2014 6 Nations: Scotland vs France (Round 4)

[Big Ewis]

hmmmm, not exactly. Tom Youngs has better fundamental skills for a hooker. Although Tolofua is a pure French product (born in Fréjus), he's originally from Wallis and Futuna, so Pac. Islander style. Big ball carrier, huge fends, big tackles, thrives with the ball in hand. Still very young though, 20yo...sort of hard to believe, I feel like he's been there for a long time already.....

Here is some of what he does:

 

[Big Ewis]

aaaaaaaand the pick for replacement hooker is....

*bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums**bass tom drums*

*CRASH CYMBAL*

...

Guilhem Guirado !!!

So that's a Mach-Guirado tandem at hooker....yikes. Let's see what happens............. :/

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

news that scotland has Euan Murray back and Sean Kennedy and Harry Leonard are both to join the training squad for scotland

 

[Negev]

Here is some of what he does:

Big Tolof!
Makes me think about that sentence:

"Quand les types de 130 kilos disent certaines choses, ceux de 60 kilos les écoutent."

 

[Big Ewis]

Big Tolof!
Makes me think about that sentence:

"Quand les types de 130 kilos disent certaines choses, ceux de 60 kilos les écoutent."

heh, yeah I remember reading that somewhere very recently...
Anyways one can't blame PSA, he's done fine with selection, that bit isn't nearly the issue: he's picked consistent choices but also has tried out risky picks or moves (Huget at FB, picking Bonneval or Guitoune out of the blue, picking Lauret against the All-Blacks...).
So he's done a bit of both, and this time Tolofua isn't picked as Guirado is the conservative/consistent pick to go for...after all he's always criticized for a lack of consistency. Too bad though, but Guirado has way more experience in Bleus and is more fundamentally sound as the hooker. But it really would've been fun to test out Tolofua.

Big question atm on France's side is the center combination. We've got those available in the 30-strong: Fickou, Bastareaud, Mermoz, Lamerat.
Very tempting to try out Lamerat, he's a powerful midfielder, fits the new style requirements - but Mermoz has obviously a thousand times his experience in bleus and is a good passing center and he's been playing well too recently for Toulon.

Maybe Fickou-Mermoz, and Basta off the bench ?

 

[Big Ewis]

An article reminds me the lineout may be a problem for ze bleus. No Nyanga (our jumper), and both Kayser and Szar are out of course...
it's thought Damien Chouly should be one of the lineout "captains".

So Scotland with the advantage there as they've got consistency in that sector of the game. Hopefully it works out alright for us, and Scotland have had their struggles there as well so potentially good signs for France.
But we'll definitely be less creative with our combinations and less confident/fluid....


EDIT: maybe we'll get to see Virgil Bruni (Toulon) in bleus. He's got a very similar profile to Nyanga's (but in white ). He's taller and younger, but he's good for the lineouts, runs well, long/athletic, good lightness for a flanker.
Le Roux (bulk and power) with Bruni (elegant flanker) could be a good combination.

No. 8: Chouly or Claassen (who's on form these days)...?

 

[goodNumber10]

Could this be the end of the Auld Alliance? having firmly thought France would win i think Scotland now look very strong - Brown and Denton back.

Scotland team from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26432369

Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Geoff Cross (EDinburgh), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens, capt), David Denton (Edinburgh).
Replacements: Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Max Evans (Castres)

 

[Big Ewis]

basically the same side that faced England. With Grey and Kelly Brown back though...

Really don't know who to start for that third row though: Lauret, Bruni, Lapandry, Le Roux, Claassen, Chouly is what we've got left !

Maybe:
6 Lauret
7 Le Roux
8 Claassen

20 Bruni

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Could this be the end of the Auld Alliance? having firmly thought France would win i think Scotland now look very strong - Brown and Denton back.

