It’s been a hectic start to the new Top 14 season with four rounds of games being played in just two and a half weeks. Although it’s still very early days, Le Rugby analyses the form of each team and what the future may hold between now and May.

Agen
It’s no real surprise to see Agen struggling after a start that’s seen them lose three of their first four games. They’d snap your hand off if you offered them a 12th place finish come the end of the season. However, there have been signs in the last week that they’re finding their feet, thanks to a solid win over last year’s Heineken Cup finalists Biarritz and a losing bonus point defeat away to Bourgoin. The Stade Armandie was bouncing for the visit of the Basques – more of the same will be needed from the home fans as home wins will be vital to Agen’s hopes of survival. Grade: B

Bayonne
There are few more infuriating teams in the Top 14 than Bayonne. They should have been relegated last season, yet find themselves in joint top place this time around. Their opening weekend win away at Toulon was arguably the result of the season so far. They’ve followed that up with solid wins against Brive and Agen. They were also competitive in defeat away at Castres. Marquee signing Benjamin Boyet has settled in well to life at the Stade Jean Dauger and will be an influential figure in the months to come. Grade: A

Biarritz
It’s not a great time to be a Biarritz fan. They’ve failed to build on the opening weekend win over Montpellier, losing at home to Toulon and on the road to Agen and USAP. The rumblings behind the scenes are not just Serge Blanco’s ever expanding stomach, but also that all is not well at a club that’s under-performed badly in recent years. The team is in need of a major overhaul, Yachvili, Thion, Barcella and Harinordoquy apart. Their decision to allow fly-half Valentin Courrent to join Agen could prove to be a huge clanger. Grade: D

Bourgoin
Week 4’s crucial, if unspectacular win over Agen has finally kick-started Bourgoin’s season. They were awful in losing their first three games, failing to register a try or even a losing bonus point. It’s hard not to have a soft spot for a club that consistently defeats the odds, despite hemorrhaging talented players at an alarming rate. However, this season could finally be the one that sees les Berjalliens drop down to the obscurity of Pro D2. Indeed, most observers seem to have written them off already, but I haven’t yet. They like a fight down in deepest, darkest South Eastern France. Grade: D

Brive
It’s been an uninspiring start for Brive. The home win over equally unimpressive USAP apart, they’ve failed to show enough to suggest this season will be anything other than a struggle, although they were competitive in Bayonne in midweek. The days of big-money overseas recruits seem to over at Brive. Admirable as this stance is, it does paint a pretty bleak picture for the Stade Amédée-Domenech faithful in the months to come. The Limousin outfit have enough to keep their heads above water, but a top-half finish seems nothing more than a rêve de pipe. Grade: C

Castres
Last season’s surprise packages Castres began this season with a horror show in La Rochelle, but have fought back well beating Toulouse and Bayonne, whilst coming within a whisker of beating Paris in the nation’s capital on Wednesday night. This is a team that will never set your pantalons en feu, but they’re a genuine threat to the league’s big guns who will be looking for another end-of-season play-off berth. Diminutive, metronomic kicker Romain Teulet will be crucial in the weeks and months to come, as will the form of an under-rated pack of forwards. Grade: B

Clermont
Despite being only three points off top spot, stuttering is the best way to describe les Auvergnats’ start to the season. Two away defeats that failed to yield a losing bonus point to probable top-six rivals USAP and Racing Metro was not what the doctor ordered. A comfortable, regulation home win over Brive followed an unimpressive victory in Bourgoin. It’s dangerously early to be making such bold predictions, but I fancy this year could be a let-down for the yellow shirted ones. Having finally got the Bouclier monkey off their back, the Heineken Cup could be their focus this year. Grade: C

La Rochelle
Supporters of Stade Rochelais currently have a smile as wide as Bernard Laporte’s centre parting. What a start to the season for a team that was tipped by many a wise sage to be relegated before the Six Nations comes to an end. They’ve beaten both Castres and Bourgoin, whilst also picking up a useful losing bonus point against Toulon in midweek. They did take a bit of a hiding in Paris, but even then they showed enough to suggest they can be competitive at this level. It won’t be pretty, but they’ll fancy their chances in a dogfight with the likes of Agen and Bourgoin. Grade: A

Montpellier
All hail the team of the season so far. Montpellier have been wet lettuces in recent seasons, only doing enough when it really matters to keep their place in the top flight. However, after a competitive opening day defeat in Biarritz, they’ve chalked up notable wins over Toulouse and Racing Metro and, most impressively of all, away to USAP that have catapulted les Heraultais to a share of the top spot. The new Stade Yves-du-Manoir is developing a reputation as a tough place to visit with an intimidating atmosphere, with a finish inside the top 10 being a realistic target. Grade: A*

Perpignan
Ugly is probably the best way to describe USAP’s opening four games. Regulation, if unconvincing wins over Clermont and Biarritz have been interspersed with disappointing defeats to Brive, and more damagingly at home to Montpellier. The lack of a recognised outside half continues to paralyse the Catalan outfit, who huffed and puffed their way to a 17-12 verdict over Biarritz on Wednesday night. No serious damage has been done yet, but a noticeable improvement is required if they’re to repeat the heroics of the last two seasons. Grade: C

Racing-Metro
The upstart Parisiens have enjoyed an excellent start to proceedings and look well set for a stellar season. It’s hard not to be impressed by the way they go about their business. The team is a healthy balance of experienced professionals such as Sébastien Chabal and Lionel Nallet, and young guns such as explosive centre Henri Chavancy. Unexpected wins on the road to Brive and Toulon were followed up by a comprehensive victory over reigning champions Clermont in midweek, a game in which the home crowd generated a great atmosphere. This is a team on the up. Grade: A

Stade Francais
New head coach Michael Cheika couldn’t have wished for a better start, with his charges topping the table. If you’re looking for entertainment look no further than Paris, whose four games have averaged 62 points each time. There remains a nagging doubt however, as their three wins have come at home against lowly La Rochelle and Bourgoin, as well as an almost-blew-it-at-the-death verdict over Castres, while they took a bit of a pasting in Toulouse. Still, this is an improvement on the woes of last season so expect a more competitive effort this time around. Grade: B

Toulon
Take a trip to any restaurant in Toulon and you’ll find plenty of humble pie on the menu. Some of the pre-season predictions made by smaller, inferior French rugby websites were laughable. Yes, this is an improving team, but no way are they ready to challenge for the title this season. Mourad Boudjellal has looked a worried man as he’s watched his dream team lose at home to Bayonne and Racing-Metro whilst making hard work of wins over La Rochelle and Biarritz. The shortcomings of a back-line that’s devoid of creativity have been masked slightly by a tough-as-teak pack of forwards. Grade: C

Toulouse
The aristocrats of French rugby have been their usual slow-starting selves. Two away defeats will have hurt head coach Guy Noves, who will be fuming at Wednesday's needless loss in Montpellier. Comfortable home wins over Paris and Agen have shown enough to suggest that only a slight tinkering to the workings of the red and black machine is required. Toulouse have a formidable squad of players, most of whom are home-grown and whose best years are ahead of them. The injury of star centre Yann David will hurt them, but the likes of Jauzion and Fritz will fill the gap seamlessly. Grade: B