Here’s part two of our Top 14 season preview, covering from last season’s beaten finalists Montpellier to Toulouse, who finished third in the standings.
Montpellier
Head coach: Vern Cotter
Last season: 1st (runners-up)
After dominating the regular Top 14 season, it ended in disappointment for Montpellier following their loss to Castres in the showpiece event. Vern Cotter’s men were outplayed in the final, succumbing 29-13 and leaving some supporters angry at their failure to claim the title.
They are back for another tilt at the championship, however, and should be strong once again. Recruitment has been minimal but Johan Goosen, Julien Ledevedec and Levan Chilachava are astute signings, while the departures of Jesse Mogg and Joe Tomane should not prove damaging to their chances.
The 2017/18 runners up are therefore in a strong position on paper but, after failing to win the league, there will be questions over their mentality heading into the new campaign.
Player to watch: Johan Goosen
The South African international has had a strange and controversial couple of years having initially signed a new contract at previous club Racing 92, only to ‘retire’ from the sport in 2016. Some thought it was a ploy from Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad to get him out of a lengthy deal at the Parisians, but either way Goosen has ended up at Vern Cotter’s men. Considering he hasn’t played much rugby since 2016, the pressure is on for the 26-year-old to perform.
Pau
Head coach: Simon Mannix
Last season: 8th
Another club who are desperate to break into the highest echelons of the French game, Pau almost claimed a top-six place last season but just fell short.
They should be in with a shout of reaching the play-offs, despite the retirement of centre Conrad Smith. There is more than enough talent in the squad to put pressure on the likes of Toulon, Racing 92 and Montpellier, but they probably don’t quite have the depth of the other top teams.
They are still strong, however, and Simon Mannix’s task will no doubt be to take guide the squad into the end of season shake-up, but Pau may narrowly miss out once again.
Player to watch: Colin Slade
Steffon Armitage would have been in the equation but his nasty Achilles injury could sideline him for a large portion of the season. We therefore went for Slade, who is the team’s only recognised fly-half. While Benson Stanley and Tom Taylor can fill in there, and no doubt the scrum-halves will be able to play at 10, Slade is the out-and-out choice for pivot. He had a good season in the 2017/18 but the pressure is on to repeat those displays, otherwise Pau’s campaign could derail.
Perpignan
Head coach: Christian Lanta
Last season: Pro D2 – 1st (defeated Grenoble in Pro D2 promotion play-off)
Most would argue that Perpignan are finally back where they belong after a four-year absence from the Top 14. The Catalan outfit won the title as recently as 2009 and were defeated by Clermont Auvergne in the final a year later.
They are back, however, and re-energised after their time away, although a battle in the bottom half of the table surely awaits?
The squad appears stronger than fellow promoted outfit Grenoble and, by signing David Mele and controversial fly-half Paddy Jackson, they will have an experience half-back pairing.
Wandile Mjekevu and Afusipa Taumoepeau are also decent buys so they should be competitive and stave off relegation, but it is always difficult for the sides coming up from ProD2 to thrive.
Player to watch: Paddy Jackson
A good move for both parties with Perpignan signing an international fly-half and Jackson getting away from the media spotlight back in the UK, even if his actions were deplorable. The pivot has been given an opportunity to rebuild his career and this may be the ideal move for him.
Racing 92
Head coach: Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers
Last season: 2nd (play-off semi-finalists)
At one stage, Racing were in contention for the Champions Cup and Top 14 last season but they were undone in the latter stages of both. While their loss to Leinster in Europe wasn’t entirely surprising, they would have been hugely disappointed by the defeat to Castres in the domestic semis.
A potentially silverware-laden campaign therefore descended into frustration for the 2016 league winners. Still, the Parisians should very much be in contention once again after supplementing an already strong squad with the additions of Simon Zebo and Finn Russell.
Fabien Sanconnie and Dominic Bird have also arrived to further bolster a pretty fearsome forward pack, so the co-head coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers have few excuses should they fail to at least match their performance from last year.
In fact, another season without a trophy may well be deemed unacceptable by the hierarchy at Racing, who have made them into one of the top European forces.
