Top 14 2014/15 Season

[TRF_stormer2010]

man, fk you and your shiitty Racing Metro stormer !!! Nobody gives a shiit !! :lol: +1

I remember seeing that post but being way busy with other activity in the Top 14 threads at the time and gave myself a pass...that's a lot of info to collect if you want to be really accurate. I usually just wait for a season to start to see the new faces, the rotation and starting XV's they'll rock and get used to that as the season progresses...
For e.g. I forgot for, like, seriously the 6th time that Dulin was traded there. In my head Dulin's still in Castres !

Brugnaut is a LH btw. And man, looking at that XV you've assembled, if these guys decide casually one lovely afternoon to just CLICK, they'll seriously fk shiit up. Just look at those freaking names all put together !

I think they're too loaded though, and in a bad way. It's great to have even your substitutions being class players, but Racing are the type to waste time for guys. Lauret is an int'l class fetching/tackling flanker and should be a starter on any Top 14 team. And if they decide not to even start Chavancy at center, what a fkn waste. And I'm glad as hell they got rid of Ben Fall, that guy was just decomposing over there...

Well, I am glad that my post was at least considered and I appreciate you saying so. I don't expect you, personally, to respond to every post or question I habe regarding Frnch rugby... it just.. felt so lonely on here and I kept telling myself, 'Just be patient, Michaal. No reason to eat that whole box of cereal just yet. There will be a reply..'. No, that is of course a joke. No way am I so insecure and just plain pathetic!!

SA had a Brugnaut tight head prop a number of years back (not the test team.. he was with Natal if I remember correctly). For some reason I just can't get my head around Julien Brugnaut possibly playing at the loose side.

As for the aptly named Benjamin Judas Fall, well, all I can say is good riddance! Such a fall from grace. Disgracefall! RM are building towards greatness and it takes time and effort but we can do without the likes of Fall who only opts for the path of least resistance, the broad road... yes, even that very road leading to Hell. He will be the outsider looking in wondering what his life could have been like and how easily he could have been part of the coming greatness. Rugby is a team sport and we don't need any me-boys here. Depth is crucial especially in a competition such as the Top14 and players will get chances. I don't know how one can say that the team is too heavy with quality players. Look at some of the super rugby teams that don't nearly need to be as loaded as RM do; the Chiefs who are the current champions and sucessful ***le defenders had all of Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui, Bundee Aki, Tim Nanai Williams and then some to choose from in the centers. The sucessful Bulls team before them had Vicot Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Flip van der Merwe and a young Juandre Kruger at lock. The Stormers team who finished top of the log a couple of times recently (though couldn't go all the way) had Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh to choose from in the centers. Sharks have in the backrow Keegan Daniel, Willem Alberts, Marcel Coetzee, Ryan Kankowski, Jacques Botes and Jean Deysel, all world class backrowers. So- yes, assuming good squad management- no need to go missing if you buy into the team culture and know what your role is.

 

[Big Ewis]

it just.. felt so lonely on here and I kept telling myself, 'Just be patient, Michaal. No reason to eat that whole box of cereal just yet. There will be a reply..'.

:lol: CEREAL ?!! oh God, that mental image is sooo powerfully depressing, you just nailed it !

As for Brugnaut: oh, that explains it.

Fall and club depth: I disagree. He's had a few starts, but has been playing in a club loaded with excellent back 3/wingers. It's just like Alexis Palisson, I mean the guy did play in the RWC final in 2011 and finds himself relegated to not even the bench for 2 straight years in Toulon. That's just ridiculous, guys need to play. And having depth is one thing, and it's good, in fact it's the difference maker for a championship team, but to have like 5 quality wingers or smt, that's just perfectly ridiculous and hugely wasteful. Ben Fall deserves to be a starting winger in the T14, no doubt. I'm glad he's out of there, and same for Palisson or even Pierrick Gunther from Toulon. Guys need playing time, wtf good does it do for them to just stand around and then pretend they're happy when they haven't played a lick all season and their team is lifting a trophy. It's unnatural, guys (who aren't rookies) should play.

 

[Big Ewis]

check out this new recruits pic from Toulouse:


Some solid additions in retrospect..

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I agree the examples you mention are ridiculous and wing specifically is a spot where you needn't have more than 2 out-and-out wingers IMO and where your reserve fullbacks and centres should be able to step in if you have injuries.

On top of that squad management is key; you have to rest your 'starters' and keep your 'reserves' battle ready at the same time and that means trusting in those guys to step up and having a clear system of player management so that the players know what part they play in the team and that's just it; a team should consist of your entire squad and not be seperated into a starting XV and reserves. A team like the Chiefs under Dave Rennie have got that balance right the last few years. That's not a team of stars but a squad with depth where everyone gets time and knows what is expected of them.

I suppose RM92 as is has a lot more than just gelling as a team to get done but one needs to give it to them that they've made huge strides since promotion. One move I am awaiting is getting in an actual rugby head coach.

