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Round 17 of the Top 14 will be played this weekend. France’s premier league will see world class players involved from around the world. Involved are to be a host of players from the Americas.
Both Toulon and La Rochelle are gunning for European titles. They are also both on track for appearances in the Top 14 play-off’s. Toulon are under pressure to win at home and have named a strong side to get the job done. Samu Manoa starts at No 8 while Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe will cover the back-row from the bench. Leandro Cedaro will be a La Rochelle replacement.
In grave danger of relegation are Grenoble. They have a home encounter on Saturday against Stade Français. Points are required to cut the nine point game between itself and escaping the relegation zone. Starting for the Parisians will be Sergio Parisse.
A south-western debt between Toulouse and Pau is expected to go there way of the home side. Pau, though, have a number of surprises and fresh players following breaks during the Challenge Cup. Trinidad & Tobago’s Steffon Armitage will play flanker.
Looking to replicate their Champions Cup win over Montpellier, Castres host them again this weekend. The small-town French club will have Rodrigo Capó Ortega and Horacio Agulla both in the starting lineup. Benjamin Urdapilleta will feature from the bench.
Saturday’s fifth and final fixture sees Lyon hosting Racing 92 at their new Stade Gerland. The same venue was used in Rugby World Cup 2007, including Argentina’s match against Georgia. Three former Pumas will start this weekend’s match. Francisco Gomez Kodela will play Tight Head prop for Lyon. Racing 92 will have Juan Imhoff on the left wing and Manuel Carizza in the second-row.
Round 17 will come to a close on Sunday. Bayonne will host Brive in one match while Bordeaux take-on Clermont in the other. Lineups for both matches are to be named on Saturday afternoon.
