photo: ASM Clermont Auvergne

Top 14 – Week 22 Preview

The Top 14 continued today. Week 22 sees five matches being played this afternoon and two on Sunday. Involved are to be a range of Americas players. The following preview details the involvement from the Western Hemisphere.

This weekend sees the classic of Stade Français vs Toulouse. It remains a key fixture on the calendar despite the levels o the two clubs not being that of a decade ago. Starting at no 8 for the Parisians will be Sergio Parisse while Ramiro Herrera will feature as a replacement.

A vital fixture this weekend is Brive vs Agen. Both clubs are in danger of relegation and desperately need to win points. The visitors have a bench that includes former Jaguares hooker Facundo Bosch in addition to the USA eligible prop Dave Ryan and n Italian-capped second-rower from Argentina, Leandro Cedaro.

Pau host the high-flying Oyonnax. The visitors have remarkably won four games in-a-row, climbing outside of the relegation zone in the process. This weekend Axel Müller will feature from the bench. Trinidad & Tobago native Steffon Armitage starts for Pau at No8.

On the Mediterranean coast Benjamín Urdapilleta starts against Montpellier. Regular Castres captain, Rodrigo Capó Ortega is on the bench for today’s fixture. Urdapilleta may be one player set to benefit from Argentina’s changing eligibility policies.

In allowing European-Based players to be considered for international duty there is added reason for players to performance at their peaks. On Sunday this will continue with opportunities for players in both matches.

Toulon and Lyon host Clermont and Racing 92 respectively. Lineups for both matches are to be named this afternoon. Facundo Isa, Manuel Carizza, Juan Imhoff, and Patricio Fernández may all return to Los Pumas later this year.

About Americas Rugby News

Formally created in June 2015, this website's goal is to increase media exposure of the Tier 2 rugby nations, and create a hub with a focus on the stories of rugby in the Americas - North, Central and South.

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