[2013 EOYT] France

[gaston le gaff]

Guys he is forfait for the training camp this week which is today and tomorrow, he is not forfait for the Internationals, there is another 10 days before that so the injuries that certain players have may well be over before the New Zealand game, once again Media Hype.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Eh? How come Galan has been overlooked? Is Claassen much better?

Galan has not the experience to play International rugby, he's having a good run with Toulouse at the moment but it's too early for him yet + he is young and has plenty of time in front of him.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think Galan is one of the most technically sounds #8s of the Top 14, along with Claassen and Fernandez Lobbe. His passing is extremely good for his size and his defense and breakdown work are top notch. However, he can't play more than ~50 minutes at top 14 level, his fitness is far from what is needed at international level. Plus, he's not a lineout option.

I am (and have been since always) quite skeptical about Picamoles. He's the kind of player that's extremely effective, but basically because of his out-of-the-norm physical condition. Sort of the kind of player that discourages the average kid from believing he can make it as a pro, and the opposite to "all shapes and sizes". I'm being a bit too romantic for the pro era, and that all this is no reason to leave him out of a team, but well, what can one do. I also think he would be better used as a flanker, but I wouldn't dare challenging M. Novès' omniscience.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Picamoles has come on massively since he joined Toulouse from Montpellier + he has muscled up by up to maybe 8/9 kgs when he left us he still had puppy fat but no longer, he is Mon. Muscle in all the right ways, but can't see him playing flanker as he is not fast enough for long enough ,and would run out of steam too quickly but still only 27 he is a great asset for France and barring serious injury will be around on the International scene for some time yet.

 

[Big Ewis]

Eh? How come Galan has been overlooked? Is Claassen much better?

Galan carries like an ogre, but he's got a lot to work on.

Galan has not the experience to play International rugby, he's having a good run with Toulouse at the moment but it's too early for him yet + he is young and has plenty of time in front of him.

There you have it. Absolutely agreed. The same could be said about Pélissié in MP and then in a bleus jersey, too, btw.... nahhhh, Pélissié is much more mature at this point.

I think Galan is one of the most technically sounds #8s of the Top 14, along with Claassen and Fernandez Lobbe. His passing is extremely good for his size and his defense and breakdown work are top notch. However, he can't play more than ~50 minutes at top 14 level, his fitness is far from what is needed at international level. Plus, he's not a lineout option.

I am (and have been since always) quite skeptical about Picamoles. He's the kind of player that's extremely effective, but basically because of his out-of-the-norm physical condition. Sort of the kind of player that discourages the average kid from believing he can make it as a pro, and the opposite to "all shapes and sizes". I'm being a bit too romantic for the pro era, and that all this is no reason to leave him out of a team, but well, what can one do. I also think he would be better used as a flanker, but I wouldn't dare challenging M. Novès' omniscience.

errr I don't know about defense and "technically sound". His repositioning on defense is a problem. It was even evident in that confrontation in Wembley against the Sarries. He even says it himself, he's strong as a bull and hard to take down, but he needs to work on his defense and overall positioning. He's a great raw talent, and he's just physically gargantuan. He offloads well, has great hands and a soft touch for an ogre, and has good stability with his feet. He'll likely be a fantastic no. 8 if he embellishes his game with more little tricks and details, and finds a perfect balance between staying untacklable and losing a little more weight for his endurance and mobility.

Picamoles as a flanker ? I don't see why. He's a great number 8, coming off the scrum to punch in a raging try. He's a tremendous ball-carrier, the best in the world in fact for his position. He can run well despite being that brutal physically, and his offloading is fantastic. He's even got that almost 'playmaking' ability as a number 8 for short stretches. Not to mention he's a try-scoring machine in his own right, not exactly a flanker's trait, and very much so that of an 8.
He's fine in the rucks and a good tackler, but he would be going to waste as a mere flanker really. He's not slim and athletic enough to be a flanker, and though, again, he's a fine tackler, defense isn't nearly his forte.

But anyways:
PLEAAAAAAAAAASE be there for the NZ test !!!!!!......

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Maybe I overstated my case by mentioning his defence, but I maintain that his attacking is one pf the best in the top 14. His passing game (both ofdloading and short passing before contact) is far better than Picamoles' or Chouly's.
I also maintain that Picamoles would be better as a flanker, though we'd have to change schemes and move to an openside/blindside division instead of the left/right we've (almost) always used.

