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The busy calendar means that week 11 of the Top 14 will be played on Saturday and Sunday. This is despite France playing a home match in Paris against Japan and all of rugby’s Tier 1 and 2 teams also playing test matches.
First up on Saturday will be Castres hosting Toulon. The two sides faced-off in two Top 14 Finals in the 2011-2015 World Cup cycle. Rodrigo Capó Ortega made history by winning one of them. He again leads Castres from the second-row this weekend. Former Puma Benjamín Urdapilleta joins him, playing at fly half. The now 36-year-old Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe starts on one flanker while Facundo Isa plays on another.
Isa departed the Jaguares in January and Facundo Bosch shortly followed. Bosch left in search of greater game time. His move to Agen has indeed seen him play with greater frequency than had been the case at Jaguares in 2016. He starts at hooker against Stade Français on Saturday. The USA eligible Dave Ryan will feature among the replacements. Ramiro Herrera is on the bench for the Parisians.
In eastern France Oyonnax entertain Clermont. They are to do so with former Los Pumas 7’s flier Axel Muller among the replacements. With limited professional opportunities at home the Mendoza player is another to have moved to France. He is now into his second season in the Top 14.
Week 11 concludes on Sunday. Racing 92 and Lyon are to have home advantage against Montpellier and Toulouse respectively. Line-ups for both matches are due to be named on Saturday afternoon.
