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The Top 14 is back to a full complement this weekend as the strike caused by the merger-that-wasn’t is now over. Thankfully both Racing 92 and Stade Français will commit to their fixtures as scheduled. With five weeks still to go there is still time for clubs to move a spot or two up the ladder, though La Rochelle and Clermont are just stretching away from the pack and look likely to finish as the top two seeds heading into the knock-out rounds.
It’s Clermont who will start thing off on Saturday when they travel to Paris to face Racing 92. The relieved Racing players can now concentrate fully on rugby again and Juan Imhoff will be looking to make an impression on the left wing. Fellow Pumas international Manuel Carizza will cover lock from the bench.
Castres have a trio of South American players in their starting lineup to face Grenoble, a team that looks destined for the drop. Uruguayan lock Rodrigo Capó Ortega skippers the side that also features Argentine standouts Benjamín Urdapilleta at flyhalf and Horacio Agulla on the right wing.
Four more South Americans take part at Matmut Stadium in Lyon. Francisco Gómez Kodela runs out at tighthead prop for the home side with Facundo Isa retained on the flank. Bayonne field much the same side as a week ago with Chilean lock Pablo Huete and Argentine fullback Martín Bustos Moyano both retained in the starting lineup.
Patricio Albacete continues his comeback from a serious knee injury as he makes his second start of the season for Toulouse, on the road at Bordeaux. It’s a critical match with the two sides separated by only two points and in the hunt to track down Castres and earn the final playoff spot, and more importantly guarantee a spot in the 2017-18 Champions Cup.
The teams for Sunday’s match between traditional powerhouses Stade Français and Toulon have yet to be named, but there are three Americas players named in Toulon’s training group. US Eagles heavyweight Samu Manoa and Argentine duo Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Axel Müller should all feature for the visitors at Stade Jean Bouin, while Sergio Parisse is in the mix to play for the home side.