 

[Big Ewis]

looks like you guys may have been right, Picamoles' thing may not be too serious after all.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9817_8996937,00.html

It's all good then !! We're beating the All-Blacks again !!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Maybe I overstated my case by mentioning his defence, but I maintain that his attacking is one pf the best in the top 14. His passing game (both ofdloading and short passing before contact) is far better than Picamoles' or Chouly's.
I also maintain that Picamoles would be better as a flanker, though we'd have to change schemes and move to an openside/blindside division instead of the left/right we've (almost) always used.

SA has achieved some measure of success using Alberts on the flanks with a specialist 'fetcher' in Francois Louw. Alberts has the same qualties as Picamoles; can only carry and put in big hits on defense and only does so +/- 8 times a game but he is sure to generate momentum and stop an opponent in his tracks. That said I like that France are maintianing 'the old ways'.

 

[French TommyGun]

PSA has said that if Parra loses his appeal and can't play on the 9th Michelak will more than likely take his place
Well at least he won't be playing at 10! I suppose that's something!

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

yeah but who will be ?

 

[Jaguares]

The main problem in French rugby is that your league has too many foreigners players. If you do an analysis, you will notice that the top teams of Top 14 have foreign players in the most important positions:

Carl Hayman (NZ), Castrogiovanni (ITA), Drew Mitchell (AUS), Hosea Gear (NZ), Wilkinson (ENG), Matt Giteau (AUS), Tii Paulo (SAM), Bakkies Botha (SA), Juande Kruger (SA), Francois Van Der Merwe (SA), Ali Williams (NZ), Patricio Albacete (ARG) Capo Ortega (URU), Sergio Parisse (ITA), Jonathan Sexton (IRE), Morne Steyn (SA), Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG), Brock James (WAL) Benson Stanley (NZ), Fernandez Lobbe (ARG), Juan Imhoff (ARG), Nalaga (FIJ), James Hook (WAL), Ngwenya (USA), Rene Ranger (NZ) and many more players. This is a big problem for French players.

Cheers

 

[gaston le gaff]

The main problem in French rugby is that your league has too many foreigners players. If you do an analysis, you will notice that the top teams of Top 14 have foreign players in the most important positions:

Carl Hayman (NZ), Castrogiovanni (ITA), Drew Mitchell (AUS), Hosea Gear (NZ), Wilkinson (ENG), Matt Giteau (AUS), Tii Paulo (SAM), Bakkies Botha (SA), Juande Kruger (SA), Francois Van Der Merwe (SA), Ali Williams (NZ), Patricio Albacete (ARG) Capo Ortega (URU), Sergio Parisse (ITA), Jonathan Sexton (IRE), Morne Steyn (SA), Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG), Brock James (WAL) Benson Stanley (NZ), Fernandez Lobbe (ARG), Juan Imhoff (ARG), Nalaga (FIJ), James Hook (WAL), Ngwenya (USA), Rene Ranger (NZ) and many more players. This is a big problem for French players.

Cheers

You have obviously never heard of Jiff!!!!!!!!!! If you talk about important positions which are they, as you have stated the foreign players at hooker centre wing 2nd row, only 4 at 10 and no scrumhalves and i thought the axe,8 9,10, 15 was the important one, and i would be very willing to have Rene Ranger on our team (Montpellier) but the guy is still in New Zealand, till at least next week so he may play for us on 23rd Nov at the earliest and not before, please do your homework before submitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

PSA has said that if Parra loses his appeal and can't play on the 9th Michelak will more than likely take his place 
Well at least he won't be playing at 10! I suppose that's something!

yup...at least he's not playing 10. But that would be silly anyways, I'd much rather have Doussain...in fact, I think Doussain's better than Machenaud honestly, but he's out and so is Para...Pélissié still is too inexperienced, so will be coming off the bench I imagine.

 

[gaston le gaff]

You may find that Pelissie could well be starting against Les Blacks especially if he does well on Sat against Grenoble but more than likely he will be on the bench and Paillaugue starting Sat.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

You may find that Pelissie could well be starting against Les Blacks especially if he does well on Sat against Grenoble but more than likely he will be on the bench and Paillaugue starting Sat.

