Top 14 Day 11

[Big Ewis]

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Wow, a couple of big, really nice ones with Bordeaux Toulouse (is Toulouse going to be no.4 on the list to take 50 over there ??) and Clermont Stadio Franchesio. The latter travels well and are on form, gon be nice.
Of course there's that Castres Toulon controversial game haha, gonna be very interesting !!

 

[gaston le gaff]

will only see our match Fri evening as commitments are in Marseille all Sat, with the French v Fidji game. but Gaston will give his predicktions later this week was at training this morning and with the Internationals not there, an infirmy starting to fill up once again, there were a few playing out of position but did manage to meet Pat Cilliers. team should have a look of unusual on Fri evening

 

[Big Ewis]

about the to-be-controversial Touloni Castro game, it should be said Castres will have quite a hefty bill to pay themselves absentees wise, as:
- in the front row Wihongi and French int'l Forestier still absent
- Herrera, Lazar, Richie Gray, Tales, Kockott, Fasalele and Fa'anunu off with their countries
- other: Lamerat, Kirkpatrick (injured)

Sivivatu finally about to make his return and play his first minutes in a Castres uniform ! Shoudln't be too rough up front after all for the Toulon Espoirs and noobs.

 

[dragos03]

I was about to write the same thing. Toulon complain about their absents in the front row but Castres will have their 5 best props missing as well. They still have two pros available (Taumopeau and Montes) but their replacements will be espoirs.

Castres espoirs flanker Vlad Nistor has also been called at the Romanian national team and Beattie by Scotland so the club has a total of 13 players missing (9 on national team duty and 4 injured).

 

[Big Ewis]

Yohan Montès, that guy...he's a great, great emotional guy, a big teddybear, the nicest guy, but ffs I'm sorry but he's fkng useless. How he became a TH prop, tells you about the standards for that scarce position, but how he's still a pro Top 14 TH prop, gosh no clue...
But isn't Sivivatu playing for his country, Fij...UHM I mean New Zealand ??

 

[dragos03]

Montes is an awful scrummager but hey, everyone else is missing. I'm sure that Castres only signed him as a backup but he ended playing quite often due to the injury of Wihongi and Herrera often being away with Argentina.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Whatever happens the game will take place, Espoirs have one day to take to the field that is their job, we have played Espoirs in the front row before, thats life, all this whinging........ i am used to it from Toulon and Toulouse but Castres thats a first.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I just hope Racing recovers at home- the loss last weekend stunk and stung on so many levels and so deep; didn't expect it at home, didn't expect it from the Top14 'minnows' and after 2/2 in Europe it was just plain unexpected and inexplicable.

With the Currie Cup now done (and won ) I thought I was going to see if I can't more than just Racing particularly with a game like Clermont-SF being a juicy prospect but between Eng-NZ, Wales-Aus on top of Ireland-SA.. oh, man, should I go for a pre-emptive strike and ask my (again pregnant) wife for a divorce?

 

[FrenchFan]

There is only one game this weekend and it's Bordeaux Toulouse. Ca va envoyer du bois!!! :rahh:

I also like the look of Clermont v SF. Both teams are levelled. Can u find a tighter league than our Top 14?! SF impressed last we, 39 pts on UBB that's no mean feat. They controlled the game really well.
Now I expect a big UBB back lash at home!!

 

[FrenchFan]

Whatever happens the game will take place, Espoirs have one day to take to the field that is their job, we have played Espoirs in the front row before, thats life, all this whinging........ i am used to it from Toulon and Toulouse but Castres thats a first.

We're happy to let Bernie le dingue put on the coat of la Pleureuse. Perfect fit for him. There's going to be plenty of comedy on show in Toulon. The difference is that Noves was genuine. Laporte is banging his little politicial drum...

 

[gaston le gaff]

We're happy to let Bernie le dingue put on the coat of la Pleureuse. Perfect fit for him. There's going to be plenty of comedy on show in Toulon. The difference is that Noves was genuine. Laporte is banging his little politicial drum...

genuine maybe but pleureuse all the same and for a number of years he has done his fair share of crying, about his Internationals being selected, easy option don't sign them then you can then use your players all season without losing them to Internationals, but maybe not win as many Boucliers, having cake and not eating comes to mind!!!!!!!!!! but Noves would not be Noves without the occaisonal bleat to the press.

