Top 14 Day 12

[Big Ewis]

The top two teams in Euro...sorry in France hit it off. Going to be very, very interesting. Perhaps, too bad it comes after such a long break, would've been nice to see them on top of their best form and warmed up for battle.

Toulon infirmary emptying, great signs: Giteau (adductors), O'Connor (ankle), Hayan (old aching back and neck), Gorgodzillaaa (knee) and Bruni (finger) have been announced functional once again.

Naturally Castro, Habana, Nico Sanchez and Bakkies to return from those silly November internationals, "testing" matches or whatever...

Notable absences: Halfpenny (whose national side still has one more defeat to concede on Week 5 of the AI, and aren't completely done there) and Lobbe, Michalak, Craig Burden (long term booboos).

Castres Racing looks pretty fun too. Lineups in exactly a week.

 

[Tony Manx]

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The top two teams in Euro...sorry in France hit it off. Going to be very, very interesting. Perhaps, too bad it comes after such a long break, would've been nice to see them on top of their best form and warmed up for battle.

Toulon infirmary emptying, great signs: Giteau (adductors), O'Connor (ankle), Hayan (old aching back and neck), Gorgodzillaaa (knee) and Bruni (finger) have been announced functional once again.

Naturally Castro, Habana, Nico Sanchez and Bakkies to return from those silly November internationals, "testing" matches or whatever...

Notable absences: Halfpenny (whose national side still has one more defeat to concede on Week 5 of the AI, and aren't completely done there) and Lobbe, Michalak, Craig Burden (long term booboos).

Castres Racing looks pretty fun too. Lineups in exactly a week.

Bit previous my dear chap!

 

[gaston le gaff]

you are obviously missing the TOP 14, will be at Lyon next Sat to see if we can pull ourselves out of the "MERDE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Lyon huh...man, I've seen some hot stuff from there.....mmmmm mmm...uhm, talking food here of course. Yeah missing it for sure, never got to see the Clermont thrashing of Stadium Frankius last time and had that news to post about Toulon anyways, pretty excited they're getting some key guys back but still no Mitt Gueetauww.
Clermont have won a ton on the road this year, can they hand the RCT its second home loss ??...

 

[gaston le gaff]

The match is in Nice so it,s a bit different from playing at Mayol, but there will probably be a full house so around 30/35,000 of which most will be supporting Toulon!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

You might be happy both Giteau and O Connar back in training and should be fit for selection in Nice next Sat.

 

[Big Ewis]

You might be happy both Giteau and O Connar back in training and should be fit for selection in Nice next Sat.

haha, oh right, I even wrote that myself !...Mitt Gueetauww back indeed. ...I'm very upset about Michalak's long term injury though, I think he was out to prove his worth again this year, was on a high right before the injury and certainly would've helped this Toulon club out in their recent crisis. Very, very unfortunate.
Ah it's in Nice...that's 40min away from here..

 

[FrenchFan]

Toulon infirmary emptying, great signs: Giteau (adductors), O'Connor (ankle), Hayan (old aching back and neck), Gorgodzillaaa (knee) and Bruni (finger) have been announced functional once again.
.

Gorgodzillaaa's knee moved by an unknown & yet unidentifed force had accidentally landed on some body

Bruni had his finger stuck in Carla

- - - Updated - - -

I must admit I missed my Top 14. I am waiting for the real rugby to start off again. I think 3 wins in a row for les Bleus is a big big ask considering the selectorial inability they're subjected to. It's not fair on them. They're not prepared for that kind of thing. Including their coaching staff*.
As full-time rugby professionals, it's just that they forgot what it's like to be treated like kids and be sent to the naughty corner by a school mistress dressed as the national coach. There's nothing like a trip to Marccroupis during the holidays to meet again with Rantanplan and Don Blancoleone who'll watch their every move and tuck them in bed at night. Better fix those dreadlocks before video-tea....
Anyway, why expect so much from a team that delivers so little. Not fair. Watching them should be remboursé par la Sécu :lol:

*English is a wonderful language: 1. Les bleus are not prepared for their coaching staff 2. Les Bleus coaching staff are not prepared for 3 wins in a row.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Very much looking forward to Toulon v Clermont.

Fritz Lee has certainly upped his game since he left for France. He's definitely good enough to be playing international rugby. I wonder if he will return to NZ after the World Cup, unfortunately his contract runs until half way through 2017 so it may well be too late.

 

[Big Ewis]

lol so now that you got a cheap ass bargain for 5 bucks you're dying for some Top 14 Rugby ay ?!

Fritz Lee has got to be the most underrated 8 in the world. Can't see anyone even close.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Very much looking forward to Toulon v Clermont.

