Top 14 Semi Finals

[Tony Manx]

No one seems ot have put a thread up for this week end's semi finals being held in Bordeaux tonight (Toulon v Stade) and tomorrow (Clermont and Toulouse)!!

Sky are covering both matches but seem to be on delayed transmission tonight as only just started coverage with Morris yacking about things he knows little about (no change there then!!) and the match started 15 minutes ago according to the fixture list?

This could be a really good game as Toulon are going to have to work for their win, if they are indeed to get it, that their bench will probably give them!!

I hope SF play their expansive running game to make it into a cracker...................

Yesterday, the temperature was in the 40's but it is much cooler today...it was down to 30 here being about 100 miles south of Bordeaux!!

 

[Rugby9]

I see it was a great result for Stade Francais: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9818_53772,00.html

Will try and see some highlights of the game as it looks like it was a good one and from the limited bits I have seen of Stade they look to be playing cracking rugby and with a mainly french set of players! One the one hand sad that the likes of Botha, Hayman etc could not sign off with another trophy but on the other would love Stade to go on and win it for Parisse if nothing else. that guy I personally think really deserves it!

 

[gaston le gaff]

A very difficult night for Toulon and their supporters after the death of Jerry Collins the emotion of the day of the day was just too much to be able to play their normal rugby, but well done Stade who were the better team on the night and deserved their win.A very sad day for all the rugby world.

 

[Tony Manx]

A very difficult night for Toulon and their supporters after the death of Jerry Collins the emotion of the day of the day was just too much to be able to play their normal rugby, but well done Stade who were the better team on the night and deserved their win.A very sad day for all the rugby world.

If that were the reason for their loss, then I would say they were being unprofessional and we're letting Collins down!

I think that it was deeper underlying reasons that have been prevalent all season!

There are too many old players in the squad and also they have,it seems to me, tried to do just enough to get a win and no more. This will find you out and they got found out! They have too many passengers to carry and you cannot do that in top rugby!

Stade were all for one and put the. effort in to fully deserve their victory,. They should be thanked for showing the galacticos are beatable if you try hard enough.......oh and have Parisse!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

If that were the reason for their loss, then I would say they were being unprofessional and we're letting Collins down!

I think that it was deeper underlying reasons that have been prevalent all season!

There are too many old players in the squad and also they have,it seems to me, tried to do just enough to get a win and no more. This will find you out and they got found out! They have too many passengers to carry and you cannot do that in top rugby!

Stade were all for one and put the. effort in to fully deserve their victory,. They should be thanked for showing the galacticos are beatable if you try hard enough.......oh and have Parisse!!!

Have to disagree my friend firstly that was not the reason, but it certainly did not help!!!! they won the Champions Cup with the same old players and passengers they certainly were not unprofessional, and emotion cannot be stopped just like that, a guy died and he was family to Chris Masoe, it hurts, i find it very difficult to understand when you say they have too many passengers, they finished Top of the TOP 14 carrying passengers and having old men in the squad it's just not going to happen, you know how tough the TOP 14 is, just ask Biarritz or Bayonne!!!!! finishing 1st and winning the Champions Cup with passngers and old men is never going to happen, that is moreorless saying that the rest of Europe are beaten by passengers and old men!!!
Stade were the better team on the night and played the better rugby with a defence which is water tight and of course Parisse who can always produce the goods when it is necessary, they are going to be a tough side to beat in the final whoever they are going to play, will miss the other semi as picking up our daughters from the airport at 16.30 how inconsiderate of them especially as i pay their fares!!!!!!

PS forgot to mention that Montpellier did beat Barritz in the final of the Crabos!!!!!!!! sorry!!!!!!!!! thats 2 French Chamionships at Montpellier this season along with the Girlies, will not mention the first XV.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Toulouse, and more importantly McAllister, have started really well and could give Noves a last final if they can keep this up for the next 70 minutes!!

Still, am hoping ASM will do it..............

 

[JJFlash]

Logically, ASM should win because their set scrum is more solid than that of Toulouse and their backs are that bit more elusive.
However, it could be close. Allez les toulousains!

 

[Tony Manx]

Chapeau Brock James....Chapeau!!!

One more drop and the game is really over.........................if it is not already but this is Toulouse................

 

[gaston le gaff]

Once again Brock James comes on for the last 20 mins and man manages the game superbly, he took full control finding long touches and of course the drop goal that gave Clermont that tiny bit of breathing space they needed in the last few minutes, now can they go to Paris ans win it as we all know Clermont and finals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FrenchFan]

Very close game. Could have gone either way with Toulouse scoring the only try. Toulouse snuffed out the Clermont backline with great defense and Clermont had to go to plan B with Brock James.

No shame in losing out to this Clermont side no other club outside of France can beat - save the odd scrap

So to all the Toulouse haters, we still made the last 4 while playing below par all season (and with Noves on his way out).
We've beaten Toulon twice and finished with the same number of wins as the top 2 (15) and more wins than Stade Francais (14)

The hallmark of the season is our ability to raise our game and beat the top 3 - save for that last semi... And the emergence of talented youngsters: Sébastien Bézy, Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand in particular. The 2 frontrowers have showed they can easily fill the boots of the likes of Steenkampf, Kakovin Tialata. If it was me, I'd transfer all 3 and hold on to Marchand and Baille. There's also the France U20 Rodrigue Neti coming on nicely. Best player of the season has got be Sébastien Bézy.

I hope the next staff give them as much game time and support as Noves did and have the balls to carry on his policy of blooding promising youngsters. They have one heck of a legacy to live with.

 

[JJFlash]

Yes, it was disappointing, although there was the consolation of scoring the only try.
Also, McAllister missed a few kicks which could have won the game, which is why Stade missed Toby Flood, who in my opinion could be a key player next season.
He has had his first season disrupted by injuries but come the new season, now that he has settled in and adapted to the club, I believe he will be the first choice 10.

 

[FrenchFan]

Yes, it was disappointing, although there was the consolation of scoring the only try.
Also, McAllister missed a few kicks which could have won the game, which is why Stade missed Toby Flood, who in my opinion could be a key player next season.
He has had his first season disrupted by injuries but come the new season, now that he has settled in and adapted to the club, I believe he will be the first choice 10.

Yes it's disappointing but Clermont are a great side so let's take it graciously. We lost by 4 pts to a class side in the 72 or 73th minute... They have a plan B. Not many do. And their plan B is equally efficient. They can play the running game with Lopez. And then turn it around if they have to with Brock James who came on and nail a perfect drop. I hope Clermont win le Bouclier. With 4 finals in Europe and France in only 2 yrs they deserve it and they have produced some great rugby.

 

[JJFlash]

I too, would be happy if Clermont were to win.

 

[Tony Manx]

I will be wearing yellow and blue at the weekend as pink has too many connotations for me..........

 

[gaston le gaff]

Forfana out for the final, picked up an injury at the this weeks training camp, they have not revealed what the injury is but he has been to see specialists already and therefore probably fairly serious no doubt, could be a very important factor for Clermont with him missing as he is one of their match winners

 

[Tony Manx]

Go on Gaston!! Open a thread for the final!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

must be your turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jaguares]

Where the final's thread?

 

[Tony Manx]

The Top 14 supporters gave up when their teams got knocked out....unlike a certain Pro 2 supporter who managed it all the way to the final of that division!!!

Good for Parisse and not so good for the cinderellas !

 

[gaston le gaff]

As there are 3 or 4 posters its too thin on the ground to be bothered to be honest and then we will here the old Toulon too much money etc etc coming from Blighty gets boring!!!!!!!!!!!!