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With just six weeks left in the Pro D2 regular season the race for promotion is approaching fever pitch. This weekend’s offerings have the bout schedule in reverse order, with the main event taking place on Thursday evening as the top two teams in the division went to battle at Stade Armandie. Oyonnax skipper Jamie Cudmore earned bragging rights over Taylor Paris and Agen as the visitors held out for a 31-26 win on the road. It’s a massive win for Oyonnax which hands them a four-point lead on the table in what could prove to be the match that assures a swift return to the Top 14 next season.
Friday will see the return of David Tameilau to the Narbonne lineup as he starts on the flank when Vannes come to town. Argentine lock Javier Lagioiosa is the only Americas player named to start for the visitors, with midfield star Conor Trainor left in a reserve role and the others rested.
Charente host Mont-de-Marsan in a hugely important match for the visitors in a league where road wins are few and far between. Sebastián Poet will play No 10 for the SA XV with country-mate Facundo Panceyra Garrido on the wing. Stade Montois will field a strong team with Uruguay’s Agustín Ormaechea at scrumhalf and Argentine prop Carlos Muzzio on the bench.
Elsewhere Ignacio Mieres plays flyhalf for Dax against Perpignan. Bourgoin retain Leandro Perez Galeone on the side of the scrum on their trip to Aurillac. Montauban welcome Carcassonne to Stade Sapiac with Damian Arias at tighthead prop for a vital match to keep their promotion hopes alive.
Sunday’s teams for the match between Beziers and Colomiers have yet to be named. Colomiers will be looking to match the exploits of Oyonnax with their own away win and are likely to field both Agustín Costa Repetto and Demián Panizzo in their run-on side.
