France RWC 2011

[M Two One]

Melhor, what's wrong with Thion? Really under appreciated

I can't answer for Melhor, but Thion is actually one of my favorite players. With that said, I still believe that going with a younger squad would be a better idea.

 

[Charles]

That's coz you're a Biarritz man

For a guy so big he never makes any metres ball in hand. Falls to the ground as soon as he's in contact with the opposition (noticed I didn't say tackled). He's a good scrummager/grunt work player though. Not dynamic at all though...

 

[Seaton]

From a Scottish point of view, the French are very predictable...

You can bet your house on them beating us every year <_<

 

[M Two One]

That's coz you're a Biarritz man

For a guy so big he never makes any metres ball in hand. Falls to the ground as soon as he's in contact with the opposition (noticed I didn't say tackled). He's a good scrummager/grunt work player though. Not dynamic at all though...

This is true!

I did however follow up that I believe the national team should go with a younger squad.

 

[Melhor Time]

Sorry, I can´t remember who asked about Jauzion not on my list.

The reason is he has lost his speed and looks pedestrian. France need a guy like Mermoz to give multiple options. Good to call the defenders and link with his outside centre, good linebreaker and passer. Jauzion can only really, now in his twilight, run straight like a battering-ram.

Toulouse have been using him as a bench player recently with Poitrenaud starting at 12.

Also, about Yachvilli.... A victim of options and gameplan. Yachvilli is an excellent defensive scrumhalf but France need others to go far.

Melhor, what's wrong with Thion? Really under appreciated

Washed up. With Carizza and Lund fit he was often on the Biarritz bench earlier in the season.

Pierre and Nallet are head and shoulders above the rest.

It would be much, much better for France to pick yuonger players. Thank goodness Trinh-Duc was picked in 2008 rather than using Traille or Skrella.

 

[Charles]

We're ****** for this WC, probably gonna lose to England or Argentina in the QF, but we'll have a good team afterwards if the FFR picks a good coach. Some good youngsters coming through in the forwards and backs...

Maestri, Fakate, Ouedraogo, Lapandry, Lakafia, Doussain, Doumeyrou, Chavancy etc...

 

[THE_DINGMEISTER]

guys what about Malzieu, I am not too sure of his current form for Clermont but when watching him he has generally impressed and despite his lanky frame he is deceptively fast and powerful.

 

[psychic duck]

I think France have ditched Jauzion far too early, Malzieu should get more opportunities also

Chabal should be left out, and they should not let Traille within a thousand miles from fly half

 

[Melhor Time]

guys what about Malzieu, I am not too sure of his current form for Clermont but when watching him he has generally impressed and despite his lanky frame he is deceptively fast and powerful.

A great player for sure but look at the options - Medard, Clerc, Palisson, Andreu and Huget. Teams usually take three wingers and two fullbacks to World Cups. Considering Medard and Palisson are fullbacks and wingers Malzieu looks out of luck. Should France want specialist fullbacks they´d go for Poitrenaud, Floch or Porical (none make my squad) and thus three of the above mentioned players to join them.

I think France have ditched Jauzion far too early, Malzieu should get more opportunities also
Chabal should be left out, and they should not let Traille within a thousand miles from fly half.

Jauzion has not impressed at all this season. He may be back in the plans know though after his tackle injured Rougerie yesterday.

Chabal will be in as a senior backrower as most of the others are young. Ouedraogo and Lapandry will both be there as will Dusautoir and Bonnaire without question with Harinordiquey as the specialist 8 (hence no place for Picamoles).

Agreed, Traille should not play 10 or 15. He is a 12 and only a 12.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

We're ****** for this WC, probably gonna lose to England or Argentina in the QF, but we'll have a good team afterwards if the FFR picks a good coach. Some good youngsters coming through in the forwards and backs...

Maestri, Fakate, Ouedraogo, Lapandry, Lakafia, Doussain, Doumeyrou, Chavancy etc...

That's the same feeling I have towards SA; old players are waaaayy off the pace with good youngsters there but it is a case of too late for some, too early for others at this stage unfortunately.

I'm still picking us to get to at least the Semi's and if we manage a win there I'm sure the old-timers have 1 more hoorah in them LOL.

