The top four teams clash with Toulouse hosting Toulon and Clermont welcoming Castres, whilst Paris will be divided as Stade Francais and Racing Metro meet in the capital in the twelfth round of the French Top 14.
Friday
Bordeaux-Begles v Brive 19:45
Following Biarritz's second victory of the season in the fiery mid-week Basque derby, Bordeaux-Begles find themselves just three points above the relegation places, despite registering four victories in their opening ten matches this season. Their visitors Brive are just shy of the Heineken Cup places in eighth place, but only four points separate them from Friday's hosts Bordeaux.
Following back-to-back wins in Europe, Brive performed superbly against league leaders Toulouse last week to come away with a hard-earned draw. Victory would put space between themselves and the gaggle of sides fighting for survival. Bordeaux's last home match in the Top 14 saw them pull off a surprise victory over high-flying Castres, and they will be looking to end a run of three defeats in all competitions. Bordeaux by less than 3.
Saturday
Toulouse v Toulon 13:05
Two of the form sides of the Top 14 clash at the Stade Ernest-Wallon as Toulouse take on Toulon. Toulouse are undefeated in six matches in all competitions, although the league leaders missed an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table with a draw against Brive last weekend. Toulon also drew at the weekend “ their second of a season that has already seen six matches end tied after eleven rounds. Toulouse's performances have been lacklustre of late, but they have managed to grind out victories nevertheless.
Last week Toulon drew at Castres, the last side to defeat Toulouse, a decent result in the context of Castres season so far. Johnny Wilkinson's kicking has so far helped drive Toulon forward, and his consistent kicking and points accruing could be key in breaking Toulouse's undefeated run, and keep the Mediterranean side in the hunt for the play-offs come the end of the season. Toulon by less than 3
Clermont Auvergne v Castres 13:15
Clermont will be looking to bounce back from their surprise defeat against Montpellier last week as they host the side directly below them in the league, Castres. Clermont go into the fixture with history on their side “ the visitors have beaten them just once in the last seven seasons. With Toulouse facing a difficult challenge against Toulon this weekend, it is a huge opportunity for both sides to keep the league leaders in check (or regain the lead, in Clermont's case). Castres will be more than aware that both Toulon and Racing Metro are hot on their heels, and defeat against Clermont could see them drop out of the top four. Explosive attacking flair combined with home advantage should see Clermont get back to winning ways before the onset of the second round of Heineken Cup fixtures. Clermont by more than 5.
Stade Francais v Racing Metro 15:15
Both sets of coaches will be hoping the second derby in the space of four days in the Top 14 will be remembered for the rugby, and not for pitch invading fathers, as was the case in the heated Basque derby on Tuesday. Stade will have a point to prove, having seen themselves removed as the top side in the country's capital in the last couple of years. Racing's 29-16 victory last season showed just how far they have come in the ten years since they were annihilated by their more illustrious neighbours 103-15 in 2000. Both sides have belatedly returned to winning ways after a slow start to the 2011-12 season. Europe aside, Racing have been in good stead, and find themselves level on points with fourth placed Toulon. Stade have been in a boisterous mood of late, with crushing victories against Perpignan and title contenders Clermont sandwiching strong performances in the Challenge Cup. Saturday's game promises to be highly entertaining. Both sides have been scoring tries for fun, so expect a high scoring, intense encounter in the capital. Stade by less than 7.
Sunday
Agen v Bayonne 14:00
Agen's superb start to the season continued last week as they defeated Bordeaux-Begles to keep up their dream of Heineken Cup rugby this season. While realistically they will be glad for the large cushion they have built up between themselves and the relegation zone, it is hard to ignore their plucky run of form. They find themselves just two points behind fourth and fifth placed Toulon and Racing Metro, and with the top sides tied up against one another they have every chance of moving further up the table.
They will be helped no ends by their opponent's recent plight. Not only will Bayonne be carrying that moral crushing hangover of defeat to bitter rivals Biarritz, but also the physical aches and wounds that accompany a side having to play a third game in nine games. Agen by more than 7.
Lyon v Perpignan 14:00
If Bayonne will suffer having played only five days before Sunday's match, Lyon will only feel worse. Following their forced break due to the mumps outbreak within the squad, they are feeling the pain of a congested fixture list. Following Biarritz's mid-week victory and their own defeat at home to Montpellier, last season's D2 champions find themselves bottom of the Top 14. They have lost twice in the space of a few days to sides around them near the foot of the table, and will be desperate not to make it a third as they host fellow strugglers Perpignan.
Perpignan travel to Lyon for the first time since 1994, and will hope for a repeat of that last visit when they won 27-18. It has now been over two months since the former champions recorded a victory, and after last weekend's defeat at home to Stade Francais, they have conceded more points by everybody but Biarritz. It won't be a pretty affair, but the points will be invaluable to the victor. Perpignan by less than 7.
Biarritz v Montpellier 16:05
This match doesn't promise to be the most exciting in the competition's history. Both sides will be jaded following mid-week fixtures, although Biarritz will be boosted following their last minute victory in the Basque derby. Montpellier will also feel some rejuvenation following a strong victory away to Lyon, but the season so far would suggest Sunday's game will struggle to excite those making the trip to the Parc des Sports Aquilera. Biarritz have managed just seven tries this season, whilst their opponents haven't fared much better, with just nine to their name. For all the confidence a first win since September will have given Biarritz, they have still conceded the most points, and most tries this season. Montpellier will be out for a third win on the bounce, and will not find a better place all season to improve their try count. Montpellier by less than 7.
