Sunday 21 September 2014 10:16, UK
Reigning French and European champions Toulon will aim to rediscover form on Friday night as they visit Amedee Domenech for a Top 14 clash with Brive.
Toulon were beaten 23-10 on their last visit to Brive, who historically have proven a formidable opposition on home soil, but the defending champions will head into Friday’s clash favourites.
Bernard Laporte’s men do enter Round 6 on the back of a second defeat of the season however, with Stade Francais becoming the first side to successfully invade Stade Mayol this term.
Nicolas Godignon’s Brive have already suffered defeat at the hands of Clermont and only just edged out Toulouse in a less impressive start on home soil.
Tries from Alexandre Flanquart and Julien Arias as well as 12 points from the boot of Jules Plisson saw Toulon humbled, losing at home for the first time since January.
Toulon will be desperate to ensure they produce a better goal-kicking display after missing out on 20 points from the tee against Stade Francais.
Laporte will hope the return of a fit-again Matt Giteau at fly-half will go some way to make amends.
Meanwhile, Brive will be out to curb their disciplinary problems after picking up four yellow cards in a 23-6 reverse at Bayonne last Saturday.
Giteau returns to join Sebastien Tillous-Borde in the half-backs, while Delon Armitage, James O’Connor and Drew Mitchell form a potent back three.
Chris Masoe captains Toulon from No 8 and is joined in the pack by Springbok flanker Juan Smith and the highly-rated Georgian lock Mamuka Gorgodze.
Heavyweights Steffon Armitage and Mathieu Bastareaud are kept in reserve on the bench, while David Smith and Carl Hayman offer Laporte plenty of strength in depth.
Meanwhile, lock Arnaud Mela leads Brive and stands alongside Peet Marais in the second row, with Petrus Hauman, Poutasi Luafutu and Sisa Koyamaibole teaming up in the back row.
Gatean Germain is handed the full-back jersey with Malakai Bakaniceva and Guillaume Namy occupying the wings.
Fijian flyer Benito Masilevu, who came on to score as Brive stunned Toulouse in Round 4, again starts from the bench.
Brive: 15 Gaetan Germain, 14 Malakai Bakaniceva, 13 Arnaud Mignardi, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Guillaume Namy, 10 Thomas Laranjeira, 9 Jean-Baptiste Pejoine; 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 2 Guillame Ribes, 3 Kevin Buys, 4 Peet Marais, 5 Arnaud Mela (capt), 6 Petrus Hauman, 7 Poutasi Luafutu, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole
Replacements: 16 Thomas Acquier, 17 Johannes Coetzee, 18 Russlan Boukerou, 19 Huues Briatte, 20 Damien Neveu, 21 Sevanaia Galala, 22 Benito Masilevu, 23 Pat Barnard
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Rudi Wulf, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Alexandre Menini, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Levan Chilachava, 4 Mamuka Gorgodze, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 6 Juan Smith, 7 Vergile Bruni, 8 Chris Masoe (capt)
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Jocelino Suta, 19.Steffon Armitage, 20 Mathieu Bastareaud, 21 David Smith, 22 Eric Escande, 23 Carl Hayman
Watch Brive v Toulon live on Sky Sports 2HD from 7:30pm
