Toulouse face another stern test
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Another weekend of Top 14 action and another spotlight will be shone brightly on struggling giants Toulouse, who host Stade Francais on Saturday.
Former four-time European champions, Toulouse slumped to a fifth successive defeat last week as Bayonne claimed a 35-19 win in a match which saw the indisciplined 19-time French champions play for an hour with 14 men after former All Black hooker Corey Flynn was sent off for stamping.
"Before last week's match, I felt that my players were ready," Toulouse coach Guy Noves insisted, his side sitting one place off the bottom of the Top 14 with 10 points, 17 behind league leaders Clermont.
"The situation is complicated, that's undeniable. But is it in our mentality to let go? We'll fight right to the end as we've always fought, as we have done in title-winning seasons.
"Even during seasons rounded off by winning trophies, there have been tough moments."
Noves added: "Saturday's match will be a special match for us because we'll be playing at home.
"In front of our home crowd, we have to react after the [last home] defeat by Clermont.
"The pressure will be doubled because Stade Francais have already won away from home. We know they're capable of coming and beating us in our stadium."
Stade Francais are third in the Top 14, with defending champions Toulon second, the Parisians benefiting from an off-season during which there was little recruitment, something that has bred consistency around dynamic No.8 Sergio Parisse.
They dispatched La Rochelle 43-10 last week, a result that left Italy captain Parisse a happy man.
"When you play in such a tough league, you have to mark your territory by winning at home," he said.
"We'll give everything against Toulouse. We'll go with a full team and try to get a result."
Clermont, who retained their place atop the league with a gritty 19-8 win at Oyonnax last weekend, travel to Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday, while Oyonnax host Toulon in Friday's sole match.
"The advantage for us is that we have a big rotation throughout the squad, so the players are fresh," said Clermont's veteran flank Julien Bonnaire.
"We just have to continue to enjoy ourselves and go out and play," he said, warning that Bordeaux-Begles were also a 'team that likes to throw the ball around'.
In other fixtures, fourth-placed Grenoble travel to Castres, who are surprisingly propping up the table, and Racing-Metro entertain Brive.
Bayonne play Montpellier and La Rochelle are at home to Lyon.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Friday, October 3: Oyonnax v Toulon (18.45)
Saturday, October 4: Bordeaux-Begles v Clermont (12.45), Racing-Metro v Brive, Castres v Grenoble, Bayonne v Montpellier, La Rochelle v Lyon (all 16.30), Toulouse v Stade Francais (18.45)
Top 14 table (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points):
Clermont 7 6 0 1 178 88 3 27
Toulon 7 5 0 2 234 122 4 24
Stade Francais 7 5 0 2 162 161 2 22
Grenoble 7 4 0 3 188 165 4 20
Racing-Metro 7 4 0 3 143 142 2 18
Montpellier 7 4 0 3 161 136 2 18
Bordeaux 7 4 0 3 164 166 1 17
Bayonne 7 3 0 4 161 154 3 15
Lyon 7 3 0 4 130 159 1 13
Brive 7 3 0 4 128 179 1 13
Oyonnax 7 2 0 5 153 163 3 11
La Rochelle 7 2 0 5 160 240 2 10
Toulouse 7 2 0 5 143 167 2 10
Castres 7 2 0 5 129 196 2 10
Source: AFP
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