Player to watch: Finn Russell
Has been brought into replace Dan Carter, who ended his stint in France by moving to Japan at the end of the season. Interestingly, Pat Lambie was the player favoured at fly-half by the coaches during the previous campaign, but no doubt Russell will have large part to play in 2018/19. Logic dictates that the Scottish international should have plenty of fun behind the Parisians’ gargantuan forward eight, but Racing must be wary not to shackle his talents by being too structured.
Stade Francais
Head coach: Heyneke Meyer
Last season: 12th
Following a campaign which almost ended in disaster, Stade Francais will hope it won’t be repeated under new head coach Heyneke Meyer. There was plenty of positivity heading into 2017/18 with billionaire Hans-Peter Wild taking over and easing their financial concerns, but it never transferred onto the field.
They struggled throughout and only just avoided finishing in the bottom two, but matters should be much improved this time around.
The squad was reasonably strong last season, despite their issues, and they have only added to the depth with Malie Hingano, Yoann Maestri, Tala Gray and Gael Fickou looking excellent purchases.
Nicolas Sanchez has also agreed to join and is set to move to Paris in January 2019 so, providing that Meyer can get his ideas across successfully, Stade could be an outside bet for the top-six.
Player to watch: Arthur Coville
The scrum-half had plenty of game time last season but the exceedingly talented youngster may well be out-an-out first choice this year. Fresh from helping France claim the World Rugby U20 Championship, Coville has the capabilities of becoming a regular for the national team. Although Piet van Zyl has been brought in from London Irish to bolster the stocks at scrum-half, expect the 20-year-old to star for the Parisians.
Toulon
Head coach: Patrice Collazo
Last season: 4th (barrages)
The enigma that is Toulon. With the backing and the array of stars they have at their disposal, they really should have won more domestic titles, but nothing is every easy at the Stade Mayol.
With owner Mourad Boudjellal continuing his slightly petulant ways and, as a result, continually overhauling the coaching staff, they have never quite found a distinctive style.
When they were successful, particularly during the Jonny Wilkinson-Matt Giteau era, a lot of it felt player-driven, but perhaps Patrice Collazo is the man to change that?
Having arrived on the Med following his departure from La Rochelle, it will be interesting to see whether he takes the same approach.
With the departure of some key players, including Ma’a Nonu, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Semi Radradra, Duane Vermeulen and Chris Ashton, expectations might be lower this season, but they will still expect to compete at the top.
Rhys Webb is an excellent signing at half-half and, although there are still concerns around the pivot role, Anthony Belleau and Louis Carbonel have the talent to ease those worries.
Player to watch: Julian Savea
Quite simply, Savea has been mediocre by his high standards over the past couple of years and has deservedly not been near All Blacks selection in 2018. That pace, which accompanied his explosive power, seems to have disappeared somewhat, thus lessening his impact in contact. The wing was not particularly effective for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and was outshone by team-mate Ben Lam, but Toulon will have high hopes for him nonetheless. When Joe Rokocoko, once a great of the game, departed New Zealand, he seemed like a busted flush but has ended up having a fine career in France – let’s hope the same happens with Savea.
Toulouse
Head coach: Ugo Mola
Last season: 3rd (barrages)
Toulouse endured an awful 2016/17, finishing in 12th, but showed a significant development last season by ending the campaign in third. They were unable to progress beyond the barrages, however, after succumbing to eventual champions Castres in the knockout stages.
In many ways, it was a strange season for Les Rouge et Noir, who displayed improved performances and were, on the league standings at least, the third best team, but there were still considerable weaknesses in their game.
It was not a surprise that they lose to Christophe Urios’ men and you would have backed the other top-six sides to beat them as well, even at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
With Gael Fickou, Tala Gray and Yoann Maestri all departing for Stade Francais, it could be a tough year for Ugo Mola’s men. Jerome Kaino has bolstered their pack and Pierre Fouyssac is a good addition to the backline, but it appears to be a weaker squad than in 2017/18.
Player to watch: Pierre Fouyssac
Everyone knows about what Jerome Kaino can offer and also the rest of the Toulouse first XV, but a lesser name to many outside the Top 14 who may star is Fouyssac. The 23-year-old was excellent for Agen last season and, with long-time servants Yann David, Florian Fritz and Gael Fickou departing, Les Rouge et Noir need others to step up. Theo Belan has signed from Lyon and should impress but the ex-France U20 representative may well be crucial for the French giants this year.
by Colin Newboult