- 1 Section Paloise vs Aviron Bayonnais: four points apiece for this South West derby
- 2 Section Paloise won the game they had to win
- 3 Aviron Bayonnais got away with one
- 4 Rugby prediction Section Paloise vs Aviron Bayonnais
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Section Paloise vs Aviron Bayonnais: four points apiece for this South West derby 
Section Paloise and Bayonne both sit on four points after the first round of Top 14 action. Both clubs won their opener, one away from home, the other on their own patch.
The derby takes place on Saturday 12 September at 16:35, as part of the afternoon multiplex. Canal+ and Canal+ Live will show the game.
Section Paloise are third in the standings after their 27-19 win at Montpellier. That away victory already looks valuable in a season that is only just getting going.
Aviron Bayonnais are sixth after edging RC Toulon 27-26 at Jean-Dauger. A one-point win, a defensive bonus left to the visitors, but the result got over the line.
These two clubs share a region and a rivalry that goes far beyond the table. Games like this are rarely decided by current form alone.
Even so, Section Paloise looked the more composed side on opening weekend, controlling the game away from home. That is the clearest gap between the two starts.
Section Paloise won the game they had to win 
Section Paloise won 27-19 at Montpellier on the opening weekend. The Bearnaise side were in charge for most of the contest.
Pau were already 0-10 up by the 36th minute on a poor Montpellier pitch. Marta then stretched the lead just before the break to make it 7-17.
Montpellier fought back after half-time, but Maddocks’ try in the 65th minute put the Bearnaise side back in front. A penalty in the 72nd minute finally put the result beyond doubt.
Sebastien Piqueronies got the job done without his captain Lenni Nouchi, who was not in the squad. To leave out a key leader for your first away trip and still win says plenty about the depth in this group.
Beka Gorgadze picked up a yellow card just before the break, which allowed Montpellier to score their first try. Discipline remains the main concern.
Third in the table, Section Paloise are now at home and can build a run. That is exactly the kind of start an ambitious club wants.
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Aviron Bayonnais got away with one 
Bayonne beat Toulon 27-26 to launch their 2026-2027 season. The win was sealed by a single point in the dying minutes.
Rayan Rebbadj’s brace for Toulon hauled the visitors level and earned them the defensive bonus. Bayonne dropped a point that could matter later in the season.
Still, getting the job done at Jean-Dauger on opening day was the main target, and they ticked that box. The Basque club banked four points while plenty of sides stumbled at the first hurdle.
The downside was the manner of it: Bayonne were dragged back into the contest and did not shut it down early enough. That lack of control over the final 20 minutes is a warning sign.
Sixth in the standings, Aviron now head into their first away game of the season. A derby backdrop does not make it any easier to fix those cracks.
Bayonne do know these local battles well, where attitude matters more than the table. That is probably their best card at the Hameau.
Projected Section Paloise line-up : Not announced at time of publication.
Projected Aviron Bayonnais line-up : Not announced at time of publication.
Rugby prediction Section Paloise vs Aviron Bayonnais
Our prediction: Section Paloise to win
Section Paloise won their first game away from home by controlling the score almost from start to finish, while Bayonne had to scrap at home to win by a single point. The difference in control between the two opening performances is clear.
Section are at home, and their three tries at Montpellier showed a side that can score without leaning only on the boot. Bayonne, meanwhile, were hauled back by Toulon and could not contain the response.
Section Paloise to win in front of their own crowd. The play is on a Bearnaise victory.
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