 

[Big Ewis]

no doubt the RM92 could do with a better coach...they could really do wonders. No reason why they couldn't be first next year in theory with what they've got on paper.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Toby Flood looks like he needs a good feed, could be a problem whinning him off the beans, pies, and chips regime and onto foie gras, Boeuf Bourguigonne grilled Saucisse de Toulouse, and Salade de Gesiers yummy!!! but i'm sure he will adapt quickly!!!!!!!!!!!

Going back to Racings coaches it is never easy to get a bunch of different cultures and countries to play ball well together, we have had similar problems at Montypellier but its now much much better, although we start again this season with all the new guys including Benji Fall who i should meet tomorrow along with the rest of our new recruits as we are doing a 1st press day around a couple of hrs of musculation workouts as they will not be touching a ball for atleast another week or so, should be fun!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

guy is top class apparently. The right 'good English' well-mannered young gentleman. Read an interview, explained how he just jumped straight into the adventure, how mentally prepared he was for this, that he saw and liked similarities between Toulouse and the Tigers, he's already picked up the language by taking courses. Lovely attitude, very nice to have him aboard. Very, very nice ! I hope he takes joy and pleasure from playing down there and helps Toulouse beat the crap out of everyone around....that's right...EVERYONE AROUND, gaston...(sorry Tony, you guys aren't around anymore !).

Hey Tony, with Alcohol Hard-in-porno-key, the heart and soul of Bloody Opeless coming to Toulouse, do you feel you'll transfer some of your undying (and un-living) love and adoration to Toulouse this season ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
(I'm doin' my own thaaang now, gaston, you've got competition. That's right. The hyperbolic use of the QUESTION MARK)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

"Player new to France isn't morbidly obese yet: LNR very upset".

 

[Big Ewis]

"Player new to France isn't morbidly obese yet: LNR very upset".

oh this...this little joke thing is still going ?? alright guys, if it ain't morbidly repetitive for ya, knock yerselves oot !

 

[gaston le gaff]

Just remember B E last season 2 games against Toulouse last season 2 wins for Montypellier, this season 4 games, this could possibly put you on suicide watch or at least get you entry into the Funny Farm n'est pas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Hey Tony, with Alcohol Hard-in-porno-key, the heart and soul of Bloody Opeless coming to Toulouse, do you feel you'll transfer some of your undying (and un-living) love and adoration to Toulouse this season

His good PR says he was the heart and soul but he became a victim of his own publicity and has not shown much for BO in terms of eagerness or real effort for a couple of years other than in what few big games BO have been involved in. I will be watching his progress with ST eagerly to see if the new challenge there will, on a one year contract, give him a viable chance of any extension of both his career and the contract!

I am sceptical that he can get anywhere near the heights of his illustrious career and, with the strength at 8 already there, much starting game time! But I wish him well!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Can anyone compete with Toulon this year? It seems their squad is going to ridiculous.

Maybe this is just wishful thinking but I think RCT are going to miss Wilkinson very much. Sure they have a handy direct replacement in Giteau but that is just it; Giteau brings more to the team in the midfield IMO released from the primary decision making with Wilko at 10 he could be an out-and-out play-maker something he doesn't do quite as freely at 10 unless he has changed considerably. A lot of that squad is also getting quite old and with having achieved what they set out to do might they have a bit of a problem with motivation.. at least sub-consciously?

Of course they could just blast everythiing in their wake again and I'd concede to being a fool but I have a suspiscion that the likes of Toulouse, RM and Montpol at least will give them stiff competition.

 

[Big Ewis]

Yeah Tony, I know about the no.8 thing in Toulouse. Picamoles is a sure starter by default, but then Galan is getting more and more weight (on the team, not on his bones !!) and then there's Imanol...not even sure why they got him and how they'll play him really, but I'm glad to see him there still.

gaston: that's last season my friend !!! As I always say, let bygones be bisexuals...tis a thing of the past, now let's look ahead to Toulouse avenging themselves in 2015...

On Giteau:
I've seen him about 2 or maybe 3 times switch to 10, often within a game to help out the team, and he's been brilliant each time I saw him play that position. The guy is just a Rugby genius in his own right really, I don't think that's exaggerating anything.
I think that's why they're totally confident in having him play the 10. With Halfpenny kicking in the penalties, Giteau can focus on breaking tackles and playmaking, i.e. being Matt Giteau, just at 10. He'll have to kick for territory a little more and handle the ball a little more, but is that a disaster ? nope. In fact, he might turn out to be a more efficient 10 than Wilko in those regards specifically. Giteau is seriously one of the all-time great ball-handling play-makers, no doubt, from what I've seen.
The only thing is I'm sure he won't be able to instill the same kind of confidence into the team Wilko could.

