[2014 Mid-Year Tests] France

[TRF Mr Fish]

How is Michalak still getting selected??

 

[Big Ewis]

it's not bad. The first tour of the year is usually one where for France we've seen many players develop in clubs and we're tempted to introduce a bunch. So good control there, the group is consolidating.

Criticism:
- only one real winger in there, are you kidding me ?!! The wing is our deepest position out of all the deep positions we have ! And FIVE centers, just wtf ??!! They're going to play Médard again on the other wing with all the guys we have in store, with Bonneval, another FB, as a backup ?!!! C'mon....
- Michalak ??? No FTD ??? This has turned downright silly. At very least for the age argument, Michalak is old and he ain't getting younger for the WC. Ridiculous. Period.
- No Fritz ?? That must be a Toulouse-restriction thing.
- maybe the perfect time to rest Nicolas Mas and try perhaps a Clément Ric, but no.
- I understand we need to re-introduce Ouedraogo in the rotation, but against the Aussies Lauret would've been PERFECT. Quick off his feet, super athletic, good strength on defense and in rucks, good fetcher...

In agreement with:
- no Plisson. Not a finished product yet.
- Parra back, with Machenaud as backup. Doussain unfortunately had those miserable 6N games and needs to work harder in Toulouse to get back.
- Menini at LH. I think Chiocci needs to work and develop just a tad more and he'll be in.
- Tolofua ! But I bet he won't play a minute.
- Happy to see Burban back. Hopefully he can FINALLY play healthy Rugby for his country as he always, always gets injured quasi-immediately.

How is Michalak still getting selected??

Because PSA.

 

[FrenchFan]

shocking list

should be rested: DUSAUTOIR (just back last we not fit for Intl duty yet) Huget (has done his duty doesn't need more Intl games) PICAMOLES (same) BASTAREAUD (same) Domingo MAS

Shd be In: FTD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Galan!!!!!!!!!!!! Camara!!!!!!! DANTY!!!!!!!!!!!!Fritz!!!!!!!!

best 10 with best stats is FTD best 8 after Picamoles is Galan best youngster Camara

Shd be Out : GUIRADO OUEDRAOGO MEDARD not intl standard

Shd be shot: Michalak

Shd be handcuffed runover & shot: PSA-Lagisquet

 

[Big Ewis]

well I guess I can't disagree with all that ! Except Danty. Still too young, needs just a bit of extra work, probably Galan too but I'd be alright with him playing right now tbh.

But the one thing I like about that list, again, is continuity, although some shortcomings and picks range from bad to ridiculous, I agree. Biggest issue for me is no FTD, Michalak playing, and the choices for the wings.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

shocking list

should be rested: DUSAUTOIR (just back last we not fit for Intl duty yet) Huget (has done his duty doesn't need more Intl games) PICAMOLES (same) BASTAREAUD (same) Domingo MAS

Shd be In: FTD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Galan!!!!!!!!!!!! Camara!!!!!!! DANTY!!!!!!!!!!!!Fritz!!!!!!!!

best 10 with best stats is FTD best 8 after Picamoles is Galan best youngster Camara

Shd be Out : GUIRADO OUEDRAOGO MEDARD not intl standard

Shd be shot: Michalak

Shd be handcuffed runover & shot: PSA-Lagisquet

Very funny post. .

 

[Bada-Bing!]

So out of the squad who would be the strongest XV to start the 2nd test; seeing as the first test is ruined by being too close to the Top 14 final?

 

[Big Ewis]

10. Trinh-Duc, 11. Marvin O'Connor/Ben Fall, 6.Lauret.....Oh, out of the squad ??!....my bad.

I'd go:
1 - Domingo
2 - Kayser
3 - Mas
4 - Maestri
5 - Vahaamahina
6 - Burban
7 - Dusautoir
8 - Picamoles
9 - Parra
10 - Talès
11 - Bonneval
12 - Fof
13 - Basta
14 - Huget
15 - Dulin

16.Tolofua 17.Debaty 18.Slimani 19.Flanquart 20.Chouly 21.Machenaud 22.Michalak 23.Fickou


For the third row:
Chouly has really come around very nicely this season and has added physicality to his game. A real utility flanker, perfect for the bench. And I'd rather try an on-form Burban who carries, tackles and rucks like a beast rather than Le Roux who's a bit infringement-prone, or the far more athletic/airborne Nyanga. But I'd bring in that latter two eventually. We'll see if Dusautoir holds up well...etc...

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

10. Trinh-Duc, 11. Marvin O'Connor/Ben Fall, 6.Lauret.....Oh, out of the squad ??!....my bad.

I'd go:
1 - Domingo
2 - Kayser
3 - Mas
4 - Maestri
5 - Vahaamahina
6 - Burban
7 - Dusautoir
8 - Picamoles
9 - Parra
10 - Talès
11 - Bonneval
12 - Fof
13 - Basta
14 - Huget
15 - Dulin

16.Tolofua 17.Debaty 18.Slimani 19.Flanquart 20.Chouly 21.Machenaud 22.Michalak 23.Fickou


For the third row:
Chouly has really come around very nicely this season and has added physicality to his game. A real utility flanker, perfect for the bench. And I'd rather try an on-form Burban who carries, tackles and rucks like a beast rather than Le Roux who's a bit infringement-prone, or the far more athletic/airborne Nyanga. But I'd bring in that latter two eventually. We'll see if Dusautoir holds up well...etc...

noticed in the aussie thread you had medard instead off bonneval but then i mentioned it and then you put him in for this team WHY IS MICHALAK THERE!

