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RUGBYU-FRA-TOP14-PREVIEW
Top 14 leaders Clermont ready to ‘get burnt’ at champions Castres
PARIS, Jan 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – French Top 14 leaders Clermont take a
weakened squad to reigning champions Castres in the pick of the Top 14
matches in the final weekend before the start of the Six Nations.
The visitors are on an impressive unbeaten run of 13 games in all
competitions thanks to the dependable boot of Scotland scrum-half Greig
Laidlaw and free-scoring winger Peter Betham, backed up by the league’s most
solid defence.
They are without six squad members who are away on international duty with
France including Arthur Iturria, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Wesley Fofana,
Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra and Damian Penaud but can count on powerful Fiji
back-rower Peceli Yato who was rested for last Friday’s victory over Welsh
region the Dragons.
Despite a depleted squad Clermont coach Franck Azema plans on continuing
his side’s positive run of results which stretches back to the start of
October.
“It’s by getting burnt you learn if something is hot,” he said
“We have to start this period in a positive way and then take on these
following weeks with a succinct and solid squad,” Azema added.
Castres sit in a lowly eighth place in the table and have yet to win two
straight home games this campaign despite Argentina’s Benjamin Urdapilleta
scoring 109 points in 11 appearances.
Christophe Urios has no individuals away with their countries in the build-
up to the Six Nations and welcomes former Castres centre Remi Lamerat back to
Stade Pierre-Fabre.
On Saturday Lamerat makes his second return to the club he left three years
ago with whom he lifted the Bouclier de Brennus in 2013.
The 19-time international who is not part of Jacques Brunel’s Six Nations
squad understands very well what makes the outfit based in the town with a
population of 40,000 tick.
“I know how the club works, I spent five formidable years there and I have
kept many links there. It’s a big village but also a big club,” he said.
“At Castres you say everyone is against you, the play isn’t spectacular but
it’s a way to motivate you because in reality Castres always get to the play-
offs. They’re current French champions, so they’re not jealous of anyone and
are superior to many other clubs,” he added. – Toulouse minus seven –
Elsewhere, second-placed Toulouse play Grenoble licking their European
wounds after last weekend’s Champions Cup defeat to Leinster and are missing
seven players who are preparing for France’s Six Nations opener against
Wales.
Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, Antoine Dupont, Yoann Huget, Maxime
Medard, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos are all unavailable for Ugo Mola.
La Rochelle are without five of their squad including giant front-rower
Uini Atonio and face Vern Cotter’s Montpellier who was given the vote of
confidence by club owner Mohed Altrad this week after only six league wins so
far this campaign.
Lyon play a Racing 92 who are full of clinical, try scoring outside backs
as Simon Zebo, Virimi Vakatawa and Juan Imhoff have all touched down on more
than 12 occasions this term.
Pitiful Perpignan are still looking for their first Top 14 victory since
promotion as they host Pau, lowly Agen head to Bordeaux-Begles and the
weekend finishes with Toulon missing the influential trio of France captain
Guilhem Guirado, midfielder Mathieu Bastareaud and fly-half Antoine Dupont
taking on Stade Francais on Sunday.
Fixtures (all times GMT):
Saturday
Castres v Clermont (1400), Bordeaux-Begles v Agen (1605), Perpignan v Pau,
La Rochelle v Montpellier (both 1700), Lyon v Racing 92 (1945)
Sunday
Toulouse v Grenoble (1130), Toulon v Stade Francais (1550)
BSS/AFP/MRI/0843 hrs