtures on the horizon against Biarritz and Toulon, Montpol need to put a few points in the bank.
Argentina U20 prop Nahuel Lobo will undergo tests on Friday with a
view of signing a short-term contract with Montpellier as a medical
joker to cover for the absence of Na'ama Leleimalefaga, who broke his
arm against Stade Français.
Results last season: Montpellier won 44-18 at home; Agen won 18-12 at home
Prediction: Agen have lost on their last six visits to Stade Yves Du Manoir. Montpellier by ten points
Kick-off: 18.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Stéphane Pomarède
Montpellier have won 21 and drawn 1 of last 27 home games. 10 of those 21 wins have been by 1-12 points.
Montpellier to win by 3.
Sorry I couldn't find a team list which I could copy and paste.
Agen have some good players also, so i don't think this will be a walkover for Montpellier.
Although I am staggered by the statistic that 72% of all games in top 14 last year were won by the home side. Ridiculous.
Montpel won 32-15. Once again only caught glimpses of game.
Racing-Métro 92 2/17 v Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Stade Yves Du Manoir - Colombes (Paris)
Racing-Métro have had a mixed start to the season: Victory on the
road to Agen, despite an unimpressive display, was followed by defeat
at home to Toulon in a thrilling game that went down to the wire.
At home again this week, victory is a non-negotiable for Gonzalo
Quesada's men if they are to maintain contact with the other title
contenders.
Bordeaux-Bègles bounced back from a surprise loss to Grenoble to
battle their way past Perpignan last week. Tenacious but uninspiring in
the opening weeks, UBB are in for a long evening in the capital unless
they can raise their game.
Racing-Métro captain Jacques Cronje has been ruled out with a
neck injury. He joins Mikaele Tuugahala, Albert Vulivuli , Benjamin Fall
and Johnny Leo'o in the nurse's office. Sireli Bobo, Andrea Lo Cicero,
Sébastien Descons and Jone Qovu have returned to training but are not
yet match fit.
Results last season: Racing won 22-13 at home; UBB won 22-18 at home
Prediction: If Racing can repeat last week's form, they should win easily. Racing by 15 points
Kick-off: 18.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Cyril Lafon
Racing
Les avants : Battut, Ben Arous, Bianchin, Brugnaut, Dellape, Ducalcon, Gérondeau, Ghezal, Le Roux, Matadigo, Metz, Sa, Van der Merwe, Szarzewski.
Les arrières : Bélie, Bergamasco, Chavancy, Dambielle, Dumoulin, Estebanez, Germain, Jané, Machenaud, Vakatawa, Wisniewski.
Racing have won 21 and drawn 2 of 28 home games. 12 of the 21 wins saw a 1-12 winning margin.
Can't find a good team sheet for either team. Racing need to win at home and if they pick the right 20 from above should beat begles by 10
Racing looked like they were going to win solely through penalties.
Eventually won 18-7. My prediction of 10 is close enough.
Stade Montois v RC Toulon 1/5
Stade Guy Boniface, Mont-de-Marsan
Toulon have never won in Mont-de-Marsan, but they've never
arrived with a team like this one! RCT hit the road for the third time
in as many weeks but a bonus point win could taken them to the top of
the standings.
After grinding past Perpignan on the opening weekend, Bernard Laporte's team showed they can play ball by running two excellent tries past Racing last week.
For Mont-de-Marsan, the tough start to the season is set to
continue as they must face another heavyweight club after going down to
Toulouse and Biarritz.
But don't expect it to be one-way traffic. Les Montois
held the lead at the hour mark in Toulouse last week, an illustration of
their ability to trouble the big guns. The last-quarter meltdown was,
however, an example of their lack of depth as they couldn't match the
rise in tempo provided by the Toulouse bench.
Toulon's travelling army has seen Frédéric Michalak included in the extended squad for the first time this season.
"The number 10 shirt is a difficult one to manage - very strategic," said Laporte.
"Fred has been with us for just three weeks and we do not want to
ask too much of him too early. He has signed up with us for three years
so we will give him the time to properly adapt."
Previous result: Toulon won 38-22 at home in 2009
Prediction: Mont-de-Marsan will have to wait a bit longer for their first positive result. Toulon by ten points
Kick-off: 20.40 (18.40 GMT)
Referee: Cédric Marchat
Toulon
Le XV de départ: D. Armitage ; Martin,
Bastareaud, Mermoz, Lapeyre ; (o) Wilkinson, (m) Durand ; S. Armitage,
Van Niekerk, Gunther ; Suta, Botha, Kubriashvili, Bruno, Sheridan.
Remplaçants: Ivaldi, Jenkins, Hayman, Shaw, Kennedy, Giteau, Michalak, Rooney.
TOO EASY for Toulon. A quality side with reserves that would make the Montois starting side every week.
Toulon by 21
Toulon were behind for most of this match and only won at the death..29-15
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