 

[Aout]

1ère ligne : Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Sylvain Marconnet (Biarritz)
2ème ligne : Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Métro 92)
3ème ligne : Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse/Cap), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Raphaël Lakafia (Biarritz), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
1/2 de mêlée : Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz)
1/2 d'ouverture : David Skrela (Toulouse), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier)
3/4 centres : Fabrice Estebanez (Brive), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), David Marty (Perpignan), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont)
Ailiers - Arrières : Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Alexis Palisson (Brive), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Bayonne), Cédric Heymans (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz)

Jauzion and Poitrenaud will never touch the world cup...

 

[dangandan]

is Yoann Huget solely a winger? he's never done anything in a French jersey. i'd give Malzieu a go instead.

 

[Aout]

Yes he is. He was quite good in the top 14 but you're right, he was crappy during the 6N. Lievremont's choices... the back line looks very poor.

 

[psychic duck]

Malzieu and Jauzion should replace Huget and Estebanez, in my opinion

 

[Melhor Time]

1ère ligne : Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Sylvain Marconnet (Biarritz)
2ème ligne : Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Métro 92)
3ème ligne : Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse/Cap), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Raphaël Lakafia (Biarritz), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
1/2 de mêlée : Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz)
1/2 d'ouverture : David Skrela (Toulouse), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier)
3/4 centres : Fabrice Estebanez (Brive), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), David Marty (Perpignan), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont)
Ailiers - Arrières : Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Alexis Palisson (Brive), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Bayonne), Cédric Heymans (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz)

Jauzion and Poitrenaud will never touch the world cup...

My first thought is the make up of the squad - it ´s the same as Argentina from 2007 with 5 props but 2 hookers. Only 2 scrumhalves and only two genuine flyhalves.

So my team would be:

15 Medard
14 Clerc
13 Rougerie (or Marty)
12 Mermoz
11 Palisson
10 Trinh-Duc
9 Parra
8 Harinordiquey
7 Bonnaire
6 Dusautoir
5 Nallet
4 Pierre
3 Mas
2 Servat
1 Barcella (or Domingo)

dangandan

I agree with Aout re Huget playing for France. But in the Top 14 he has been the best winger, scoring plenty of tries and doing so through channels all over the park rather than sticking to his wing. He got a brace of great tries last weekend. See the video...

[video=dailymotion;ximfuq]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/ximfuq_retour-sur-asr-ab_sport#from=embed[/video]

 

[dangandan]

took his tries well. maybe it's a matter of finding his feet in the French team. then again, the French game plan has been pretty useless this year.

 

[cyRil]

Whatever happened to Benjamin Fall? It seems Huget is his equivalent this season with getting loads of tries in the T14. By all accounts Fall was great for Bayonne 2 seasons ago - how's he doing at Racing?

 

[Aout]

Injured.

Btw, is it the same thing in the other leagues (SH, Magner's, Aviva) ? I mean in France there are so many injured players (Barcella, Domingo, Mermoz, Fall, David, Swarzeski, Rougerie,Donguy, Dusautoir til last game, Hernandez, Skrela last season etc etc...), it's one of the reason Lievremont had so many troubles during the last few years to pick up a "1st XV". He was never able to get the same players from one game to another.

I know that players in Ireland and Southern countries are "protected" by their federation, but what about Wales Scotland and England ? The best example is Mas, who usually is just awesome, but he struggled against Northampton because he had played sooo many games during the season+6nations+test games. Is it the same situation on the other side of the Channel ?

 

[Tau tahi]

Cause he got doubted to by Soane Tonga'uiha who will be playing for Tonga

Because he got doubted to by Tonga'uiha who will be turning out for Tonga.Well good luck France cause i'm saying it now Tonga is no team to be taken lightly.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Cause he got doubted to by Soane Tonga'uiha who will be playing for Tonga

Because he got doubted to by Tonga'uiha who will be turning out for Tonga.Well good luck France cause i'm saying it now Tonga is no team to be taken lightly.

... siad the tongan. I really don't think anyone's taking Tonga lightly, and Tonga'uiha is perhaps the best loosehead around, but that does not invalidate Aout's point.