The Top 14 returns this weekend, with Round 16 of the season throwing up a very enticing fixtures list.
After a two week break for the opening couple round of the 2019 season, the French Top 14 returns this coming weekend with a full fixtures list.
The pick of the games will see two depleted, yet still very talented sides, in the form of Racing 92 and Toulouse square off on Sunday the 17th of February.
Clermont v Bordeaux Begles
Saturday 16 February
Parc Des Sports Marcel Michelin
15:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Clermont 1/7
Draw 25/1
Bordeaux 9/2
Clermont will be looking to make home ground advantage count and return to the summit of the Top 14 standings by when they take on the fifth-placed Bordeaux Begles in the opening Round 16 fixture.
The hosts were finally usurped to the top of the standings by Toulouse during Round 15 as they went down went down 24-16 away to Castres. This was only their third defeat of the season and they will be eager to bounce back from it this coming weekend having not had a hit out in three weeks.
Bordeaux enjoyed a far more profitable time of it in Round 15 as they notched up a 25-17 victory over minnows Agen. While it wasn't the most fluid of displays from the Begles, they did manage to bag four very handy log points.
Verdict: Clermont 1/7
The hosts may be missing a few internationals, due to their players remaining with their respective Six Nations squads, but I still expect them to claim the spoils here.
_________________________________________________
Montpellier v PerpignanSaturday 16 February
Altrad Stadium
19:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Montpellier 1/33
Draw 55/1
Perpignan 13/2
Montpellier will be looking to pick up the full-five point haul when they take on cellar-dwellers Perpignan at the Altrad Stadium.
The hosts head into this game in ninth spot on the log having only notched up six wins from their opening 15 games. Still, things could be worse, I mean you could be Perpignan who are yet to win a game this season.
In terms of recent results, the hosts head into this one off the back of a narrow 27-25 away defeat to La Rochelle, while Perpignan make the trip have gone down 24-30 to Bordeaux at home.
Verdict: Montpellier 1/33
While I fully expect Montpellier to claim the spoils here. I doubt it will be by more than 20 points. If you're offered a plus line in the region of 22 points, I suggest jumping on it.
_________________________________________________
Stade Francais v LyonSaturday 6 February
Stade Jean Bouin
19:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Stade 4/10
Draw 17/1
Lyon 21/10
Pragmatists Stade Francais will play host to flair-aholics Lyon in what should be an intriguing clash of styles. Both teams currently reside in the play-off places with Lyon in fourth and Stade back in sixth. Only two points separate the sides on the Top 14 ladder, though, so a win for the hosts would see them move above the visitors on the standings.
The two sides head into this clash off the back of contrasting results with Stade going down 33-30 to Toulon and Lyon registering a highly impressive 32-11 victory over Racing.
Verdict: 21/10
Stade will be without a handful of their internationals this weekend, which may well open the door for a Lyon side who aren't missing many first stringers.
_________________________________________________
Pau v CastresSaturday 16 February
Stade du Hameau
19:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Pau 6/10
Draw 14/1
Castres 14/10
Pau and Castres are next up, and with both sides desperate to claim the points here to advance their play-off hopes, this game could prove to be a rather attritional one.
Neither side has shot the lights out this term with the hosts having only won six of their 15 fixtures and the visitors having only won eight.
Castres will be full of confidence headed into this one, however, as they managed to get the better of high-flying Clermont at the end of January as they ran out 24 -16 victors at the Stade Pierre Fabre.
Pau also head into the clash off the back of a late-January win, although their 24-30 away victory over strugglers Perpignan was hardly the most eye-catching of wins.
Verdict: Castres 14/10
I rather fancy the visitors here. They have a solid forward pack who could just maul and scrum their side to victory this Saturday.
_________________________________________________
Agen v Toulon
Saturday 16 February
Stade Armandie
21:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Agen 7/10
Draw 16/1
Toulon 12/10The final Saturday fixture pits 13th-placed Agen up against 10th-placed Toulon. The visitors have been extremely hit and miss this term but do tend to finish the season stronger than they start it. They also head into this one off the back of a solid 33-30 over Stade Francais.
Agen, on the other hand, come into the game having gone down 25-17 to Bordeaux. That was their 11th loss of the season, and they desperately need to start picking up points if they are to avoid being relegated to the second tier come the close of the season.
Verdict: Toulon 12/10
I'm expecting a big finish to the campaign from the mega-rich side. They have the quality to put a run of wins together and I can see them building on that win over Stade by getting one over Agen.
_________________________________________________
Grenoble v La Rochelle
Sunday 17 February
Stade des Alpes
13:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Grenoble 9/10
Draw 16/1
La Rochelle 19/20A depleted La Rochelle side will be looking to keep the momentum going when they face plucky minnows Grenoble in the first of Sunday's two fixtures. The visitors have been in great touch since December and come into the game lying in third spot of the standings.
Grenoble sit at the opposite end of the log, currently lying in 11th-place. They have been a very tough side to crack this term, however, particularly at the Stade des Alpes.
_________________________________________________
Verdict: La Rochelle 19/20
They may be without a few of their French internationals but I can still see this bang in form La Rochelle squad getting the job done here.
Racing Metro 92 v Toulouse
Sunday 17 February
Paris La Defense Arena
17:50
To Win (80 Mins)
Racing 3/10
Draw 18/1
Toulouse 24/10
Racing Metro will be looking to bounce back from their hammering at the hands of Lyon when they take on log-leaders Toulouse in the last of the Round 16 games. The visitors will be without a number of their French stars for this clash, which will make them a lot more vulnerable than usual.
The hosts have far move overseas internationals among their ranks which means they are less hindered by the Six Nations squads still being in camp.
In terms of recent results, Racing head into this off the back of a heavy 32-11 away defeat to Lyon while Toulouse make the trip having beaten Grenoble 29-16.
Verdict: Racing 3/10
Racing will field a far stronger squad than their opponents this weekend, and that coupled with them being at home should see them take the spoils.
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