Scotland team from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26432369

Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Geoff Cross (EDinburgh), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens, capt), David Denton (Edinburgh).
Replacements: Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Max Evans (Castres)

i think this is the best optional team by far, though im still not happy with 2 centres on the bench though but definitely the best choice in this situation. great to see our captain back and denton starting and ford still on the bench.

 

[Big Ewis]

Scotland 58 - 17 France.

Guys in blue fought hard, some improvements from the Cardiff game, but still many things to see through.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Scotland 58 - 17 France.

Guys in blue fought hard, some improvements from the Cardiff game, but still many things to see through.

i'd really like to see that score but definitely wouldn't happen. i have a feeling were going to get a shock. but i would say its a scotland win for sure with so many key players missing for france but i would say scotland 24 - 12 cause scotland may have sorted they're lineouts and scrums but we still has no good attacking ability but is improving people say weir should be dropped he can have really good games and i do prefer weir over jackson because we'll say the same about jackson if he does start. and jackson is 28 i think and weir is 22 so weir i think is going to be the starting 10 for scotland unless leonard or heathcote improves alot but i dont know how old leonard is but heathcote is 21 so i think he'll definitely improve but he doesn't start for bath so im not sure

 

[Big Ewis]

i'd really like to see that score but definitely wouldn't happen. i have a feeling were going to get a shock. but i would say its a scotland win for sure with so many key players missing for france but i would say scotland 24 - 12 cause scotland may have sorted they're lineouts and scrums but we still has no good attacking ability but is improving people say weir should be dropped he can have really good games and i do prefer weir over jackson because we'll say the same about jackson if he does start. and jackson is 28 i think and weir is 22 so weir i think is going to be the starting 10 for scotland unless leonard or heathcote improves alot but i dont know how old leonard is but heathcote is 21 so i think he'll definitely improve but he doesn't start for bath so im not sure

maybe if you wish it hard enough...

And you actually say Scotland will win this "for sure" ? Dat sound like a bet son...
I'll bet you...8, that France wins this. That's right you heard meh....eight. *wise guy stare*

 

[gaston le gaff]

I''ll second that!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and we have spies in the Scottish camp, Hamilton, Beattie, and Grey, the deal is we will not give them a hard time on Sat if they give us the info we need. Signed and sealed last week in Montypellier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

France are "revising" their drills on attack...more like "discovering" as they're saying on the French forums...
Apparently they've watched the Wales match again and identified the problems and flaws not to be repeated...

Who knows, maybe we'll see an all-firing France, or at least some stretches of it as we've seen before...

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

or play the exactly the same way as they did against wales and i meant to say that scotland have a big chance to beat france but they might not and i know that. but with so many key players missing for france there is a huge opportunity and i hope scotland will take that chance

 

[Big Ewis]

oh my...7 changes to the lineup. Some a little bit odd...

- Sébastien Vahaamahina back in the XV as a.....blindside flanker ! That's right. Apparently the staff have been training him in that regard lately, and I actually don't think it's a terrible idea.

PSA has said France in general needed weight (in the scrum, in the mauls, in the rucks) and height on the lineouts. With Le Roux's K.O. against Italy, staff wanted to rest him some more. Vahaamahina could actually be a ferocious third rower if he's on his game...

- Damien Chouly and rookie Lapandry (6 caps) complete that third row. Lapandry has that Julien Bonnaire profile (if you remember the guy) and I'm very excited to see what he can bring the XV de France. Chouly I was never convinced, let's see what he brings in the absence of Picamoles...

- Brice Mach to start his first ever match for les Bleus in the absence of both our hookers: Kayser and more recently Szar.

- Mermoz is back after 15-18 months of absence in Bleus. Again, a fairly good idea given our situation. He and Bastareaud play well together at midfield for Toulon, should bring us some chemistry in that sector. And he's been on-form lately. Well deserved, but of course many are complaining about Fickou still not starting (even in the absence of Fofana, Fritz).

- Machenaud starts in place of Doussain.

- Médard back on the wing with fellow Toulousain Huget on the other end for some random reason...no idea what Bonneval did to deserve this, but hey....(??).

