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New La Rochelle signings Theo Macfarland and young second-row Thomas Adelaide are set for their first Top 14 starts as Ronan O’Gara’s heavily refreshed side kick off their campaign against champions Toulouse at Stade Marcel Deflandre on Sunday night.
Backrow Sam Tuifua is also set to make his Top 14 debut off the bench, while famous-name fly-half Sacha Elissalde, 19, will continue a long-standing family tradition at the club, if he makes his first French championship appearance off the bench.
Dillyn Leyds and Simeli Daunivucu are back in the starting line-up after missing the end of last season with injury, as O’Gara – expected to sign a new four-year deal at the club in the coming days – looks to begin the season with a big-game scalp.
Opposite number Ugo Mola, meanwhile, has wasted no time bringing sole new arrival Tommaso Menoncello straight into a starting line-up that also features under-20 French international Romeo Bonnard-Martin.
On Saturday, Clermont boss Christophe Urios was left to rue his side’s first-up indiscipline after their opening weekend 40-36 loss at Lyon. Penalty after penalty helped the hosts build a 37-10 lead as the clock ticked past the hour, meaning the Jaunards had too steep a hill to climb, despite four tries in the final quarter.
Ben Stevenson’s 75m effort just after the hour kickstarted a late fightback for promoted Vannes at Castres – but, like Clermont, they left their fightback too late. From 29-6 heading into the final quarter, it finished 29-20 in favour of the home side.
Another so-near, so-far fightback at Stade Jean Bouin, where home side Stade Francais ended up hanging on to win 28-26 against Perpignan, having been 28-6 up at the break. It’s worth searching social media for Theo Forner’s highlight reel try.
Two tries for Rayan Rebbadj weren’t quite enough for Toulon to open their Top 14 campaign with a win. But his second, with the clock in the red, ensured a losing bonus at Bayonne in another close match – it ended 27-26.
They may be Challenge Cup holders and Top 14 finalists, but Montpellier have developed an unfortunate habit of losing their first home game of the season. Their 27-19 loss against Pau at Septeo Stadium – Joe Simmonds scored a try, three conversions and two penalties – was their third in as many seasons. Losing both props to yellow cards in the first 10 minutes of the match won’t have helped Montpellier’s cause.
Bordeaux – a side with a point to prove after they missed out on the play-offs last season – raced into a 38-0 first-half lead against Racing 92, despite spending 20 minutes of it with 14 on the pitch after prop Lasha Pkhakadze was shown the first orange card of the season.
Cameron Woki, new signing Tom Willis and Louis Bielle-Biarrey all scored braces as the hosts ran in 10 tries in a 64-5 opening day shellacking – leaving Racing manager Patrice Collazo with plenty to think about on the bus home ahead of their match at home against Lyon next weekend.