Toulon and Racing launch new Top 14 season

European champions Toulon kick off the French Top 14 campaign on Friday with Dan Carter's new club Racing 92 the visitors to the Stade Mayol.

New Zealand fly-half Carter is on World Cup duty with both sides missing key players ahead of the tournament in England.

Toulon are deprived of Matt Giteau and Frederic Michalak at fly-half so South African Willie du Plessis -- who arrived from the Cheetahs for the duration of the World Cup -- or 21-year-old Australian Ulupano Seuteni will start at number ten.

"I'm happy to be here, I have a lot to learn especially technically and in terms of managing the game," said Du Plessis, who was in the stands last Friday as Toulon beat Stade Francais 31-14 in a friendly.

"It (the atmosphere) was incredible. In South Africa, we don't see a lot of fans singing and cheering like this. I cannot wait to see what happens this Friday (against Racing) if I get to play," added Du Plessis.
Racing, who were overwhelmed by Parisian rivals Stade in the quarter-finals last season after reaching the last eight in the European Champions Cup, have their eyes on silverware.

"The ambition of the club is to win a title, we will not hide it. It (the season) is a very long road, but we will try to get there," said scrum-half Maxime Machenaud who was omitted from France's Rugby World Cup squad.

On Sunday, champions Stade Francais welcome new boys Pau to the Stade Jean Bouin with Gonzalo Quesada challenging his side to deal with the "extra pressure" this season.

The Parisians secured three victories over both Racing and Toulon on their way to a 14th French title last term, but Quesada knows it will be a lot tougher this season.

"Last season we were champions with all our players available. We had continuity, whereas this season we will have to manage without 13 to 14 international players during the World Cup," said the Argentine coach.

Sunday's opponents Pau, who won the second-tier Pro D2 last season, are back in the top flight after a nine-year absence under head coach Simon Mannix.

Backed by commercial partner Total, the southwest club have spent big on the likes of New Zealand's 90-cap centre Conrad Smith and his international compatriot, fly-half Colin Slade.
They were hammered 40-14 by fellow newcomers Agen in a friendly recently, but Mannix is confident ahead of their trip to Paris.

"In our recruitment, I was looking for the experience of past players with clubs which have a high level of demand," said the Kiwi coach.

Elsewhere, last season's Top 14 and European runners-up Clermont launch their campaign at La Rochelle on Saturday.

22-year-old former France under-18 captain Paul Jedrasiak will play a big role this season after realising a "childhood dream" as he deputised for the injured Jamie Cudmore towards the end of last term.

Jedrasiak faced doping suspicions by former French prop Laurent Benezech in 2013 after putting on 20kg in six months, but he attributed the weight gain to hard work.

"Like the New Zealanders and South Africans, who are the reference point in our sport, we must be athletic, toned and mobile," said Jedrasiak.

Les Jaunards will likely start Enzo Sanga or Charlie Cassang at scrum-half in the absence of Morgan Parra (World Cup duty) and Ludovic Radosavljevic (injured).
Also on Saturday, Toulouse -- who have the division's biggest budget -- begin life without France incumbent Guy Noves by welcoming Brive to the Stade Ernst Wallon.

Toulouse youngsters such as Arthur Bonneval and Thomas Ramos could be given a run out by new head coach Ugo Mola against a Brive side who won just once on the road last season.

Bordeaux-Begles -- who will play all home games at the Stade Chaban-Delmas from now on -- host 2014 champions Castres, who come off the back of a 19-5 friendly win over Irish province Connacht.

Montpellier, who have signed an influx of South African internationals, host Oyonnax, who brought in new director of rugby Olivier Azam to replace Christophe Urios, now of Castres.

Newly-promoted Agen, who have the division's smallest budget, travel to the Alps to face Grenoble.
Source: AFP