Pride at stake in Parisian Top 14 derby

Capital pride will be at stake in Top 14 action this weekend as Stade Francais take on cross-Paris rivals Racing-Metro, while table-toppers Toulon host struggling Toulouse.
While lacking the verbal jousts since Max Guazzini left Stade Francais, his successor as chairman Thomas Savare and Racing counterpart Jacky Lorenzetti continue in their bid to sell rugby in the hardest of markets, albeit with the highest number of registered players (48,000) in France -- the Parisian region of Ile de France.
"Stade Francais are at home and they will want revenge," Lorenzetti said in reference to his team's victory over Stade last season.
"It's a match we can't go into relaxed because (losing against Stade Francais) is the defeat that hurts the most in a season. It's the match I want absolutely to win over all other matches because it's the derby in the eye of fans, sponsors and officials."
A Parisian derby maybe, but unlikely to be a sell-out at the magnificent Jean-Bouin stadium, host of the recent Women's Rugby World Cup finals.
"It's a problem of choice with all other activities Parisians can do when they're there at the weekend," said Savare.
"It's up to us to attract them, to show them that it's a high-quality show in a beautiful stadium."
Lorenzetti's Racing play their rugby in the somewhat delapilated surrounds of the Yves-du-Manoir stadium in Colombes, where there was an average attendance figure of 7,900 last season, just 56 percent of capacity.
Located in northwest Paris, the stadium is not easily accessible, Lorenzetti bemoaning: "It's hellish to get there.
"We have a very good rate in getting fans in, but unfortunately they don't come back often because they're discouraged by the transport system, the welcome and parking around the stadium."
Champions Toulon, at the head of the Top 14 on 28 points after six victories in eight outings, entertain former four-time European title winners Toulouse in a late kick-off on Sunday.
The occasion will see Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny finally make his Toulon debut following his switch from Cardiff Blues in the off-season.
The British and Irish Lions kicker has suffered a frustrating start to life in the south of France and even had to listen to club president Mourad Boujellal threaten to tear up his contract over his injury problems.
Toulouse, 19-time French champions, last week ended a five-match losing streak with a 22-10 win over Stade Francais, sitting fourth from bottom, but still just two points ahead of last-place Oyonnax.
Under-fire Toulouse coach Guy Noves will have to watch the match from the stands, however, after picking up a one-game ban for having bad-mouthed a touch judge in last month's loss to Bayonne.
Better news for Toulouse came when ex-All Black hooker Corey Flynn was cleared to play, after having been red carded for stamping on an opponent's ankle in that same game.
Second-placed Clermont will seek to rebound from their shock 51-21 thrashing at Bordeaux-Begles when they host La Rochelle.
Montpellier, in fourth behind Racing, are at home to basement dwellers Oyonnax, with Castres travelling to fifth-placed Bordeaux-Begles and Bayonne away at Lyon.
In the only fixture played Friday, Gaetan Germain's missed conversion with a minute left cost Brive their first away win since February 2012 as Grenoble limped over the line 26-25.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday
Bordeaux-Begles v Castres (1235), Clermont v La Rochelle, Lyon v Bayonne, Montpellier v Oyonnax (all 1300), Stade Francais v Racing-Metro (1435)
Sunday
Toulouse v Toulon (1900)
Source: AFP