About motivation for Toulon:
I agree with stormer that teams who win consecutive ***les find they are weary and get overtaken by another team that's been right around the corner, growing, and hungry as ever. But in Toulon's case, there are some youngsters: local guys like Chiocci, Bruni will be looking to make a bigger impact and prove lots more now they're in a good position.
Other young guys coming over out to prove lots: Halfpenny notably, but also the young promising Escande at SH.
You've got new faces, although not fresh blood in: Vosloo joining and he's still hungry after long years in Clermont with no ***le. You've got a fine hooker in Guirado coming over (who had a very good Aus tour with les Bleus), lock Ian Evans (from Ospreys) and of course the ever infamous GORGODZILLA. So all these guys will help perpetuate Toulon's ultra-powerful pack momentum going 'forward'.

And I think Giteau moving to 10 might be just what they needed to rejuvenate their attacking form/shape. He finds a new (and big) challenge, it frees up one spot for maybe Mermoz to partner up with Basta at midfield. Their attacking will be more Aussie-styled now, and HPenny will add more assurance and depth to their game at FB as Armitage really is very one-dimensional.

Up front, they've still got Mr. Immovable aka Carl Hayman, Chiocci is improving...on the wings, their only problem will be getting everyone enough playing time, and Habana will want to make up for a rather poor season...no I mean, they're lookin' good.

 

[Big Ewis]

was just reading Camille Lopez's interview on Rama. I hadn't even put 2 and 2 together and realized he'll be playing alongside Morgan Parra, and hopefully lots of it if Brock James can be relegated to substitute rather than by-default starter. Lopez I think can bring lots more to this club. Anyways, not that PSA and fam. will stop being stubborn with their picking Talès as the standard starting 10 for les Bleus - but Lopez+Parra playing together for club all year long could prove to be smt actually potent for le xv de France. For once, les bleus would at least get a halfback pair that works together all year long, even if they get absolutely no gameplan whatsoever from the staff.

It would take Lopez playing good minutes for Clermont and at a high level again to be noticed, and then something like Talès getting hurt in perfect timely fashion. OR, of course, they can go and pick Kockott+Talès at HB, which would also establish a club HB pair within the xv de France.
One notable difference here though is that Rory Kockott is a South African, but that's just a detail, naturally.

Anyways: this is to hoping Lopez rules this year. He's a very good talent, and a rarity not just in France but in the world. I hope he returns and plays at a higher level than before the injury, and helps animate that Clermont backline a bit more with his youth and attacking-mindedness.

 

[gaston le gaff]

How can Lopez rule when FTD is still around not possible my friend, and what's more he is now married so will have an even cooler head on large shoulders, only another 14 days to go before our 1st pre season game against Sarries, thank God, but they are not bringing all their stars for the game, pity!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

well I meant "rules" relatively......not all that widely. I meant 'I hope Camille Lopez rules some'...sorry about that, should've been more accurate ! We all know FTD's the man...well, "we", the ones who actually watch him.

 

[Big Ewis]

gaston, any news about Ben Fall in Montypellier so faah ? MP have what they need on those wings, but I sure hope he can get a starting role somehow, maybe at FB.
Everybody in France is talking about how good he is when on form, but he just hasn't been able to express himself fully recently. I agree with that. Heck, if he can show consistency, I'd say he's up there with Huget and Guitoune as France's best for the winger's spot, with O'Connor right around the corner too.
Really hope to see a whole lot of him this year, and Montypellier look very promising with lots of their players really coming to maturity, despite the loss of Gorgodze.

 

[gaston le gaff]

spoke to him the other day at our first press traning session, and very happy to be in Montpellier, it will be interesting to see just how he comes along, he has this injury tag on him, but who knows Galthie, has brought the best out of many so why not Benjy Fall, he certainly looks well toned and he is fast, i think there will be a place for him at 15 or 14,will also put boot in backside towards Berard, who does need a kick now and again.Also spoke with Attoub and he is over the moon very happy bunny to be at Montypellier, hope it works out for him, but we have lost JP de Plessis who has gone back to SA not enough game time was the verdict, shame as he was excellent but never saw that much of him to be honest as competion in the centre last season was tough with Wynand and Anthony + Zou and Ebersohn, but he is only 23 and will mature well, a probable Bok in the future is he keeps working hard. Although i will miss Makuka as we had a great relationship as a person he was fantastic a very shy humble type but i dont think we are going to miss him that much as on the team as technically the backrow will be excellent and we are spoilt for choice and Mamuka can lose his head if provoked and that was often, but he will be formidable at Toulon they will have some pack to content with if everybody is available wouldn't want a fight over there with Mamuka and Bakkies just behind him as back up not that he needs backup, could end messy. We play them weekend 26/27th Sept at Toulon 7th game in.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ interesting to read. A team I'm hoping can finally lift a little bit, as they've been at the very limit of breaking through for a while now, is the UBB. Bordeaux. Lots of very good pieces there, just too much going on around in the Top 14...would love to see a XV soon.

 

[gaston le gaff]

In fact 2 weeks today we start with our Summer Special double header, 18.00 Lyon v Oyonnax then presentation at 20.00 of the Montpellier squad with the match Montpellier v Sarries at 20.45. I will have a long day as will probably be at aeroport for their arrival then Hotel etc etc and after all that the 2 matches.