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Week 17 of the French domestic championship, the Top 14 will be played this weekend. Involved are to be a number of players from the Americas.
First up will be Grenoble vs Clermont, taking place this evening (local time) in eastern France. Of note is that Grenoble is the only club to not have had players on international duty last weekend. None of Clermont’s three players from the Americas are to be involved.
Game 2 this weekend will be the first of five Saturday matches with Brive entertaining the erratic Toulouse. The home side is 8th position ahead of clubs with vastly deeper rosters. Toulouse have named a very strong team featuring nine French internationals past or present. Also starting is former Puma Patricio Albacete.
Two clubs requiring competition points, Pau and Paris will meet at the foot of the Pyrenees on Saturday afternoon. Looking to secure a home win will be World Cup Puma Juan Pablo Orlandi who starts at tighthead prop. His compatriot, Santiago Fernández is back from injury and will feature on the bench. Not involved for Pau is Cam Pierce. The Canadian will start against Chile in Saturday’s Americas Rugby Championship final round fixture.
Second hosts thirteenth in the French capital with Racing 92 looking to bounce back from a loss last weekend. Agen, meanwhile, are coming off an impressive home win against La Rochelle. The home side has named a star-studded lineup including Pumas Manuel Carizza and Juan Imhoff. The U.S. eligible Dave Ryan will be a replacement for the visitors.
If any side is looking like being in prime condition to come away with five competition points this weekend it is Bordeaux. The club has been highly impressive, playing some scintillating rugby and doing so with a number of players likely to be future test stars. Their home match on Saturday is against bottom of the table Oyonnax who are yet to adjust to the departure of former Puma Benjamin Urdapilleta.
Urdapilleta will be in action in the final Saturday match as Castres play away to Montpellier. He will be joined by fellow Buenos Aires product Lucas Martínez who has been named as Castres’ replacement tighthead prop. Also on the bench is regular captain, Rodrigo Capó Ortega. The Uruguayan veteran is continues to perform at the elite level despite now being 34 years of age.
La Rochelle host Toulon in the final match this weekend. The fixture is to be played on Sunday with teams not to be announced until 24 hours prior to the match. Former Puma Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe is expected to start in the back-row.
