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With summer almost having arrived in Europe France’s domestic championship is into the final rounds of the regular season. This weekend will see a number of clubs scrambling to win competition points so that they can secure their places in the play-offs and in the 2016-2017 European Champions Cup. The battle to avoid relegation, however, is over with Agen and Oyonnax confirmed as the bottom two. Taking to the field will be Americas Players in Top 14 – Week 24.
Unlike most rounds there is to be no match played on Friday. Instead six will take-place on Saturday and one on Sunday. First up will be Agen against the under-performing Toulon. Starting for the home side will be the U.S. eligible Dave Ryan. Samu Manoa remains sidelined through injury though Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe will start.
Uruguayan Rodrigo Capó Ortega will lead Castres at home against La Rochelle in a vital match-up. The seventh placed side host eighth, with the loser potentially out of the running. Capó Ortega will be joined in the starting lineup by former Puma Benjamín Urdapilleta. The Buenos Aires pivot will play fly half and much will be asked of him if Castres’ march to the play-offs is to continue.
Racing 92 will have a strong opportunity to collect competition points when they host the 12th placed Pau. The match will see an Argentina vs Canada clash in the second-row with Manuel Carizza and Cameron Pierce starting for opposing sides. Juan Imhoff is missing for the Parisians, with he instead being on international duty with Los Pumas 7’s in London.
European Challenge Cup winners Montpellier are looking to push-on and return to the Top 14 Semi Finals after an extended absence. The team is up against Bordeaux this weekend, a side to have done notably better than anticipated. Needing points Bordeaux will throw everything at Montpellier and are to have former Pumas tighthead prop Francisco Gomez Kodela starting.
Teams for Sunday’s fixture between Clermont and Stade Français are due to be announced on Saturday afternoon.