-------------------------------------------

The full team for Saturday:
The starting XV: Dulin ; Huget, Bastareaud, Mermoz, Médard ; (o) Plisson, (m) Machenaud ; Lapandry, Chouly, Vahaamahina ; Maestri, Papé (cap) ; Mas, Mach, Domingo.

Bench: Guirado, Debaty, Slimani, Flanquart, Claassen, Doussain, Tales, Fickou.

24 and 25th men: Lauret, Bonneval.

The 5 non-picked: Forestier, Bruni, Le Roux, Andreu, Lamerat.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Given the limited choice that PSA has with all the injuries it could be a lot worse, Vahaamahina a bit of a surprise as he rarely plays there for his club but he could bring something special to the table, only concern will be how long can he maintain his pace, this is another step up from 2nd row, and its all about speed and stamina. Brice Mach will not disapoint if he gets his first couple of lineout throws good. Back row ok with Lapandry and Chouly, not spectacular but should be good workwise.
Mermoz alongside the Pie Eater is common sense, can't quite understand Bonneval, played ok against Les Taffs and Plisson after his crap match against the Leek scoffers, he deserves a long rest nowhere near the ability of FTD, and when he finally brings back "The Special One," FTD, maybe all will be forgiven but i very much doubt it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Given the limited choice that PSA has with all the injuries it could be a lot worse, Vahaamahina a bit of a surprise as he rarely plays there for his club but he could bring something special to the table, only concern will be how long can he maintain his pace, this is another step up from 2nd row, and its all about speed and stamina. Brice Mach will not disapoint if he gets his first couple of lineout throws good. Back row ok with Lapandry and Chouly, not spectacular but should be good workwise.
Mermoz alongside the Pie Eater is common sense, can't quite understand Bonneval, played ok against Les Taffs and Plisson after his crap match against the Leek scoffers, he deserves a long rest nowhere near the ability of FTD, and when he finally brings back "The Special One," FTD, maybe all will be forgiven but i very much doubt it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good post. All true points.
As you said stamina and workrate over ability for Vahaamahina. We know what he can do, but how much of it can he do, rather, is the question. I thought he played a lot like a (huge) third rower every once in a while (e.g. against NZ in Nov.).
Interesting to see PSA predominantly conscious of the "MASS" argument here: he had Lauret or Diarra but actually goes as far as getting a second rower and talks about adding weight in multiple fields of the game.

I saw a post about Bonneval that went like: "Hugo Bonneval is dropped because Papé threw a terrible pass at him".
Seriously though, why the hell would you remove a youngster who's only starting to fit in ? We know Médard, but why break a rhythm there ??...

Plisson is doing what he can as a rookie 10 on a team in complete identity-seeking/crisis. He's not been bad, but he's not been a standout 10 either. Big mistakes but also really good moments too...

But I expect to see something from our backs. Mermoz and Bastareaud starting at midfield actually sounds good to me (not something you'd have heard me say even just some time ago...).

And a good opportunity to watch Brice Mach at hooker at least a good 60min. I still know too little about him, and haven't seen his scrummaging up close yet.

 

[Maverick1987]

Is nyanga injured ? I thought he had been really good so far ! Probably Frances best player IMO !

I think if I was Scottish I'd be fairly confident of causing an upset . France rarely play well away for home and Scotland high on confidence after winning last week and scoring 2 beautiful tries

 

[Big Ewis]

Is nyanga injured ? I thought he had been really good so far ! Probably Frances best player IMO !

I think if I was Scottish I'd be fairly confident of causing an upset . France rarely play well away for home and Scotland high on confidence after winning last week and scoring 2 beautiful tries

well he's a porn actor on the side, so maybe he's gone and done that...not sure. Doesn't exactly help with the clichés...He may be injured too, it's just too personal to ask him.

And about the upset from Scotland, we'll see, we'll see
And two really nice tries in deed, and again, what a drop !