[2014 EOYT] France

[Big Ewis]

now don't dat look just weird. M'actually really really eager to seeing which HB pair France will choose. Given the current setting, Tillous-Bordes/FTD or Kockott/FTD sound amazing.

 

[tituslechmakus]

After having seen what St Andre is capable of, I would not be surprised to have FTD as 9 and Kockott as 10 !

 

[racingmetro92]

 

[Big Ewis]

yep, complete remap of the halfback combination. Pierre Bernard obviously very much deserved but won't see much, if any time. It'll be all papa favorite Talès and if any second, Lopez the on form Clermontois.
Nice to see we've got real no.8 options with Picamoles still out. Ollivon, they better try him out.
Dumoulin already selected, well what do you know, an article just came out with him saying how he'd focus on Racing first and wouldn't even start thinking of nat'l selection.
By the way, Slimani wasn't picked apparently. There are 31 players in that list. At Tighthead it's just Mas and Weeni.

A LOTTTTTT...of zero cappers in there...but I suppose Nov tours are the best time to try em out.
For the newbies, I particularly want to see Ollivon and Thomas.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

is that the confirmed squad ? if so im sure french fans are happy not to see michalak there

 

[Tony Manx]

is that the confirmed squad ? if so im sure french fans are happy not to see michalak there

Is he not injured as well as effing useless?

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Is he not injured as well as effing useless?

idk it wouldn't surprise me he hasn't been in the toulon squad for a while

 

[Big Ewis]

I don't want to see Michalak wear bleu again. He's 32 and it's not like we're starving for talent at 10 in France, far from it, so there's absolutely no need and it would be simply suicidal at this stage after what we've all witnessed repeatedly and in all shapes and sizes. But I do like him for Toulon, and this year he was hitting top form until he got injured. Give credit where it's due: he's had some good games for the RCT this year and seemed like the "good" Michalak for the month of September.

If it were up to me, I'd want Trinh-Duc of course and then Lopez on the bench. But the France staff will field Talès, and honestly I can't blame them:
it's coherent as he's in their eyes the best 10 for the job and has been picked continuously all the times he's been healthy for the xv; and esp. now that teammate and best 9 in all of the Top 14 Sprincoq Kockott has joined, they've got a 100% Castres HB pairing that functions well together and two guys around 28-29yo with good experience playing the game. Kockott may be a Test rookie, but he's tasted Top 14 playoffs and finals and even the Bouclier already, so I don't doubt a second he'll show up this November.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Camille Lopez was brilliant against us yesterday. His tactical kicking and kicking from the tee is incredible. I know alot of people want Trinh-duc to start (as on pure talent he is probably better) but you can't overlook a guy who was playing on a weird surface and hitting 60m kicks onto the 5m line. Considering France usually have a big ugly pack I would want Lopez to hit the ball into the corners and try and make teams go toe to toe with your pack. Then he is already familiar with Fofana and Rougerie (don't care about his age he is still world class) and is a point kicker. Not going to lie you could always put Trinh-duc at 15 and then have him join as first reciever with the vision of a 10. Put Dulin and Guitoune on the wings and jobs a good-un.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ yeah Lopez has immediately clicked with Clermont back from a looong injury, quite better than I thought in fact. I'm not a big fan of handling that lineup with guys out of position. Dulin's much better at 15 than he'd be at 14, Trinh-Duc might be good at 12 perhaps but then again we've too many quality centers to try that and Fof+Basta settles it...etc...

Hey David Smith could play for France as early as the next 6N. What a fkng poach...amazing the laws are so insanely flexible and permeable. Dude's had an entire career in NZ and AUS for various clubs and now he's going to play for France maybe if we get a couple of injuries at winger because he's freshly married to a French woman. N'importe quoi...rubbish.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Smith isn't better than Huget, Guitoune, Nao (Clermont winger) , Fall, Malzieu, Andreau IMO
you would need a lot of bad injuries for him to be selected. Anyway because I love a XV
1 Domingo 2 Kayser 3 Mas 4 Vaahaminha 5 Maestri 6 Burban 7 Dusautoir 8 Chouly 9 Parra 10 Lopez 11 Guitoune 12 Fofana 13 Basta 14 Huget 15 Dulin 16 Tolofua 17 Debaty 18 Ducalcon/Poux 19 Le Roux 20 Nyanga 21 Kockott 22 Trinh Duc 23 Nao

 

[FrenchFan]

Tales shouldn't be in the group. He is a good Top 14 player but not an international. He is too slow and at 32 doesn't offer much scope for development.

FTD Lopez Plisson Bernard are all younger and better. They are also form players. Tales and Kockott are part of a misfiring Castres team atm. Lopez is on fire with Clermont, so is Bernard with Bordeaux so was FTD with Montpellier until he got injured.

We absolutely do NOT need David Smith and Rory Kockott at this stage, the SH position is the one with the most depth. Kockott has Zero experience at Intl level. It is too late now to break in a new SH.
I have long suspected that Parra and PSA do not get on well. I have heard that many times here at the club and I take it seriously because my sources said they heard it from one of the Toulouse senior international.