 

[gaston le gaff]

I just hope Racing recovers at home- the loss last weekend stunk and stung on so many levels and so deep; didn't expect it at home, didn't expect it from the Top14 'minnows' and after 2/2 in Europe it was just plain unexpected and inexplicable.

With the Currie Cup now done (and won ) I thought I was going to see if I can't more than just Racing particularly with a game like Clermont-SF being a juicy prospect but between Eng-NZ, Wales-Aus on top of Ireland-SA.. oh, man, should I go for a pre-emptive strike and ask my (again pregnant) wife for a divorce?

I think you are beginning to realise just how tough the TOP 14 is, this is a dog fight not just the top 6 but the guys on the bottom fighting for survival, it's massive bucks gone down the drain if next season you are playing Pro D2, there will be more surprises before the end of the season from different directions, but i think Racing will be in the top 6 but no more fu**ups at home, if you look at points scored in the table there is not much between Racing 6th and 25pts and Castres 14th with 15points and 6 teams behind Racing with only a difference of 8pts thats just 2 wins without a bonus.

 

[Big Ewis]

this isn't a knock on my dear stormer, but his post (although it's justified) reminds me of just how much the people from outside here underestimate the Top 14 on the whole. I understand stormer's saying it's still a bad loss at home for Racing to a much smaller club. But the larger point is unfortunately the only contact our clubs have with others is through either the big Euro cup, or the small. The small one, our clubs don't give a greenish batshhit. They send 2nd, 3d string team, and they're nowhere as deep as Clermont or Racing. Unfortunately, ppl just stop there, that's well enough for them to commit to a judgment. When in reality, the Grenoble, Oyonnax, La Rochelle can seriously play some heck of Rugby.
Two ways to find out: watch them play for 80min, of course. Or then just read some of their results, mostly at home. They'll put 40 past the better teams in the league and beat them at least on the regular.

I do think it's the most competitive league in the world. The use of the adjective "best" is silly as it belongs to an unnecessary and void mindset, and Super Rugby has teams made up of a considerable number of SH current internationals like the Crusaders, Chiefs, Sharks, Waratahs...and the sort of skills possessed there are clearly a level on top. But as Rugby teams overall are they a level above Clermont, Toulon, Toulouse, Racing, an on-form Stade Fromage de chèvre ? Not sure.

 

[FrenchFan]

I think you are beginning to realise just how tough the TOP 14 is, this is a dog fight not just the top 6 but the guys on the bottom fighting for survival, it's massive bucks gone down the drain if next season you are playing Pro D2, there will be more surprises before the end of the season from different directions, but i think Racing will be in the top 6 but no more fu**ups at home, if you look at points scored in the table there is not much between Racing 6th and 25pts and Castres 14th with 15points and 6 teams behind Racing with only a difference of 8pts thats just 2 wins without a bonus.

absolutely. The biggest point difference atm is 4 pts btw Bordeaux 24 pts and SF 31 pts, that's just one win with no bonus! Clermont and SF are levelled. And Only ONE point separates the last 5. Crazy.

This league is tighter than a nun's arse...

 

[gaston le gaff]

so how tight is that never had the chance to find that one out, but could be interesting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FrenchFan]

Couldn't tell ya. Been to many places but not that far :lol:

 

[Big Ewis]

This league is tighter than a nun's arse...

that seriously gave my penis a tingle.

 

[gaston le gaff]

hope children are not on this site they would have BE ARRESTED FOR FLASHING OR SOMETHING AND I DONT THINK WOULD BE RADAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

hope children are not on this site they would have BE ARRESTED FOR FLASHING OR SOMETHING AND I DONT THINK WOULD BE RADAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ohh, I sometimes ask myself the age of certain posters, I do !!...but there's something about a lifelong repressed nun's modesty...a road so scarcely traveled, so much to explore. I'm saying all this in regards to just how tight the Top 14 is, just in case someone lost the plot.

 

[gaston le gaff]

there may not be children but there are a few with the intelligence off, or maturity does not always mean cheese!!!!! curious i ask myself why would you talk to cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!