France June 2012

[Tony Manx]

"Lakafia had a horrible season. He's basically only played well on the second half of the 2010-2011 season, and then disappeared, I don't think that merits selection!"

Cannot disagree, ZeFrechy, but not sure of cause and effect......he was in and out of the team more time than, well, a whore drops her knickers, usually to make way for Imanol, being dropped that is not the whore simile!! He certainly has not had a good season in a back row that has usually been the best and most consistent team within the team and I was surprised by the selection.

Lauret has been barnstorming everywhere and only his handling of the ball has been often poor and, correcting this, he should do well.

I am sorry to see Watremz go to Montpellier next season as we are not that blessed with good props and he is definitely a star of the future....big, willing and becoming a better scrummager but perhaps a little early as yet. Sometimes early selection is good and I really hope it is for him........ and he receives the proper support on the tour as I am sure he will at MHL

 

[ZeFrenchy]

What are your thoughts on the squad, besides the BO players?

 

[Tony Manx]

Cannot disagree with what you say and, in particular......re hookers and Michalak.

Having said that, I am not sure that, whatever the pick, that the management will get the best out of them. PSA would not have been my pick, I would have moved heaven and earth to get Galthie, and I certainly would not have allowed Lagisquet anywhere near them!

I am hoping that the squad will have enough strong characters within in it to stand up to any potential "dictatorial posturing" in the interests of seeing the team become a cohesive unit to make real progress and to create a strong base for that for the Autumn internationals when some old faces will surely return!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I would have moved heaven and earth to get Galthie, and I certainly would not have allowed Lagisquet anywhere near them!

Amen to that.

 

[Black_Magic]

Well it seems that I disagree with most of you, but I'm actually pretty excited that Michalak is back in the squad, and not only because of his Polish name ;-) But the best thing about this squad is Trinh-Duc, one of my favourite players not only in Europe!

 

[Tony Manx]

I am also a big fan of Trinh-Duc but Michalak is like Carlos Spencer, Gregor Townsend, Ryan Lamb and others who are wonderful to watch for their trickery and skills but only to be brought on AFTER the game is won else they will lose more they will them for their teams. I am not against attacking 10's who take chances, but they need to know when to do it and need a more patient approach with other skills first. Unfortunately, Michalak knows only one way of playing........cannot see him and a certain coach getting on!!

 

[Melhor Time]

Some surprizes but the reality is many World Cup players are being rested. France doesn´t have flyhalves. Trinh-Duc is the rare exception. Top 14 Semi Finals featured one French flyhalf and he is not good at all. Michalak can play there, of course, but still should not have been picked.

Still, France with the team picked should be far too good for the Argentine squad which lacks the country´ top 24 players.

15 Buttin
14 Huget
13 Mermoz
12 Fofana
11 Fall
10 Trinh-Duc
9 Parra
8 Picamoles
7 Lapandry
6 Ouedraogo
5 Maestri
4 Papé (captain)
3 Attoub
2 Szarewski
1 Debaty

Thats a good team and, actualy, not all that off what a team for RWC 2015 could well be.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

It can't be far from that. Only, Mermoz will play 12 or nothing. Fritz is almost a certainty, unless he's rested (one of the few players who will play the final). Also, Debaty will probably start on the bench.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

France played a training game in Serge Betsen's farewell game in Biarritz. Nothing to take too seriously (in Betsen's friends team there were players such as Bixente Lizarazu and Grégory Coupet, despite some attractive things such as Masoe-Kelleher-Mehrtens at 8-9-10). Probably they used it to practice some positioning, lineout, etc. The side was:
Le XV du Président : Dulin ; Huget, Doumayrou, Mermoz, Fall ; (o) Michalak, (m) Machenaud ; Ouedraogo, Lakafia, Lauret ; Taofifenua, Papé ; Attoub, Szarzewski, Watremez.

Remplaçants: Héguy, Guillamon, Forestier, Chouly, Flanquart, Cazenave, Trinh-Duc, Chavancy, Martial.


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