PARIS, Oct 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Clermont’s Australian fly-half Jake McIntyre says missing ten players due to the Rugby World Cup has tested the club’s depth in the opening rounds of the French Top 14 season.
McIntyre, 25, who represented the Wallabies’ U20s earlier in his career, has been without the likes of teammates in France’s Camille Lopez, Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw and Fiji’s Peceli Yato for his first seven matches with June’s losing finalists.
“In terms of the squad that’s left behind in the Top 14 it tests your depth. We have great depth,” he told AFP.
“It’s interesting for me because it’s my first year here and half the team isn’t even here,” he added.
The former Queensland Reds outside-half is the league’s top points scorer this campaign on 81 after having joined Clermont, who sit fourth in the table with three defeats from their first seven games, from Agen during the summer.
He has started all but one of his new outfit’s matches so far with his main rival for the number 10 shirt in Lopez returning from international duty after the World Cup.
“Camille’s doing really well for France at the moment. He’s a great player,” McIntyre said.
“I want to start every match and I think Camille’s the same. It’s going to be a great competition and it’s only going to make both of us better,” he added.
– ‘Win before the break’ –
On Sunday, the European Challenge Cup champions host unbeaten table toppers Lyon after a heavy 42-15 defeat to Bordeaux-Begles last time out.
It’s the eighth and last round of Top 14 fixtures before the end of the World Cup in early November.
“We have to move on quickly because we have another tough game this weekend,” added McIntyre.
“If we can win this game it can put us in really good stead for the rest of the season when the boys come back from the World Cup it gives us more and more momentum.
“It will be really great to finish with a win before the break,” he added.
Elsewhere billionaire-backed Stade Francais, who are bottom of the standings, will be without former South Africa back-rower Willem Alberts for the trip to Agen.
The 43-time Springbok has been ruled out for up to four months with a bicep injury with the Parisians’ head coach Heyneke Meyer still under pressure despite last Sunday’s win over Toulon.
Toulouse’s trip to Montpellier is the pick of the ties with the reigning champions, who have been without 11 squad members due to their World Cup commitments, having recovered after losing three from their opening four fixtures.
This weekend’s Top 14 fixtures (all times 1600GMT unless stated)
Saturday
Montpellier v Toulouse (1330), Pau v Castres, Agen v Stade Francais, Toulon v Bayonne, Brive v Bordeaux-Begles, La Rochelle v Racing 92 (1845)
Sunday
Clermont v Lyon (1450)