[EOYT] French Barbarians vs. Samoa 16/11/13

[Big Ewis]

French Barbarians VS Samoa
16 November 2013
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand
​Referee: JP Doyle (England)




​

Should be loads and loads of fun. I have no clue what team Samoa will assemble for this one, but here's the French Baabaas' roster as of now according to their Wiki page:

[TABLE="class: sortable wikitable jquery-tablesorter"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="class: headerSort"]Player[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort"]Position[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort"]Date of Birth (Age)[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort"]Club/province[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort"]Union[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Brice Mach[/TD]
[TD]Hooker[/TD]
[TD] 2 April 1986 (age 27)[/TD]
[TD] Castres[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]William Servat[/TD]
[TD]Hooker[/TD]
[TD] 9 February 1978 (age 35)[/TD]
[TD]Retired[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Yannick Forestier[/TD]
[TD]Prop[/TD]
[TD] 3 January 1982 (age 31)[/TD]
[TD] Castres[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Aretz Iguiniz[/TD]
[TD]Prop[/TD]
[TD] 3 June 1983 (age 30)[/TD]
[TD] Bayonne[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Jean-Baptiste Poux[/TD]
[TD]Prop[/TD]
[TD] 26 September 1979 (age 34)[/TD]
[TD] Bordeaux Bègles[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Thibault Lassalle[/TD]
[TD]Lock[/TD]
[TD] 22 August 1987 (age 26)[/TD]
[TD] Oyonnax[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Christophe Samson[/TD]
[TD]Lock[/TD]
[TD] 1 March 1984 (age 29)[/TD]
[TD] Castres[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Robins Tchale-Watchou[/TD]
[TD]Lock[/TD]
[TD] 10 May 1983 (age 30)[/TD]
[TD] Montpellier[/TD]
[TD] Cameroon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Julien Bonnaire[/TD]
[TD]Flanker[/TD]
[TD] 20 September 1978 (age 35)[/TD]
[TD] Castres[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Pierre Rabadan[/TD]
[TD]Flanker[/TD]
[TD] 3 April 1980 (age 33)[/TD]
[TD] Stade Français[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Gerhard Vosloo[/TD]
[TD]Flanker[/TD]
[TD] 10 May 1979 (age 34)[/TD]
[TD] Clermont[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Antonie Claassen[/TD]
[TD]Number 8[/TD]
[TD] 20 October 1984 (age 29)[/TD]
[TD] Castres[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Rory Kockott[/TD]
[TD]Scrum-half[/TD]
[TD] 25 June 1986 (age 27)[/TD]
[TD] Castres[/TD]
[TD] South Africa[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Jonathan Pélissié[/TD]
[TD]Scrum-half[/TD]
[TD] 6 June 1988 (age 25)[/TD]
[TD] Montpellier[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]David Skrela[/TD]
[TD]Fly-half[/TD]
[TD] 2 March 1979 (age 34)[/TD]
[TD] Colomiers[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Francois Trinh-Duc[/TD]
[TD]Fly-half[/TD]
[TD] 1 November 1986 (age 27)[/TD]
[TD] Montpellier[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Rémi Lamerat[/TD]
[TD]Centre[/TD]
[TD] 14 January 1990 (age 23)[/TD]
[TD] Castres[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Aurélien Rougerie[/TD]
[TD]Centre[/TD]
[TD] 26 September 1980 (age 33)[/TD]
[TD] Clermont[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Alexis Palisson[/TD]
[TD]Wing[/TD]
[TD] 9 September 1987 (age 26)[/TD]
[TD] Toulon[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Sitiveni Sivivatu[/TD]
[TD]Wing[/TD]
[TD] 19 April 1982 (age 31)[/TD]
[TD] Clermont[/TD]
[TD] New Zealand[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]David Smith[/TD]
[TD]Wing[/TD]
[TD] 12 October 1985 (age 28)[/TD]
[TD] Toulon[/TD]
[TD] New Zealand[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: vcard agent"]
[TD="align: left"]Silvère Tian[/TD]
[TD]Fullback[/TD]
[TD] 19 July 1980 (age 33)[/TD]
[TD] Oyonnax[/TD]
[TD] France[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[LittleGuy]

Thanks for getting this thread started Ewis. Agreed with Psychic this is a strong French Barbarians side.