If PSA had created the right environment and developped players into their position, he would have a team now. All he has now is just a group with various flavours.
PSA again is taking everyone for a ride by playing the 'foreigners' card because it is the flavour of the moment. Since he is under stewardship now, I suspect he is giving in to the influences around him.
PSA will lose the dressing room during the AI and next 6N. By putting him under stewardship, FFR have only further undermined an embattled coach. There is no way senior players such as Parra, and I know for a fact this is true of the senior Toulousains here as well, will listen to him anymore. He is no longer credible.
Also, the absence of many senior Toulousains in the France group who are playing excellent rugby like Huget (see his 2 tries agst Montpellier) tells me that there has been moved behind the scene to not select the Toulousains as they've realised that PSA has lost their support. This is why they've gone for a big Toulon representation.
The only problem with that is none of the Toulon players have the same experience than the Toulousains and offer the same guarantees of the tried and tested Picamoles Huget Maestri etc . So I expect the Toulon gamble to backfire badly on les Bleus.

Once again, the responsibility of this mess falls with FFR.

 

[FrenchFan]

Camille Lopez was brilliant against us yesterday. His tactical kicking and kicking from the tee is incredible. I know alot of people want Trinh-duc to start (as on pure talent he is probably better) but you can't overlook a guy who was playing on a weird surface and hitting 60m kicks onto the 5m line. Considering France usually have a big ugly pack I would want Lopez to hit the ball into the corners and try and make teams go toe to toe with your pack. Then he is already familiar with Fofana and Rougerie (don't care about his age he is still world class) and is a point kicker. Not going to lie you could always put Trinh-duc at 15 and then have him join as first reciever with the vision of a 10. Put Dulin and Guitoune on the wings and jobs a good-un.

I agree. Lopez is in great form at Clermont. He makes them tick in a way Brock James doesn't. Lopez was having an exceptional season at Bordeaux until he got badly injured and was out for virtually most of last season. I don't actually like kicking fly-half normally. My preference goes to a running fly half like FTD. But Lopez's kicking ability, place and penalties kicking, is quite impressive. He has a deadly left boot all right.
Dulin is a FB though. I like your pick of Guitoune on the wing and he has good understanding with Lopez from his time at Bordeaux.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Kockott will do well for you. I think he will be hungry for test rugby and he has the type of personality that will thrive under the pressure.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I agree. Lopez is in great form at Clermont. He makes them tick in a way Brock James doesn't. Lopez was having an exceptional season at Bordeaux until he got badly injured and was out for virtually most of last season. I don't actually like kicking fly-half normally. My preference goes to a running fly half like FTD. But Lopez's kicking ability, place and penalties kicking, is quite impressive. He has a deadly left boot all right.
Dulin is a FB though. I like your pick of Guitoune on the wing and he has good understanding with Lopez from his time at Bordeaux.

It all depends on which scrum half you pick. If you pick Machenaud, who is probably the form guy, then you need Lopez as the goal kicker and tactical mind. If Parra is selected he can do most of the kicking and that will allow Trinh-Duc to express himself with his passing and running, without worrying about goal kicking.

 

[gaston le gaff]

both Parra and FTD are injured Parra for the first test and maybe more FTD out for 3/4 months fractured tibia, Lopez would be good and give Kockett a run why the hell not it's only 11 months to the WC and 8,9,10 still in the late decisions makings, could be chosen on next months lottery!!!!! the way things are going in Paris with Sir Muppet PSA

 

[Big Ewis]

Tales shouldn't be in the group. He is a good Top 14 player but not an international. He is too slow and at 32 doesn't offer much scope for development.

FTD Lopez Plisson Bernard are all younger and better. They are also form players. Tales and Kockott are part of a misfiring Castres team atm. Lopez is on fire with Clermont, so is Bernard with Bordeaux so was FTD with Montpellier until he got injured.

We absolutely do NOT need David Smith and Rory Kockott at this stage, the SH position is the one with the most depth. Kockott has Zero experience at Intl level. It is too late now to break in a new SH.

The only problem with that is none of the Toulon players have the same experience than the Toulousains and offer the same guarantees of the tried and tested Picamoles Huget Maestri etc . So I expect the Toulon gamble to backfire badly on les Bleus.

Once again, the responsibility of this mess falls with FFR.

Agreed with Talès, although he just turned 30 :lol: he's not thirty-two !!! I do like him for Castres and the Top 14 but not for the xv de France. But now that Kockott is here, a 100% Castres HB pairing...
Of course we don't need the foreigners. But that's just modern int'l Rugby for you.
As for the Toulon-laden selection: it's good in that they'll try lots of new faces and Toulon is the new Toulouse, we all agree. It's good they've at least picked many from one same club the same way they did with Toulouse thus far, gives good chemistry in the skeleton of the team.