Because Grenoble is the same level as the ABs.... Pélissié has shown to be very fragile under pressure this year. And he's older than any of the alternatives (bar Fred), so I don't think he just needs time to grow up and become "mature". I'd much rather have Doussain who, even if he hasn't progressed as we were all expecting/hoping, seems a much better alternative, especially for a game where we're not sure if our pack will be dominant.
I'd have Pélissié on the bench rather than Michalak though.

 

[Big Ewis]

yup. Agreed. And again, Doussain had a very good game, surprisingly good in fact last summer against the Blacks so it seems perfectly adequate.
For Pélissié, it's not a question of maturity solely, it's international experience. Of course he'll get better the more he plays with les Bleus and faces 6N opposition and then participates in Tours...while at the same time, he's not exactly 35 yet either; i.e. does in deed have time to mature, still.
So more fine-tuning of his game, gaining more consistency as it goes and int'l experience and then he'll be a pretty special no.9, no doubt.

In the absence of Para (I'll repeat Machenaud hasn't ever impressed me except during the '12 EOYT, he was fine..), I'm good with Doussain starting and Pélissié on the bench. That sounds quite fine to me, actually.
Hoping Para shows a better continuation of the season with Clermont, and perhaps we'll see him in one of the other games this November ? Haven't followed his pleading in some time...

Also: I'm happy to watch Slimani against strong scrums like the AB's and the Boks' this Nov., and Guitoune too, he's been a try-scoring festival by himself early this year...

There's some fine, fine young talent in the making these days in France, very encouraging signs.....

 

[Jaguares]

You have obviously never heard of Jiff!!!!!!!!!! If you talk about important positions which are they, as you have stated the foreign players at hooker centre wing 2nd row, only 4 at 10 and no scrumhalves and i thought the axe,8 9,10, 15 was the important one, and i would be very willing to have Rene Ranger on our team (Montpellier) but the guy is still in New Zealand, till at least next week so he may play for us on 23rd Nov at the earliest and not before, please do your homework before submitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are u crazy?? I'm just saying that there are many foreign players in the French rugby. Do you think it's a lie?

 

[racingmetro92]

Definitive squad :
Forwards : Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Metro), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoan Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Papé (Stade Francais), Sébastien Vaahamahina (Perpignan), Thierry Dusautoir (cap, Toulouse), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing-Metro), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Antonie Claassen (Castres), Damien Chouly (Clermont)
Backs : Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Jonathan Pélissié (Montpellier), Camille Lopez (Perpignan), Rémi Tales (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Sofiane Guitoune (Perpignan), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Yoan Huget (Toulouse), Brice Dulin (Castres)

Reserve players : Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Metro), Brice Mach (Castres), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Gillian Galan (Toulouse), Frédéric Michalak (Toulon), Marc Andreu (Racing-Metro)

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

how rich are french teams just out off question but conrad is right french teams have a lot off foreign players which is good for french clubs but not for the france rugby team like if you look at racingmetro92 definitive squad how many players are from different teams and how many off those players start for club rugby?

 

[Big Ewis]

Definitive squad :
Forwards : Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Metro), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoan Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Papé (Stade Francais), Sébastien Vaahamahina (Perpignan), Thierry Dusautoir (cap, Toulouse), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing-Metro), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Antonie Claassen (Castres), Damien Chouly (Clermont)
Backs : Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Jonathan Pélissié (Montpellier), Camille Lopez (Perpignan), Rémi Tales (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Sofiane Guitoune (Perpignan), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Yoan Huget (Toulouse), Brice Dulin (Castres)

Reserve players : Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Metro), Brice Mach (Castres), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Gillian Galan (Toulouse), Frédéric Michalak (Toulon), Marc Andreu (Racing-Metro)

yup, Para made it after all. I'm very happy Michalak does still get a chance but only as a third option and that PSA wasn't stubborn AGAIN with him as a starter, and is giving the younger no.10's a good chance. Both Tales and Lopez have already played the All-Blacks, so that's a huge plus.
I 'guess' it's better for Picamoles that he can take a break...even though he says himself he's fine and actually wanted to play NZ...I'd have loved to see him against them. It's the second game in a row he'll miss against the Blacks..

Anyways. Really hope Forestier can prove once and for all this time he can hang with the best of em in the scroom, and I'm eager to see Slimani push against int'l opposition.