Top 14 (8th day). Always plucked, the cadors play big

Toulon, Bordeaux and Montpellier want to return to the top of the table, Toulouse and Racing with victory: still without their internationals, the top 14 players are playing big from Friday to Sunday during the 8e day, marked by the shock between La Rochelle and Clermont.

Toulouse (6 players summoned), Montpellier (5), Racing 92 (4), Toulon (4), Lyon (3), Bordeaux-Bègles (2), La Rochelle (2) and Stade Français (2) must therefore still get by without their French internationals, not to mention the Argentines, Fijians and Georgians also mobilized by their selection. Among these big teams, the only club not punctuated so far is… the leader, Clermont, who has just chained 4 successes in a row. Coincidence? First caïd on the bridge this weekend, Toulon (8e ) however finds his scrum-half Baptiste Serin, not retained by the Blues and who will not be too much for the reception of Brive (12e ) Friday.

The atmosphere should be as cheerful in Marcel-Deflandre, even behind closed doors, for the clash between La Rochelle (2e ) and Clermont (1is ) which will end the day on Sunday evening.

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