Smith isn't better than Huget, Guitoune, Nao (Clermont winger) , Fall, Malzieu, Andreau IMO
you would need a lot of bad injuries for him to be selected. Anyway because I love a XV
1 Domingo 2 Kayser 3 Mas 4 Vaahaminha 5 Maestri 6 Burban 7 Dusautoir 8 Chouly 9 Parra 10 Lopez 11 Guitoune 12 Fofana 13 Basta 14 Huget 15 Dulin 16 Tolofua 17 Debaty 18 Ducalcon/Poux 19 Le Roux 20 Nyanga 21 Kockott 22 Trinh Duc 23 Nao

I appreciate the comment but as of right now David Smith is better than Guitoune, Fall, Malzieu. Andreu is on top form, and Huget is Huget, but if anything Smith is quite underrated. He's been an absolute SPEAR for Toulon these past 3 years. He's short (low center of gravity), has dizzying speed and stepping, reads situations greatly and despite being 1m75ish has great bulk and super strong legs. But he's Samoan, not French. Maybe next time Manu Tuilagi buys a kitkat at a supermarket here in France we'll poach him; I dunno the laws perfectly but I'm quite sure that makes a player eligible these days.
For Guitoune he needs to play on the wing more, and Bordeaux use him as FB. Same with Fall, so they can't fully express their talent. I do think in potential Guitoune's more potent than Smith...

Very nice 23 btw. I see you've got the great Trinh-Duc on your bench. Boy, Lopez really has made an impression on you !

stormer: yeah like I said, Kockott has the experience of big games anyways and it's not Fiji or the Pumas that are going to scare him when he's faced Toulon twice in the Top 14 final.

 

[Big Ewis]

I agree. Lopez is in great form at Clermont. He makes them tick in a way Brock James doesn't. Lopez was having an exceptional season at Bordeaux until he got badly injured and was out for virtually most of last season. I don't actually like kicking fly-half normally. My preference goes to a running fly half like FTD. But Lopez's kicking ability, place and penalties kicking, is quite impressive. He has a deadly left boot all right.
Dulin is a FB though. I like your pick of Guitoune on the wing and he has good understanding with Lopez from his time at Bordeaux.

but Lopez is far from being just a boot. He can fix defenders and create overlaps and then feed at the right time for a clean break and likes to engage his backlines. At Saracens in Allianz last weekend he set Fofana up beautifully at 5m from the tryline but Fof committed an understandable KO. Too quick. He also hit a tough drop goal. Lopez also tackles hard. He's really the full package and is absolute gold to French Rugby and for Clermont he's the breath of fresh air and assurance they exactly needed as they move on to a new era w/o Cotter.

It all depends on which scrum half you pick. If you pick Machenaud, who is probably the form guy, then you need Lopez as the goal kicker and tactical mind. If Parra is selected he can do most of the kicking and that will allow Trinh-Duc to express himself with his passing and running, without worrying about goal kicking.

both Parra and FTD are injured Parra for the first test and maybe more FTD out for 3/4 months fractured tibia, Lopez would be good and give Kockett a run why the hell not it's only 11 months to the WC and 8,9,10 still in the late decisions makings, could be chosen on next months lottery!!!!! the way things are going in Paris with Sir Muppet PSA

true, and true. One thing's for sure: nobody right now in France; or the world; knows for absolute certain what the best HB combination is for France.

 

[FrenchFan]

true, and true. One thing's for sure: nobody right now in France; or the world; knows for absolute certain what the best HB combination is for France.

They've had 3 effing years to find out. If he hasn't by now, he never will. I think Lopez based on his form at Clermont has got to come in and then it's either Machenaud and Kockott. I'd like to see a Lopez Machenaud pairing.

 

[FrenchFan]

Agreed with Talès, although he just turned 30 :lol: he's not thirty-two !!! I do like him for Castres and the Top 14 but not for the xv de France. But now that Kockott is here, a 100% Castres HB pairing...

a 100% Castres HB pairing? wouldn't make the cut at Intl level. They're struggling in Top 14 atm. It would be a poor pick. Kockott injects a lot of pace to the game but when the ball drifts to Tales oh man everything slows down.

but Lopez is far from being just a boot. He can fix defenders and create overlaps and then feed at the right time for a clean break and likes to engage his backlines. At Saracens in Allianz last weekend he set Fofana up beautifully at 5m from the tryline but Fof committed an understandable KO. Too quick. He also hit a tough drop goal. Lopez also tackles hard. He's really the full package.

yes Lopez is much more than a boot. His defense has been solid. Put in some big hits. He looks very complete indeed.

Of course we don't need the foreigners. But that's just modern int'l Rugby for you.

yes we may need foreigners for the prop positions. But not SH.

As for the Toulon-laden selection: it's good in that they'll try lots of new faces and Toulon is the new Toulouse, we all agree. It's good they've at least picked many from one same club the same way they did with Toulouse thus far, gives good chemistry in the skeleton of the team.

well I hope you're right about the Toulon boys. Because right now there is not a lot of caps between the 8 of them. So good luck to les Bleus if they have to make the backbone of the team with Mourad's boys with only 12 games left.