Top 14 Review - Week 8

by @rugbyradio​ - www.rugbyradio.co

Toulon kicked the weekend off in ruthless fashion, disposing of Montpellier 52-8 at Stade Felix Mayol. Quade Cooper made his debut and didn’t disappoint the home crowd with some spellbinding stuff. He was man of the match with Toulon running in 8 tries against Jake White’s team. The pick of the tries was a no look kick through for Lachlan Turner to run in. With O’Connell, Mitchell, Giteau and O’Connor all still to return, it would be a brave call to bet against Toulon this season.

Brive disposed of Bordeaux in the second game of the weekend 16-3 with ex Racing Metro player Gaetan Germain scoring 11 points for the hosts. The win put Brive into the top four while Bordeaux are safely in mid table. With their incredible backline talent including Beauxis & Talebula, Bordeaux will be keen to improve.

Next we had La Rochelle win an important bottom of the table clash against Oyonnax to lift them to 9th position. Meanwhile, Oyonnax remain bottom of the table and the future looks bleak based on this performance. Their breakthrough season last year seemingly coming to an end.

Pau and Agen played out one of the games of the weekend with Pau running out 33-31 winners despite a late comeback from Agen. Two missed conversions from the visitors proved costly for the team coached by French legend Phillippe Sella. Sirelli Bobo went over for Pau in what could be an important result later in the season between two relegation candidates.

Toulouse proved there will be life after Guy Noves with an excellent performance against Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble. Gael Fickou continues his rise as one of the best centres in France with an impressive hat-trick whilst Toby Flood pulled the strings and slotted over the extras. The score moved Toulouse up to second in the table.

The biggest surprise of the weekend came when Castres demolished Racing Metro 34-8. Two yellow cards didn’t help Racing’s cause and Krockett was on form for Castres. Racing are still missing some of their Argentinian contingent following the World Cup and will also be welcoming Dan Carter in the near very future so this loss will not overly concern them and they remain in third position.

The final game of the weekend saw league leaders Clermont fall to last season’s champions Stade Francais 14-9 in Paris. Jules Plisson did most of the damage with the boot but Clermont will be content with a losing bonus point thanks to a last gasp penalty from Camille Lopez. They remain at the summit of the table.

So eight games in and some usual suspects are leading the way with Clermont, Toulouse and Racing in the top three spots. Brive are the surprise package in fourth with Toulon and Montpellier equal on points behind them. At the bottom of the table it looks like it will be a three-way battle between Pau, Agen and Oynnax. With plenty more talent arriving over the coming weeks, we’re in for another great season of Top 14

Fred Culazzo