Plummer, Lam and Sowakula against Vannes: the New Zealanders in Top 14 round seven

Eight New Zealanders are named on the Top 14 team sheets for this weekend's seventh round in France, and the biggest Kiwi contingent is in Vannes, where the bottom side host a Clermont team with an All Black running their back line. Here is every game, the time it kicks off in New Zealand, and where to find our players.

All times are New Zealand time. France changes its clocks on Sunday morning, which is why the Sunday game sits an hour later than you might expect.

Where the table stands

Section Paloise went into the round top after six games, ahead of Stade Toulousain on 22 points against 19, but Toulouse's 45-34 win over Bayonne on Sunday 11 October lifted them to first. Bordeaux-Bègles, La Rochelle and Bayonne fill out the top five. At the bottom, Vannes are still looking for a first win, with one point from six games, after losing 21-12 at Perpignan.

The Top 14 did not play last weekend; it was the opening round of the European competitions, which we cover separately.

Vannes v Clermont: the Kiwi game of the round (Sunday 1.30am)

Clermont's starting midfield comes straight from Auckland. Harry Plummer, the one-Test All Black and former Blues first five-eighth, wears 10 and has been in strong scoring form: he kicked five from five against Leinster last weekend and scored a try in the loss at Bayonne earlier in the season. Outside him is AJ Lam, the former Blues centre and Samoa international, who has mostly come off the bench this season and scored a last-minute try against Lyon in round one. At No 8 is Pita Gus Sowakula, the former Chiefs and All Blacks loose forward, whose contract runs to June 2027.

Vannes have three New Zealanders in their 23. Joe Edwards starts at blindside flanker, with hooker Mills Sanerivi and halfback Michael Ruru, once of the Blues and Highlanders, on the bench. Clermont lost their first home game of the season 23-22 to Bordeaux-Bègles despite scoring more tries; Vannes have lost all six. Pierre Brousset referees.

Castres v Stade Français (Sunday 3.35am)

Jack Goodhue, the 18-Test All Black, starts at centre for Castres, who have extended him to the end of next season. Former Blues lock Chris Gabriel is on the Castres bench, and hooker Tomasi Maka is among Stade Français's replacements, where his role matters more than usual: Stade Français lost hooker Lucas Peyresblanque to a serious ankle injury in their 30-22 win over Montpellier. Castres are 13th after losing 35-26 at Pau, a game they could have won late.

Racing 92 v Montpellier, in Le Mans (Sunday 3.35am)

Racing's home game is in Le Mans, not Paris: the club's La Défense Arena is booked for concerts this season, so Racing are playing most home games at Créteil and three around the regions. Joey Manu, the former Roosters league star, starts at second five-eighth in his second season with the club. He scored a try in last weekend's 33-25 Champions Cup loss to Munster. Montpellier hooker Ricky Riccitelli is not in their 23.

Toulouse v Perpignan (Sunday 3.35am)

Sevu Reece, with 37 Tests for the All Blacks, is on the Perpignan bench at No 22 after leaving the Crusaders on a three-year deal. Braydon Ennor is not named. Toulouse go in top of the table with Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack both among the replacements.

The rest of the round

Bayonne v Lyon (Sunday 3.35am) has no New Zealanders named: Lyon's Liam Allen and Josiah Maraku are not in their 23. Toulon v Pau (Sunday 8am) has none either, and Pau are without their long-serving Kiwi captain Luke Whitelock, who retired in the off-season after 109 games. Toulon are under new management after parting ways with director of rugby Pierre Mignoni on 6 October, with Franck Azéma staying in charge of the team.

The round closes with La Rochelle v Bordeaux-Bègles on Monday at 9.05am. La Rochelle's squad includes first five-eighth Ihaia West, prop Sione Ahio and back-rower Sam Tuifua; that team is named on Sunday. La Rochelle beat the Lions 31-14 in the Champions Cup last weekend.

We will report the Kiwi performances once the results are in.