 

[Big Ewis]

Thanks for getting this thread started Ewis. Agreed with Psychic this is a strong French Barbarians side.

oh well you're morbidly welcome my friend !
..does that work, as an expression ? Like, you're soooo welcome that, it could hurt, and even have a moribund spell on you ?
Oh forget it !...I mean well.

Also: yeah that's a strong squad alright, but I'm sure the actual roster on the day will look a bit different as I remember this table to have been that way for some time now. Surely they'll name players gradually who can't make it through the news, for example, nothing guarantees Forestier and Claassen won't play against Tonga that same day in the Bleus jersey...

I REAAAALLY REALLY hope Servat is playing though !! Oh boy would I love to see that at 35yo ! Hilarious, but I'll bet the guy would play and feel so empowered and competitive he'd all of a sudden regret his retirement decision.
And on a side note, a scrum of Poux+Servat+Forestier can do quite some pushing. We'll see...

I'd really like to see this intact squad on the field though Saturday, hopefully it looks very much like this table.
Just the backline would be:
9 Pélissié
10 Trinh-Duc
11 Sivivatu
12 Rougerie
13 Lamerat
14 David Smith
15 Tian

Pretty niiiiice.

 

[rays_rugby]

Nice thread. A few things - Gerhard Vosloo is South African, and Silvere Tian is an Ivory Coast international.

Forestier, Claassen, and Pelissie are all playing against Tonga in Le Havre.

Kenan Mutapcic and David Attoub have been added at prop, and Remi Bonfils has replaced William Servat in the squad (sadly).

Claassen's replacement has not been named yet.

Valentin Courrent is in for Pelissie.

The rest remain the same, Rougerie is captain.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Ag, they can have Vosloo. It would seem that is what the man himself wants in any case so why not.

Should be a good match as these are good teams and there is no pressure.

 

[Aedaphon]

Christ, that's a fierce Baa-Baas squad. I love the Manu Samoa but it'd be nice to see some of these French players put a claim on the blue shirt.

Still praying France will take Trinh-Duc back but it seems to be less likely every game...

 

[Big Ewis]

Christ, that's a fierce Baa-Baas squad. I love the Manu Samoa but it'd be nice to see some of these French players put a claim on the blue shirt.

Still praying France will take Trinh-Duc back but it seems to be less likely every game...

happy to see your enthusiasm for this one, I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun !
I like Trinh-Duc too, a special FH with some genius moments, incredible touches found at the right moment, incredible tries scored (remember the one in NZ in 2009 test 1 ?!), insane passes only he pulls off, an ability to writhe through the defense few have, and one ingredient rarely saluted or mentioned in Rugby, smarts.

As you say, it just won't happen, it's too late now. He's had to go through the Michalak years, the horrible years of Beauxis, then Michalak again, with in the meantime Parra during the RWC at FH...now Tales and Lopez.
We're looking for (WELL DESERVED !!!!!!!!) stability after trying 9 different half-back combinations under the Saint-André couple of years as headcoach, to assert ourselves as one cohesive unit with good chemistry and more largely in view of the World Cup in two years of course.
You won't see Trinh-Duc again in bleus....UNLESS Pélissié works really well in the XV de France and they put T-D there because Tales is out injured or smt and he's playing really well at that time and they feel like an all Montpellier transition would work...but how likely is all that..

 

[Aedaphon]

happy to see your enthusiasm for this one, I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun !
I like Trinh-Duc too, a special FH with some genius moments, incredible touches found at the right moment, incredible tries scored (remember the one in NZ in 2009 test 1 ?!), insane passes only he pulls off, an ability to writhe through the defense few have, and one ingredient rarely saluted or mentioned in Rugby, smarts.