 

[TheSaffycen]

Galan and Tolofua would both be ready for intl' rugby. They absolutely dominated at HCup level and I think they can make the step up, Dusautoir should have been rested, the back row for the squad should have been- Nyanga, Burban, Galan, Picamoles( maybe could be rested so have Chouly at 8), Chouly, Lauret, LeRoux/Lapandry

 

[Big Ewis]

noticed in the aussie thread you had medard instead off bonneval but then i mentioned it and then you put him in for this team WHY IS MICHALAK THERE!

actually, I was projecting a backline susceptible to happen knowing PSA's mind...I prefer Bonneval at the moment over Médard because the latter is on a form slip and Bonneval is up-and-coming, young, full of enthusiasm and juice in those legs (even though, again, he's not a winger).

It's incredible PSA's choices for wingers, someone from the outside would think France are absolutely DEVOID of any at all besides Huget looking at PSA's selections, when it must be the deepest position we've got out of the 15. Quality winger after quality winger after quality winger...really strange.

TheSaffycen:
nah, we need Picamoles in Wallaby land. No rest for the giant. As for Dusautoir he's had all the rest in the world in those 3 months and is just coming back from injury so I think it's more of a test really, bringing him down there. Like, can he still play or is he just a big leading figure. We need to know going into the RWC. He's 32, will be 34 at the RWC, 65 caps by France standards that's very high.

Lauret I thought was really perfectly adequate for this tour in particular, but then we really have to pick a semi-consistent-at-least third row. France has loads of quality flankers, but we need to have a recognizable roster at some point...

 

[Draggs]

Could Galan handle a full test? He doesn't strike me as the fittest player around.

 

[Big Ewis]

Could Galan handle a full test? He doesn't strike me as the fittest player around.

why would you say that ? His adoration of the quadruple cheeseburger shouldn't stray you away from thinking he's a fat err I mean fit player.
Look, he's making the effort of tucking his meat in and holding his breath just for the pic. He may even be wearing one of those Victorian corsets:



What, you prefer fitter boys ? At least he's got something to hold onto, mind you...

 

[Darwin]

7 loose-forwards in that squad. Is it likely that we will see France use a 6/2 split on the bench (with two loose-forward reserves)? I'm not a big fan of this, but France have done this in the past (indeed they did it against England in the 6 nations), and given Australia are likely to play the game at pace having as many fresh forwards as possible in the last 20 minutes could be vital (the backs should be fresh for 80 minutes, as we all know they really don't do much ).

There seems to be a slight shortage of specialist locks - I assume one of the taller flankers (Le Roux, Chouly) are able to cover lock if required?

 

[Big Ewis]

no no, no 6/2 split I don't think...playing England and playing Australia aren't exactly the same battle, and I see no particular use to do such a drastic thing here. He's just loading up the squad with the "on-form" players of the Top 14.

Le Roux and Chouly don't play lock, no. We've got 3 locks and that's it, with Pascal Papé "resting"...we could've used a fourth one just to be sure I guess, but we'll into the Australian tour with exactly 3, all of which will be active in all 3 test matches by default. It's funny because just some weeks prior, Saint-André and crew were looking at a "new face" for our second row, Julien Le Devedec from Brive, and it turns out that no, he's not coming...

But I reiterate: the winger position is the one that's been the most weirdly picked...
I have no clue why they'd just casually remove Florian Fritz who was a lock at second center for a long time now....I guess they REALLY wanted to try out a newbie, Le Bourhis.
Menini at LH is random as fk as well, although it's not a bad choice per se.
And Ouedraogo ? seems a bit too soon...he's JUST back from injury, although it's a good test (if he plays any minutes at all...) but the logical choice, again, would've been Lauret.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

actually, I was projecting a backline susceptible to happen knowing PSA's mind...I prefer Bonneval at the moment over Médard because the latter is on a form slip and Bonneval is up-and-coming, young, full of enthusiasm and juice in those legs (even though, again, he's not a winger).

mm well yes but hopefully he does play bonneval instead off medard i have no idea how old he is but i say his time is over

 

[FrenchFan]

FTD was found in bed with Madame PSA who was wearing the latest sexy lacy outfit her embattled hubsband had got her but that she had always refused to wear

François we hope she was worth it anyway

PSA is now officially on a witness protection program run by FFR

 

[gaston le gaff]

and i thought he was Gay!!!!!!!!! PSA that is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

What do I do to get the gig as French RU national coach? I'm serious.

 

[FrenchFan]

a BS in Media communications is an absolute Must - especially the BS

 

[gaston le gaff]

What do I do to get the gig as French RU national coach? I'm serious.

First and foremost buy a suit and then go and live in Paris and make lots of rugby buddies that done you are nearly there.......... Dont worry about rugby knowledge PSA got the job and knows Jack Sh**