World Cup depletes Top14
The French Top 14 kicks off on Friday August 21, so let's take a look at the prospects of each club competing for the Bouclier de Brennus:
Stade Francais
Gonzalo Quesada's side stunned French rugby last season by claiming a 14th title. Heinke Van der Merwe, Remi Bonfils and Rabah Slimani will again form a formidable front row, while South Africa's Willem Alberts and Australia's Will Genia are two key arrivals. The Parisian's resources will be tested to the limit. Twelve players will miss the start of the season due to World Cup duty, but expect a play-off place.
Toulon
Dethroned in the semi-finals by Stade last season, the European champions will want their title back. Bernard Laporte vacated the head coach position in January for his successor Diego Dominguez, while Kiwi centre Ma'a Nonu, Ireland captain Paul O'Connell and Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen are the marquee arrivals. Toulon have 18 players on World Cup duty, but they remain title favourites.
Clermont
The Augverne side continue to play below their potential. Last season's gut-wrenching 6-12 loss to Stade was their 11th in a Top 14 final, and came after their defeat to Toulon in the European showpiece. Club stalwarts Julien Pierre, Julien Bonnaire and Napolioni Nalaga have all left, but Hosea Gear and Scott Spedding will bolster an already potent backline. Like Stade, 12 players are on World Cup duty, but Clermont have the squad to cope.
Toulouse
They will be hard to fathom in the post-Guy Noves era. The soon-to-be France coach leaves behind an ageing squad, which has fallen short in recent seasons. With very few signings and a host of French internationals missing at the start of the season, new head coach Ugo Mola may turn to the youth, with the likes of Yacouba Camara and Arthur Bonneval. Toulouse could be vulnerable in a new era.
Racing Metro
Dan Carter's arrival in the Paris suburbs grabs the headlines as Racing Metro have changed their name to become Racing 92. The all-time top Test points scorer will be pivotal at fly-half, while Kiwi compatriot Chris Masoe, Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni and French flanker Yannick Nyanga add grunt to the pack. Racing should be title contenders.
Oyonnax
Did tremendously well to make the play-offs last season where they lost in heartbreaking fashion to Toulouse (20-19) in the quarter-finals. Formidable at home, with 11 wins and just two defeats (to Clermont and Toulon). A change to a synthetic surface and the loss of coach Christophe Urios and fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta to Castres could destabilise the Top 14's smallest club.
Bordeaux-Begles
Clearly a team on the rise. A late play-off victory over Gloucester secured European Champions Cup qualification, with head coach Raphael Ibanez transforming them into a swashbuckling unit. Only Toulon (81) scored more tries than Bordeaux's 66 last season. Australian international Adam Ashley-Cooper is the star signing, but juggling a European campaign along with the rigours of the domestic league will be a test.
Montpellier
They disappointed with an eight place finish last season, but expect much bigger things at the Altrad Stadium. South Africa's 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White begins his first full campaign in charge and has recruited plenty of his countrymen. Forwards Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, CJ van der Linde and Pierre Spies are among the South African imports. In the backs, Australia's Jesse Mogg arrives with a glowing reputation.
La Rochelle
Survived their first season back in the top flight thanks to their outstanding home form. Bordeaux-Begles were the only team to win at the Stade Marcel Deflandre but they can expect another tough campaign. With French international back row Loann Goujon moving to Bordeaux, coach Patrice Collazo has lost a considerable amount of breakdown presence.
Brive
Needed a 27-0 victory over champions Stade to avoid relegation on the final day. Only Oyonnax (37 tries) threatened the whitewash on fewer occasions than Brive (40 tries), and after limited changes to the squad, the same problems could resurface. Their cause could be helped with just two players called up for the World Cup.
Grenoble
Lost five of their last six matches to finish perilously close to the relegation zone. However, the recruitment drive gives hope with Tongan pair Paea Fa'anunu and Soma Taumalolo set to add muscle to the pack. Lucas Dupont, Walter Desmaison and Fabrice Estebanez should add guile to the backline.
Castres
The 2014 champions almost suffered the ignominy of relegation as defending champions, but a strong end to the season saw them survive on the head-to-head record ahead of Bayonne. Christophe Urios arrives as new head coach with Urdapilleta replacing Remi Tales at fly-half. Ex-Toulon wing David Smith, last season's top try scorer with 13 gives them a greater threat out wide.
Pau
The southwest club cantered to the Pro D2 title to seal a return to the top flight after a nine-year absence. Head coach Simon Mannix has captured All Black pair Conrad Smith and Colin Slade. This a real statement of intent by the three-time champions. Veteran former Clermont lock Julien Pierre will also add line-out presence.
Agen
Secured promotion after a two-year hiatus thanks to a 16-15 victory over Mont de Marsan. They are dangerous on the wings with Canadian international Taylor Paris, and powerful up front with Samoa prop Viliamu Afatia. They have five players on World Cup duty and are likely to struggle.
Source: AFP Sports