As you say, it just won't happen, it's too late now. He's had to go through the Michalak years, the horrible years of Beauxis, then Michalak again, with in the meantime Parra during the RWC at FH...now Tales and Lopez.
We're looking for (WELL DESERVED !!!!!!!!) stability after trying 9 different half-back combinations under the Saint-André couple of years as headcoach, to assert ourselves as one cohesive unit with good chemistry and more largely in view of the World Cup in two years of course.
You won't see Trinh-Duc again in bleus....UNLESS Pélissié works really well in the XV de France and they put T-D there because Tales is out injured or smt and he's playing really well at that time and they feel like an all Montpellier transition would work...but how likely is all that..

I have despised the numerous rises of Michalak through the years. He's an immensely talented rugby player but has really had no strong arguments for his inclusion in Les Bleus over FTD. The Montpellier halfback pairing is one of the only all-french combinations in the top 14... And probably the only successful one.

I'd still say FTD's young enough to be included but that's also my Vietnamese roots favouring him.

 

[Big Ewis]

I have despised the numerous rises of Michalak through the years. He's an immensely talented rugby player but has really had no strong arguments for his inclusion in Les Bleus over FTD. The Montpellier halfback pairing is one of the only all-french combinations in the top 14... And probably the only successful one.

I'd still say FTD's young enough to be included but that's also my Vietnamese roots favouring him.

aaaaaaaah haha, okay, there we go !
Fair enough. A lot of criticism towards TD throughout the years from France fans though...as far as I'm concerned, a little inconsistent.

And tbh, Michalak's re-inclusion was a fabulous thing if you'd remember June and November 2012. He was absolutely untouchable. Then the 6N...and again in NZ in June 2013, a nightmare. But ppl have forgotten that 2012 return for him. He was like a magician, everything he did, everything he touched looked beautiful.

 

[rays_rugby]

Jonathan Best of Grenoble has replaced Antonie Claassen.

 

[Big Ewis]

Jonathan Best of Grenoble has replaced Antonie Claassen.

thanks for the updates buddy !
And yeh, not a big fan of Claassen from what I've seen so far....

 

[Croket66]

French Barbarians :

1. Jean-Baptiste Poux (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
2. Brice Mach (Castres Olympique)
3. David Attoub (Stade Français)
4. Christophe Samson (Castres Olympique)
5. Robins Tchale-Watchou (Montpellier HR / Cameroon)
6. Gerhard Vosloo( ASM Clermont-Auvergne / South Africa)
7. Julien Bonnaire (ASM Clermont-Auvergne)
8. Pierre Rabadan (Stade Français)
10. François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier HR)
9. Heini Adams (Union Bordeaux-Bègles / South Africa)
11. David Smith (RC Toulon / New Zealand)
12. Remi Lamerat (Castres Olympique)
13. Aurélien Rougerie (ASM Clermont-Auvergne)
14. Sitiveni Sivivatu (ASM Clermont-Auvergne / New Zealand)
15. Sylver Tian (US Oyonnax / Ivory Coast)

16. Rémy Bonfils (Stade Français)
17. Kenan Mutapcic (FC Grenoble / Bosnia and Herzegovina)
18. Aretz Iguiniz (Aviron Bayonnais)
19. Thibaut Lassalle (US Oyonnax)
20. Jonathan Best (FC Grenoble)
21. Valentin Courrent (FC Grenoble)
22. David Skrela (US Colomiers)
23. Alexis Palisson (RC Toulon)

 

[rays_rugby]

Manu Samoa:

1. Viliamu Afatia (SU Agen)
2. Ti'i Paulo (Clermont Auvergne)
3. James Johnston (Saracens)
4. Piula Fa'asalele (Castres Olympique)
5. Joe Tekori (Stade Toulousain)
6. Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Bath)
7. Jack Lam (Waikato Mooloos / Hurricanes)
8. Faifili Levave (Wellington Lions / Hurricanes)
9. Jeremy Su'a (Worcester Warriors)
10. Kahn Fotuali'i (Northampton Saints)
11. Brando Va'aulu (Tokyo Gas)
12. Johnny Leota (Sale Sharks)
13. Isaia Tu'ifua (Taranaki)
14. Alapati Leuia (Wellington Lions / Hurricanes)
15. Fa'atoina Autagavaia (Marist St. Joseph's)

16. Ole Avei (Bordeaux Begles)
17. Anthony Perenise (Bath)
18. Benjamin Sa (Bordeaux Begles)
19. Filo Paulo (Cardiff Blues)
20. Ofisa Treviranus (London Irish)
21. Patrick Fa'apale (Vaiala)
22. Sinoti Sinoti (Wellington Lions)
23. Ken Pisi (Northampton Saints)

 

[Sam Owen]

I wonder why David Smith chooses not to play for us??...because of that I hope he gets smashed lol.

Looks like were in for a good game peeps.

 

[rays_rugby]

I wonder why David Smith chooses not to play for us??

He has played for New Zealand 7s and is therefore ineligible for Samoa.

 

[Big Ewis]

Looks like were in for a good game peeps.

yip !
And awww too bad William "The Log" Servat ain't playing ! I thought he actually would, retired or not...the "home team" should win this.
Bonnaire is always a work horse and will likely get the highest tackle total, Rabadan can seriously help out too, Vosloo's fine as well and the tight 5 are sound (well I barely know Tchale-Watchou).
And too bad Pélissié ain't starting this, but I'd much rather see him in a Bleus uniform, TD the last French Flair-type FH (with Michalak when he's not complete shyt) should put some pace and movement into the flow.
Rougerie, Lamerat, David Smith, Sivivatu and Tian....mmmm. Sounds mighty sweet to this eye-candy hungry user.

 

[Big Ewis]

From the ASM official website, the final French Barbarian group:

1.Jean-Baptiste Poux (Union B̬gles-Bordeaux), 2.Brice Mach (Castres), 3.David Attoub (Stade Fran̤ais), 4.Christophe Samson (Castres), 5.Robins Tchale-Watchou (Montpellier), 6.Gerhard Vosloo (Clermont), 7. Pierre Rabadan (Stade Fran̤ais), 8. Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), 9. Henie Adams (Bordeaux), 10. Fran̤ois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), 11. David Smith (Toulon), 12. R̩mi Lamerat (Castres), 13.Aur̩lien Rougerie (Clermont) РCapitaine, 14. Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont), 15. Alexis Palisson (Toulon)

Remplaçants :
16. Rémi Bonfils (Stade Français), 17. Kenan Mutapčić (Grenoble), 18. Aretz Iguiniz (Bayonne), 19.Thibault Lassalle (Oyonnax), 20. Jonathan Best (Grenoble), 21. Valentin Courrent (Grenoble), 22. David Skrela (Colomiers), 23. Silvère Tian (Oyonnax)

 

[Tony Manx]

Ah those poor overworked French players even with their fortnight off for their first rest period of the season............wait a minute, no, they are playing for the BaaBaas for a large fee................!!! Overworked.................I don't think so!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Ah those poor overworked French players even with their fortnight off for their first rest period of the season............wait a minute, no, they are playing for the BaaBaas for a large fee................!!! Overworked.................I don't think so!!!!!

still overworked....<_<
Eyyyy Tony !! I thought smt was missing on this God forsa...ahem, on this forum !
Come back just in time to taunt the English losing to the AB or smt ??

 

[Tony Manx]

still overworked....<_<
Eyyyy Tony !! I thought smt was missing on this God forsa...ahem, on this forum !
Come back just in time to taunt the English losing to the AB or smt ??

Been keeping my eye on you but this is the rest time in the Top 14......................Internationals are OK but..................club rugby is the real thing!!!!

...................he waits for negative response