Day 25

[Tony Manx]

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[TD="class: textcenter"]04/05[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter"]20:45[/TD]
[TD="class: textright"]Montpellier Hérault Rugby[/TD]
[TD]Biarritz Olympique[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: textcenter"]05/05[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter"]14:00[/TD]
[TD="class: textright"]Rugby Club Toulonnais[/TD]
[TD]Stade Toulousain[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD="class: textcenter"] - [/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter"]14:15[/TD]
[TD="class: textright"]Aviron Bayonnais[/TD]
[TD]SU Agen[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: textcenter"] - [/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter"]14:15[/TD]
[TD="class: textright"]CA Brive-Corrèze[/TD]
[TD]Union Bordeaux-Bègles[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD="class: textcenter"] - [/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter"]14:15[/TD]
[TD="class: textright"]Castres Olympique[/TD]
[TD]ASM Clermont[/TD]
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[TD="class: textcenter"] - [/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter"]14:15[/TD]
[TD="class: textright"]USAP[/TD]
[TD]Lyon LOU[/TD]
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[TD="class: textcenter"] - [/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter"]16:15[/TD]
[TD="class: textright"]Racing Métro 92[/TD]
[TD]Stade Français[/TD]
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Interesting weekend........seems Biarritz ready to gamble on their Top 14 future by apparently prepared to leave a fit Yach on the bench, and use the game to bring back Magnus Lund and Fabien Barcella after long term injuries! Have not won there for as long as anyone can remember and they lay down and let them have their wicked way when they came to us in the reverse fixture....So we are just five points above Brive and Bayonne with two games to go so they must believe one of them is going to lose yet they both have home games against weaker than could be expected opposition! Interesting and must be pleasing for Gaston....sorry could not make it!! Some great games in store at Toulon, Castres and Racing although expect weakened side from Clermont (already missing the suspended Brock and injured Skrela) although Toulouse could put out top side as they need the practice!! Enjoy

 

[Melhor Time]

Can someone make a poll please...

I want to put some big money on wins for Montpellier, Toulon and Castres.

 

[Tony Manx]

OK will go with Biarritx, Toulouse and Clermont............what the hell.........Bayonne, Brive, USAP and Racing!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Job done.........2nd team got the defensive bonus point...................Must play you next year, Gaston, with the full team and see what happens........................................!!!!

 

[Black_Magic]

I've watched the Montpellier-BOPB match. A pretty good game I have to say, very, very entertaining at times, that's what I want from French rugby, the best in Europe!
Trinh-Duc has been excellent (apart from that one charged down kick as far as I remember). He's one of my favourite players and I'm always glad when he plays well. (That said, I was nevertheless very relieved when he missed that penalty in the RWC final last year, oufffffff that was close! ) As for Yachvili, he wasn't even dressed for the match, and while being interviewed during the game, he said he needs to get some rest because of his knees. So it's not that Biarritz gambled by leaving him out fit.

Trinh-Duc should be an unquestioned no. 1 fly-half for Les Bleus in my opinion, and I hope he will be. And The Pumas better consider starting Amorosino, have you seen that counter attack he started after being chased behind his own try line? Awesome!

I'm looking forward to seeing Montpellier making some noise in the playoffs as they did last year. ASM are strong favourites for the ***le in my opinion, but who knows? Toulon will have something to say too. Toulouse had a sub-par season by their standards, but may well still finish as champions. I keep my fingers crossed for SF to make the playoffs, they play with a lot of heart. The grand final - Clermont contre Montpellier!

 

[Tony Manx]

Yach was named on the bench until shortly before the game and was replaced on the bench by a hooker..................I know the old management at BO has a few problems but not sure that they would have done that with some better notice!!

In addition, Watremez, (leaving for MHL unfortunately) Marconnet, Magnus Lund, Erik Lund were all left out or on the bench so I think that they were looking to make sure the "slightly" injured, and at this stage of the season most such players usually play where necessary, were rested for Stade at home and then the Final.............Thought the game was interesting and BO showed a lot of commitment (even if Barcella was crunched in the scrums) but not sure that the result was really in any doubt or that Isaacs or Milhas looked too upset.

The best news was Lakafia, Lauret and Gray showed the future strength in the 3rd line, Lesgourges had a very good game at 9 and Barraque did not do anything wrong when forced on instead of Baby.

 

[gaston le gaff]

The only thing i can say is job well done Montpellier were lurking in the depths of the TOP14 at the beginning of the season with many players away at the World Cup, and still finish in the top 6, where we will find out after next week, but play-offs assured along with H Cup next season the other 8 teams can only bleat and cry about injuries or bad management the results are the only thing that counts. Bravo Montpellier a onwards and upwards!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Chapeau......................!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

merci Tony. a la saison prochaine, et bonne chance dans le Final d'Amlin Challenge contre Toulon.
We will be supporting BO!!!!!!