Top 14 2014/15 Season

[FrenchFan]

Gaston I haven't looked at Montpellier recruitment, who are the new names?

 

[Big Ewis]

you can check online anywhere, just google 'Top 14 transferts'. But yes indeed in concur, Doussain was really very good this season, at both positions. Some felt he was a better 10 than 9 in fact, others not so much and said he looked good but slightly out of place at 10. Anyways, out of the whole 'France sucks' phenomenon, Doussain was hit the hardest. He looked absolutely lost last 6N, after a very good season in Toulouse. He even left that ruck-ball on the ground in the French 22 and got called for the 5-second rule. Amazing. It just defies rational explanation.

 

[Mumbles119]

Why oh why did Sky have to have the Top 14! Was going to cancel my sky subscription this year, but can't now.

But the worst bit is that I will still have to see Stuart Barnes horrible potato face and listen to his pompous and inane twoddle.

I love the top 14, but Barnes is nearly a deal breaker. Oh well, the sacrifices we have to make to watch the game we love

 

[Big Ewis]

his tone is just annoying but I don't mind the stuff he says, in fact I feel he's rather pertinent most the time.

 

[gaston le gaff]

firstly new signings for Montypellier; David Attoub Fr. Prop 1.83, 113kgs, 07 / 06 / 81
Tom Donnelly NZ.2ND row 2m 118kg 01/10/81
Antoine Battut Fr Back row,1.92 104kg 01/01/84
Ben Mowen Aus No.8 1.95 110kg 01/12/84
Akapusi Qera Fj Back row 1.94 113kg 24/04/84
Teddy Iribaren Fr scrum half 1.70 70kg 25/09/90
Benjy Fall Fr Fullback 1.86 98kg 03/03/89
Samisoni Viriviri Fj Fullback/winger 1.82 80kg25/04/88
after that we have 2 props SA Pat Cilliers and NZ Chris King but have not got thier details yet.
When i said breaking then (PSA) i meant confidence and not physical, maybe i did not explain myself and i meant Pellissier the 10 from Stade Framboise,(who was definetly affected) not our beloved and loved by all the girls Pelissie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Why oh why did Sky have to have the Top 14! Was going to cancel my sky subscription this year, but can't now.

But the worst bit is that I will still have to see Stuart Barnes horrible potato face and listen to his pompous and inane twoddle.

I love the top 14, but Barnes is nearly a deal breaker. Oh well, the sacrifices we have to make to watch the game we love

If you want to watch the best competitive rugby in Europe there is always a price to pay and its not the Sky subscription, its my old mate Barnsey he's not that bad and he does know his subject, Morris the boring one but don't even know if he is still about.

 

[Big Ewis]

firstly new signings for Montypellier; David Attoub Fr. Prop 1.83, 113kgs, 07 / 06 / 81
Tom Donnelly NZ.2ND row 2m 118kg 01/10/81
Antoine Battut Fr Back row,1.92 104kg 01/01/84
Ben Mowen Aus No.8 1.95 110kg 01/12/84
Akapusi Qera Fj Back row 1.94 113kg 24/04/84
Teddy Iribaren Fr scrum half 1.70 70kg 25/09/90
Benjy Fall Fr Fullback 1.86 98kg 03/03/89
Samisoni Viriviri Fj Fullback/winger 1.82 80kg25/04/88
after that we have 2 props SA Pat Cilliers and NZ Chris King but have not got thier details yet.
When i said breaking then (PSA) i meant confidence and not physical, maybe i did not explain myself and i meant Pellissier the 10 from Stade Framboise,(who was definetly affected) not our beloved and loved by all the girls Pelissie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

daaaaaang, forgot about those...man, I seriously think I'm gonna turn coat again this year. If you're not too embarrassed to have me as your sidekick gaston, I'll be semi-representing Montypellier this year...just to turn coat again, so much fun...and because Montypellier will obviously be fkng terrific to watch !
So they lose Mr. Gorgodzilla but still maintain power up front with the likes of Mowen and Qera, and to some extent Battut. Can't wait to see FTD unleash Fall and his backline along with Pélissié...will def. be watching more closely this year.

