photo credit: Eric Vincent / SUA Rugby

Top 14 – Week 19 Preview

The Six Nations will conclude on Saturday, crowning the annual European champion. The winner is not going to be France who have serious problems just months out from the RWC in Japan. Player numbers is not an issue at all as will be underlined on Saturday and Sunday in the latest round of the Top 14. Week 19 of the French league will also involve players from the Americas. The following preview details their involvement.

The round will begin with Toulon hosting Montpellier in a derby on Saturday. Starting for the hosts at flanker will be Facundo Isa. The Santiago del Estero bull-dozer is expected to be starting at N8 for Los Pumas in Japan this year.

Reigning champions Castres are at home against bottom of the table Perpignan. The team continues to be without injured captain Rodrigo Capó Ortega but will have a player from each of Argentina, and Canada involved. Benjamin Urdapilleta and Taylor Paris start at fly half and on the wing respectively.

Fighting to avoid relegation are Agen. The club will have home advantage against La Rochelle on Saturday. Starting at lock will be Colombian Andrés Zafra while Puma Facundo Bosch has been named as the replacement hooker.

Bosch like Isa, and Urdapilleta is a RWC hopeful. The same applies to lock Mariano Galarza, and tight head prop Ramiro Herrera. They will start on opposing teams in Saturday’s final match as Bordeaux are at home against Stade Français Paris.

Week 19 will conclude on Sunday with two fixtures. Powerhouses Clermont, and Toulouse are both to have home advantage. They are to take-on Pau, and Lyon respectively. Three of the four are presently home to Argentine players.

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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