Paris (AFP)

They have no excuse for a strike: Racing 92 and Stade Français, badly embarked since the start of the Top 14 season, must win at home against Montpellier and Pau, Saturday and Sunday during the 11th day, to make up for the delay.

. An Arena to win back

Brilliant in the European Cup where it points at the head of the "group of death" (Saracens, Munster), Racing has however still not found the right fuel in the championship, where it remains on a failure at home against Bordeaux-Bègles (30-34). The Arena in La Défense is anything but an impregnable fortress: in 5 matches, Racing lost 3 times (Bayonne, Lyon, UBB) and conceded a draw (Agen)!

For Eddy Ben Arous, the synthetic field of the performance hall has something to do with it: the adversaries "come with a lot of ambitions, in particular that of putting a big volume of play", estimates the left pillar.

And Racing pays the price. Eleventh with 5 points behind the current dams, he must beat Montpellier on Saturday (3:35 pm) to finally assert himself at home and not be left behind. "We have 16 matches left, we will have to win maybe 9 or 10," calculates coach Laurent Travers.

The technician is wary of the newcomer on the MHR side, Handré Pollard, crowned at the beginning of November world champion with South Africa and who must take his first steps in Top 14. The opener "will want to show all his talent and bring his stone to the building of Montpellier ... I hope he will wait another week, "said Travers.

. Paris threatened

A few kilometers away, the urgency is even stronger. Good last with 8 points behind the first non-relegation, the Stade Français will make the hypothesis of a descent in Pro D2 even more plausible in the event of another failure against the Section on Sunday (12:30 pm).

The dismissal of coach Heyneke Meyer in mid-November has so far not had the expected effect and the inexperienced coaching duo Julien Arias - Laurent Sempéré hopes for a spark. It is above all a question of not being left behind by Bayonne (10th), Castres (12th) and Agen (13th), which all have the advantage of hosting this weekend.

The Aviron faces Brive (8th) in a duel of graduates who are holding the road for the time being. Castrais and Agenais will not have the easy part against Lyon and Toulouse, two cadors who want to consolidate their place in the right wagon.

. Toulon, confirmation?

A wagon including Toulon (6th), unbeaten in all competitions since mid-October, ie 7 matches. After a transitional season, the RCT version Patrice Collazo is gaining consistency, but this requires confirmation against Clermont, a serious client.

ASM seemed to take off in the European Cup where it won 3 improved successes in 4 days. And she can once again line up her best second line: Sébastien Vahaahimina, whose suspension for the elbow kick inflicted on Welshman Aaron Wainwright in the quarterfinals of the World Cup has ended.

"Vahaa" is not the only second line which should play its first championship match: in front of it is expected Eben Etzebeth, another South African world champion freshly arrived in France in the wake of the Japanese triumph. A new headliner for Mayol who finds ambitions for the last season of historic president Mourad Boudjellal.

Ambitions, Christophe Urios' UBB, solid 2nd, has more than ever when it comes to facing La Rochelle, at the start of the less rowdy season. The Girondins will want to continue their flawless home (5/5 so far) and take another step towards a historic qualification for the final phase.

Saturday

(3.30 p.m.) Castres - Lyon

(3:35 p.m.) Bayonne - Brive

Racing 92 - Montpellier

(5:45 p.m.) Agen - Toulouse

Sunday

(12:30 p.m.) Stade Français - Pau

(4:45 p.m.) Bordeaux-Bègles - La Rochelle

(9 p.m.) Toulon - Clermont

© 2019 AFP