 

[gaston le gaff]

On paper everything looks very good but we are not the only team to have signed well for this season and there are a couple who under performed Stade Framboise Toulouse and even Clermont last season so things are not going to get any easier but we have 3 good games to prepare, Sarries, Clermont, and London Guiness!!!! and althouigh Mamuka is a good friend of mine he has been well replaced so we will have to see!!!! Of course you may turn coat but i will have to know that you are serious as we do not want part-timers or infiltrators amonst our faithful band so you may be asked to do Herculesian tasks to prove your sincerity, but that is not a problem as you came through last seasons punishments with good results.!!!!! As far as Fouais goes i think this could be his year, even better than last, he has to prove that he is the best and he is very strong mentally as he has taken a pounding and still gets up and that magical WC is not that far away and he wants that badly......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FrenchFan]

you can check online anywhere, just google 'Top 14 transferts'. But yes indeed in concur, Doussain was really very good this season, at both positions. Some felt he was a better 10 than 9 in fact, others not so much and said he looked good but slightly out of place at 10. Anyways, out of the whole 'France sucks' phenomenon, Doussain was hit the hardest. He looked absolutely lost last 6N, after a very good season in Toulouse. He even left that ruck-ball on the ground in the French 22 and got called for the 5-second rule. Amazing. It just defies rational explanation.

Nothing irrational. It just means that he is wasted on the national side and is better off focusing on his club career. Which is an argument I have put forward many times. He doesn't need to get involved in selection and get his head messed up by a toxic environment or pick up an injury that will rule him out of club games.

It also means that one coach, Noves knows how to get the best out of him in either position, the others can't. THATS the difference !

He is also a terrific tackler and his kicking stats were excellent. Only Kockott matches him for physicality but he can't play 10 like Jean Marc.

There's enough games btw Top 14 and H Cup to fill his season. The only way we can get our hands back on le Bouclier and H Cup and bring both back where they belong is to have players like him devoted 100% to THE CLUB.

 

[Big Ewis]

On paper everything looks very good but we are not the only team to have signed well for this season and there are a couple who under performed Stade Framboise Toulouse and even Clermont last season so things are not going to get any easier but we have 3 good games to prepare, Sarries, Clermont, and London Guiness!!!! and althouigh Mamuka is a good friend of mine he has been well replaced so we will have to see!!!! Of course you may turn coat but i will have to know that you are serious as we do not want part-timers or infiltrators amonst our faithful band so you may be asked to do Herculesian tasks to prove your sincerity, but that is not a problem as you came through last seasons punishments with good results.!!!!! As far as Fouais goes i think this could be his year, even better than last, he has to prove that he is the best and he is very strong mentally as he has taken a pounding and still gets up and that magical WC is not that far away and he wants that badly......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pfff, why gaston, you of all people know my undying sincerity and loyalty !!!! You've experienced it firsthand all of last year. My fidelity is as the genital area of a prostitute: it's been everywhere, but is resilient as hell and seemingly indestructible. I am both a spineless coward of the strangest most disgusting kind, and the most stubborn idealist who will gladly die for his significant other.

FrenchFan: indeed, and this is interesting. Of course I agree, but I'm just destabilized by the mere idea someone can be so good (Toulouse player of the year) and then so awful, just ask any non-French person they think Doussain was the worst player in the 6N based on what they saw from em in Bleus. Fair enough, if you haven't watched Toulouse. But as I've deplored before, how the hell is even the scrum deficient when the guys put on a Bleus jersey ! :lol: well that's a complex issue, but still worth mentioning. Domingo, his old self in the Top 14 or almost, and then backpedals and collects penalties as soon as he puts on blue.

Of course on that particular play in Cardiff, Doussain doesn't pick a penalty for leaving the ball because of incompetence. The guy owns the no.9 jersey, not the issue. Obviously it's because Lagisquet has prepared them in such a wrong, confused, complicated way the schemes don't fall in place FOR EVEN THE MOST BASIC FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENTS OF THE GAME OF RUGBY UNION.
PSA and co. are actually - *actually* - capable of taking pros and making them look like absolute, pardon me, motherfuccking buffoons.

 

[gaston le gaff]

pfff, why gaston, you of all people know my undying sincerity and loyalty !!!! You've experienced it firsthand all of last year. My fidelity is as the genital area of a prostitute: it's been everywhere, but is resilient as hell and seemingly indestructible. I am both a spineless coward of the strangest most disgusting kind, and the most stubborn idealist who will gladly die for his significant other.

This is what worries me the most!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FrenchFan]

pfff, why gaston, you of all people know my undying sincerity and loyalty !!!! You've experienced it firsthand all of last year. My fidelity is as the genital area of a prostitute: it's been everywhere, but is resilient as hell and seemingly indestructible. I am both a spineless coward of the strangest most disgusting kind, and the most stubborn idealist who will gladly die for his significant other.

FrenchFan: indeed, and this is interesting. Of course I agree, but I'm just destabilized by the mere idea someone can be so good (Toulouse player of the year) and then so awful, just ask any non-French person they think Doussain was the worst player in the 6N based on what they saw from em in Bleus. Fair enough, if you haven't watched Toulouse. But as I've deplored before, how the hell is even the scrum deficient when the guys put on a Bleus jersey ! :lol: well that's a complex issue, but still worth mentioning. Domingo, his old self in the Top 14 or almost, and then backpedals and collects penalties as soon as he puts on blue.