Fritz Lee has certainly upped his game since he left for France. He's definitely good enough to be playing international rugby. I wonder if he will return to NZ after the World Cup, unfortunately his contract runs until half way through 2017 so it may well be too late.

just one of many who have upped their game, funny really always all about French money, i don't think so the competition is tough the players need to up thier game to stay competitive and keep their places, the best club competition in the World and that is why they are here.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Looking forward to trying Castres at home.. gonna be tough especially since they will probably be angry since RM92 see them as a poaching ground. Bit of a tough time for me with Saturday being my wife's birthday... I'll probably have to catch it on replay sadly.

A random question and not my intetion to go off topic but I can't see it derail this thread while the question is not deserving of it's own thread... anyway, would a rugby club team be considered male or female; 'le' or 'la'? I must admit trying to learn French 'out of context' and without any real 'reason' as such is proving more difficult than I'd have imagined particularly since Afrikaans and English are such easy languages to pick up and being my frame of reference. I highly recommend the 'Duolingo' app for anyone trying to learn a language from scratch.

My predictions; H, A, H, A, A, H, H.

 

[FrenchFan]

Toulon Castres La Rochelle Lyon UBB Toulouse SF

very much looking fw to our game agst Grenoble

 

[Big Ewis]

Looking forward to trying Castres at home.. gonna be tough especially since they will probably be angry since RM92 see them as a poaching ground. Bit of a tough time for me with Saturday being my wife's birthday... I'll probably have to catch it on replay sadly.

ohh...that is sad news...that you're going to have to watch your wife's birthday on replay...

UN club de Rugby
UNE équipe de Rugby
If you're talking about "them" though as in les Racingmen you'll say 'ils' obviously, masculine plural.

And yeah, Castres Racing and Toulouse Grenoble definitely the other particularly interesting games for me this weekend. Have to wait for a bit more info before prediCKting...

 

[Big Ewis]

Castres are reintroducing Rémy Lamerat for this weekend, my little favorite. Sure he'll be back with punch, as always, this guy knows how to rebound from injury.

Racing will have their hands full with him returning, Kockott and Talès from the int'ls and Sivivatu back in full form, looked brilliant the last time he played (in his first game of the season). I'm going for Castres for that matchup.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Castres are reintroducing Rémy Lamerat for this weekend, my little favorite. Sure he'll be back with punch, as always, this guy knows how to rebound from injury.

Racing will have their hands full with him returning, Kockott and Talès from the int'ls and Sivivatu back in full form, looked brilliant the last time he played (in his first game of the season). I'm going for Castres for that matchup.

that 10,000th post though....

 

[gaston le gaff]

After the long lay of we are at last back to TOP 14 and the most serious stuff!!!!!!!!!
Gaston's predicktions......... are home wins for Castres,Toulon, La Rochelle,Oyonnax, Paris,and Toulouse of course you have already guessed the Joker and only away win will be Montpellier, with all that has happened at the club during the last 2 weeks a win is a must, lets hope whoever plays knows the importance of this match!!!!!
Montpellier will only win this game if they play simple solid rugby and play as a team not 15 individuals as we have seen in the last 4 games of which all were loses!!!!!!

 

[tituslechmakus]

Toulon Castres La Rochelle Lyon UBB Toulouse SF

very much looking fw to our game agst Grenoble

And how much are we going to take there ? 30 ? 40 ? Anyway, the best thing we can hope is a def bonus ... But certainly won't happen ! I'd go for a 37-10 and you ?

 

[FrenchFan]

And how much are we going to take there ? 30 ? 40 ? Anyway, the best thing we can hope is a def bonus ... But certainly won't happen ! I'd go for a 37-10 and you ?

Could be closer... Grenoble are a good side and Wisniesky at 10 played a blinder in his last game. He's played very well since the start. We'll be slow off the blocks after a long layoff. Could be closer than u think. I can see a win for us and defensive bonus for you

 

[Big Ewis]

that 10,000th post though....

yup, shoot me please.. PLEAAAASE !!!!! :cryy:

Teams to be announced in a couple of hours.

I'm going to go with:
- Toulon with defensive bonus Clermont
- Castres over Racing, have a feeling the C.O. will have something good in store
- Comfy Toulouse win over Grenoble
- La Rochelle over Bayonne
- Lyon over MP: Galthié's men haven't looked themselves at all since TD's injury and Lyon can't afford to lose at home
- Oyomen to beat Bordeaux in fortress Mathon
- SF to put 40 past Brive. The Parisians took 50 last time out in the volcano and are back home and will be anxious to set the record straight to start this new cycle off with punch, and those boys certainly can put on a show.

All home wins, no joker for me.