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In this period of festivities, the Top 14 regains its rights after the European truce. The Boxing Day weekend, counting for the twelfth day of the championship, promises to offer fans beautiful shows. Rugby takes the opportunity to provide support to nursing staff.
La Rochelle – Montpellier
The first duel opposes Stade Rochelais to Montpellier. The Maritimes appear on their turf as the championship firsts. The year 2020 smiled on the men of Jono Gibbes who end the year on the hats of wheels. The European matches brought confidence, especially the victory on the lawn of Murrayfield. Conversely, Montpellier is connected to alternating current and has accumulated errors at home. Xavier Garbajosa fails to take his club off the bottom of the standings, despite a recent feat against Clermont.
Photo credit: actu.fr
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Brive – Lyon
Second match of the week for the Brivists, their dashing in Castraise land (24-25) shows that the Corréziens have good intentions of the game. The fight led by the Brivists is enough to worry the Lyon defense. Brive won their confrontation against Lyon last season (30-16), the one that will forever be the last before the end of the championship followed by a long break in confinement. So difficult to get a favorite out of this poster, will Brive remain sovereign in Amédée Domenech?
Castres – Bayonne
The Castres must imperatively make up for their failure at the beginning of the week if they do not want to see the specter of a descent into hell offered to them. Bayonne would be well tempted to play the spoilsport against a team lacking in dynamism. Knowing that Yannick Bru’s men were able to defend their beefsteak against the English Leicester. A hotly contested fight is expected in Castres. Castres must get out of the red zone as quickly as possible if he wants to spend a more serene second half of the championship.
Pau – French Stadium
The new Pau team, promoted on December 9 because of the poor results at the start of the season, must react as quickly as possible. The Béarnais have not tasted victory since October 17, yet the team occupied third place after five meetings. Since then, the Vert et Blanc have experienced a long slump and occupy eleventh place at a point in the red zone of the Castres. The Parisians are moving to try to stay hooked to the top six. An away victory over the holiday season would put the team in a good position to play their card in the play-off race.
Photo credit: Rugbyrama
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Racing – Agent
Racing should not suffer against Agen, a team which has still not experienced victory. The Parisians have struck twice in the Champions Cup. They will play in an uninhibited manner against Agen who will try all the same to do his maximum against the bulldozer that is Racing at present. Too powerless since the start of the season, the Agenais do not seem to be able to come back
Toulouse – Bordeaux
From one end of the Garonne to the other, rugby is also played in the stands. However, it will be necessary to do without for this derby. The Toulousains receive a Bordeaux club in full doubt. Christophe Urios’ players go to Toulouse with the ambition to catch up with the leading group. Yohan Huget’s partners are not used to shaking at home. The last three games concluded with three successes should be confirmed by a fourth victory in a row. The meeting may be rough between the two staff who wish to offer a nice gift to their loved ones.
Toulon – Clermont
What could be better than a meeting between the two rival clubs to end the Boxing Day weekend? The two teams have been on the same line since the start of the season. Tied in the standings, the tension will be at its maximum in Mayol. The Clermontois will field a slightly reshaped team. Camille Lopez, who has played almost all of the matches since September, should breathe a little while leaving his place to Tim Nanaï-Williams. Wesley Fofana should also return to the field after many months of absence. The Clermont center will have to do a good part to regain its position as holder. Toulon and its large armada of world-class players will certainly become Clermont’s nightmare. Far too penalized against the Irish in the Champions Cup, ASM must rectify its behavior if the players do not want to concede a heavy setback in the harbor. The shock of Boxing Day is also very undecided but promises its share of reversals.
The Top 14 meetings at the end of the year are also an opportunity for clubs to take stock of the start of the season. This is a pivotal moment that should not be missed.
Featured image credit: © RMC Sport
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