Preview: Difficult Perpignan task awaits Toulouse
TOP 14, WEEK EIGHT: Facing the team that toppled European champions Leinster won’t impress Perpignan in France’s Top 14 this weekend, Toulouse forwards coach William Servat warned.
Toulouse caused a mini sensation last weekend by ending Leinster’s 10-match winning streak in the Champions Cup with a memorable 28-27 victory to go top of Pool 1 after two rounds.
But Servat says the inflated egos must land in time for Saturday’s visit to Perpignan, likening a rugby game to a scrum.
“You can dominate, then get toppled any time,” said Servat, who won five Top 14 titles as a hooker with Toulouse and two Six Nations titles with France.
Toulouse will be without flanker Gilian Galan (meniscus), lock Richie Gray (back), props Cyril Baille and Rodrigue Neti and inside centre Pierre Fouyssac (knee).
Absent for the win over Leinster, flanker Francois Cros and centre Maxime Mermoz are also “uncertain”, said Servat.
On paper Toulouse should be confident after claiming four wins and a draw from their opening seven matches. Especially as Perpignan sit rock bottom of Top 14 after seven consecutive losses.
But Servat added: “It’s easy to sit at a desk and compare the best team in Europe with the worst team in the championship.
“But the reality is, rugby is a contact sport in which bravery plays a role. And if you don’t respect your opponents, there’s a fair chance you will slip up.
“We’ll try to make sure that doesn’t happen in Perpignan. Showing a lack of respect is not something this club is known for.”
Toulouse also announced that back Maxime Medard has signed a two-year contract extension with the club, just days after scoring two tries against Leinster.
Despite their exploits in Europe, Toulouse have ground to make up, with a six-point deficit to leaders Clermont.
Clermont host Castres, who sit fifth on 19 points, in the opening fixture of the weekend Saturday, looking to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s 16-12 loss at La Rochelle.
That bid could be hindered by injuries in key areas, namely at flyhalf, as well as the six-week ban handed to Tongan international Maama Vaipulu for his red card in a 29-25 European Cup win over Exeter.
Injuries to Benjamin Urdapilleta (finger) and Julien Dumora (groin), the latter ruled out for three months, mean Castres coach Joel El-Abd is expected to deploy Yohan Le Bourhis, who arrived from Biarritz in the off-season, in the position.
Castres will also be without flank Alexandre Lapandry, who underwent a hand operation last week that sidelines him for the best part of six weeks.
#TOP14 | J8
► Retrouvez le classement du TOP 14 après 2 semaines de Coupe d’Europe !@ASMOfficiel gardera t-il la tête du classement à l’issue du week-end ? pic.twitter.com/zKycakbLJw— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) October 26, 2018
Stade Francais, two points adrift in second, host defending champions Montpellier looking to follow up on last week’s 14-9 win at Castres.
Montpellier fans were given a boost with the news that scrum half Benoit Paillaugue ended a seven-month injury absence this week and is now back training with the squad.
However he has yet to fully test his knee having ruptured his cruciate ligaments, meaning Julien Tomas, brought in as medical cover at the start of the season, will line up for Montpellier in Paris.
The visitors are expected to be without South African lock Paul Willemse (ribs) and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo (back) due to injury.
Both came off early in the 23-20 defeat to Newcastle last weekend and missed training this week.
Elsewhere, Lyon face Bordeaux-Begles away looking to maintain a strong start that has left them in third place only four points behind Clermont.
Fixtures (all times are GMT)
Saturday
Clermont v Castres (13.45)
Agen v Grenoble (17.00)
Perpignan v Toulouse (17.00)
Racing 92 v Pau (17.00)
Stade Francais v Montpellier (19.45)
Sunday
Bordeaux-Begles v Lyon (11.30)
Toulon v Rochelle (15.50)
Agence France-Presse