.

Doussain was NOT the worst player in 6N. You've been on this forum for far too long.

I dont listen to what foreign pundits say. They will berate the French team anyway. And it's become a favourite past time of theirs given the said team is indeed ****. So this is an easy target.

He had a poor game in Cardiff but that was in keeping with the rest of the team. But Wales had a poor game in Dublin by the same fashion. I mean if you want find faults everywhere, you will.

His lack of performance was a reflection of a poorly coached, misfiring team. Hard to have a great game when everyone around you is also off.

 

[Tony Manx]

I have read this with interest and would weigh in with my twopence worth....

1. I do not think that PSA has an evil bone in his body but he is too compliant. If anyone is breaking players, and I do concur with the JMD situation, it is Lagisquet not PSA!

2. Noves is now a dinosaur in a modern age and will have to shape up like he never as had to before for ST to achieve their potential!

3. Ferguson was there for at least two seasons too long and his most recent purchases are nearly all now for sale!!

 

[FrenchFan]

Toulouse can get back to winning trophies when they're able to field a full strength side for the ENTIRE season, not in between Intl games.

They can pick Para Machenaud Kockott Pelissié even the gardener as long as they leave JM Doussain alone. He'll be fine.

You can quote me on this one : you will see that the players who do not get called on selection will have an excellent season (barring injuries of course)

FTD at Montpellier last season was the best case in point.

 

[FrenchFan]

on a completely different note, there's more and more specialist coaches in Top 14 clubs now

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Le-staff-s-etoffe/483230

maybe L'aviron won't go down after all ;=)

 

[Big Ewis]

Good post Tony, agreed.

FrenchFan: ah but you're not reading my actual posts, you're reading into them what you want to read. I haven't been here too long, this isn't relevant - I say foreigners who only saw Doussain in Bleus during the last 6N specifically (because he had an excellent Test 3 in NZ in June 2013 in bleus) all thought he was awful, in particular in that Cardiff game. He was ok vs England and ok again vs Italy. And I said you can't blame them, if that's all they saw from the guy.

And no sorry, big difference: we SUCKED royally in Cardiff because we didn't know how to play that game, while Wales got smashed in Dublin because Ireland were dominating them in every aspect of the game. Wales weren't even really good against us, but we were bad enough to ship a 20+ pt loss to them, a team that struggled at home vs ITALY and didn't stand a chance against England or even less Ireland. Any other team would've crushed us by 35 that day in Cardiff, don't you remember how AWFUL we were ?? Doussain so lost he got swapped for Machenaud as soon as at half-time - Picamoles running strong aimlessly tackled by winger Cuthbert turning it over each time - Lauret trying to carry and put down every time - guys switching constantly to kick penalties betw Doussain and Plisson - captain-for-the-day Pascal Papé throwing the ball into the 10th row in the stands to Bonneval and then yelling at him...and I'll spare you some. No gameplan whatsoever...

In other news: funny I was just watching the Highlanders Crusaders game on TV a few min. ago. Corey Flynn's still there...damn, Toulouse and the Top 14 start in just a few weeks, and he's not even done with SR yet at all, the playoffs are yet to start !....poor players...

 

[gaston le gaff]

on a completely different note, there's more and more specialist coaches in Top 14 clubs now

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Le-staff-s-etoffe/483230

maybe L'aviron won't go down after all ;=)

This is nothing new a lot of the clubs including us at Montpellier have specialist coaches but most clubs have them as part time consultants who are called up when necessary normally after a couple of bad games, some have excellent authority, and knowledge in their specialist fields, we have a specialist who comes for the scrum 3/4 times a season he is excellent and well know but does not like publicity so cant mention his name.

 

[FrenchFan]

I didn't say it was new, there's more of them around. We also have a new fitness coach here who is involved with the existing staff. Do you have a jeu au pied specialist? they talked about Christophe Deylaud coming back here for a while as a kicking consultant but I haven't heard anymore about him joining the ranks. I would like to see a forwards consultant to work on the breakdown area to help Servat.

 

[gaston le gaff]

a couple of seasons ago Quesada came for Francois TD and it has paid off, as his kicking in all departments has improved no end. The video is the no 1 today the coaches who are red hot on it are advancing quicker than others!! Galthie is an expert not just the good stuff he also uses the mistakes with good intention and the players get to watch plenty of tele!!!!! but everybody is looking at more and more at different methods to improve and win, the only fault in this for me is it does take some of the player flair away and winning becomes about defending in may cases, not all, which is a detriment to the attacking game and the spectators who want to see tries. "as they say Winning is not important as long as you win" Vinny Jones i think!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

a lot of fans find Servat to be dubious as a coach. Best hooker in the world at a point, but not so much a quality forwards coach.