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.
don't forget Tilous-Bordes. Haven't seen much of Kockott or Castres this year but TB is right up there with the very best of em in European Rugby. And he may not have loads of caps with France and hasn't seen test Rugby since 2008-09, but he's very experienced and anybody who's been playing for Toulon the past 2-3 years are theoretically ready for test level Rugby.
(quick review of the 8 selected Toulonais)
- Menini is amongst the best scrummagers we have in France on the left side: Arretz Iguiniz and Domingo are the other two.
- Chiocci is a fat fk but Toulon have made him into a relevant starter. And you don't start for Toulon if you're average, esp. not late in the playoffs.
- Bruni has put on some good muscle mass and raw weight and is no longer the light jumper/runner. He tackles, gets into the rucks...very good young flanker with a twist.
- Basta is becoming one of the best players in the world, let alone center. Coming to maturity, he does everything - even the passing is looking crisp and pro these days.
- Mermoz is back in selection, good reward for his past 1.5 seasons. Quality center.
- Guirado one of the only pluses in Australia last summer, consistent, pro, clean. Triple champs RC Toulon didn't get him for his baby look and headband.
- Romain Tao is playing inspired ball again. No longer a promising but out of shape giant. When he hits top form, look the FK OUT.
- TB has been the unsung hero in the command center tower of Toulon on the pitch. Everybody's praised ex-Wallaby Giteau and RWC winner legend Wilko, but there was that bearded Iberian-looking guy insuring good passages of play from the rucks and scrums to the back line action. Super consistent, almost never at fault, pro, clean, quick and accurate...in the image of Toulon, quoi.
About 'Weeni': I'm not so sure he's that prone to fatigue. Yes he had weight issues when coming from the Islands to France, but everybody said he wouldn't cut it from D2 to Top 14 and he more than did. Then now everybody's saying he can't hold up at test level and I've a gut feeling he'll do better than expected. He's trimmed down a lot since coming to France some years ago, and he's still very young right, he's still 23.
I think of it this way: forget Slimani as they've left him out for whatever fkng reason (probably can only pick 2 TH's and they wanted to try out Weeni). But Mas isn't going to offer a ton in the loose anymore, and in fact won't be as much an asset in the tight either for that matter. Weeni may be a rookie, but he's hungry as fk and has held up well in the Top 14 for the past 10 Days (games). Even if he tires, he can start for France and be a big weapon in both loose and tight, and offers an extra dimension Mas can't.
