I think you're mistaken about the role of a 2nd row probably because you've never played the game.
A 2nd row has to be able to show grunt and physicality before he shows off skills. He is not there to shine ball in hand and offload like a centre. He has to do the hard graft FIRST before anything else. Because that's his job. They don't call it la cage for nothing...And Vaha didn't do that agst Arg. He went missing in far too many rucks. He didn't bring the power & Grunt the staff said he would.
My point is Vaha has been asked to fullfill a role for which he is not cut out. That's just another red flag for the staff. Look at the level of (positive) aggression & physicality the Arg forwards brought into the game. What a contrast. This is what made the difference, not athleticism or better hands. There was only Papé Guirado & LeRoux to match them. Not enough. Chouly was taking a leak as well...
Just being big and athletic isn't enough when the opposition is just the same. He doesn't show enough aggression and physicality esp. at international level because I don't believe it's in his make-up and many Perpignan fans have been saying it since he started playing for them.
C'est un grand caramel mou ton Vaha :lol:
Oh I see. How very insightful. Why, thank you for that
FranFench.
I was making the point Vahaa has tremendous potential outside of the common functions awarded to 2nd rowers. Of course the fact that he, not so much shies away from physicality, but lacks the will is what everybody in France is complaining about. I don't think he's "not cut out for it", he's produced some excellent games already in Clermont this season. But again, he lacks the hunger at times, he's just disinterested it seems intermittently.
For Chouly I agree, he's a technician not a "bourrin" or a contact-frenzied forward. Of course he can put his body on the line too, but he's indeed about skill over physicality. We need Picamoles back, sorry Guy
About our second row, Papé isn't only limited technically
but yes he's always answered present in the in-your-face department. Of course he's the kind of guy who'll cost you a win over Ireland off a basic pass out wide, because he can't keep his emotions in check, but it's the price to pay every now and then, this time it was a very big one to pay. Papé has leadership though ??...no, he's got raw energy and a big mouth, but that isn't leadership. His leadership skills include yelling at Hugo Bonneval for himself throwing the kid a pass into the middle rows of the Cardiff stands and being at the forefront of the France meltdown of late, whether that takes its source elsewhere.
@
TRF_stormer2010 (godddd, so long to type !!!)
my pleasure and yes 3 weeks break, one Day and then it's no Top 14 again for another 3 weeks
a bit weird but that's just how it panned out this year.
About the Racing game:
http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/match/232479.html
Lauret was very good in every compartment, scrum was so so, Thomas was kept in check well, VdM showed some power and Kruger was his usual self pretty good all around, they really should have won by a lot more as Lapeyre botches a try opportunity 3 on 1 type for Thomas out wide, and they missed a ton of goal kicks.
Goosen looked very good. He missed a lot of goal kicks like I said, but a lot were very long and he made another drop; and showed real intent to play running ball and some creativity. He's seemed more comfortable playing in France in the past 3-4 games than earlier in the year there where he looked like just a big Saffa boot. He's settling in nicely, but of course still very young needs lots of work.
Is he really a 10 though, is the bigger question:
I think he definitely lacks the physicality to be a 12 but would've been a good playmaker there, he's a good 10 in that he's got a very long, powerful kick, good accuracy from the foot and can create for his backs but doesn't have the right tactical aspect in his game, and then he's a pretty good 15 but a lot of what he does goes to waste back there.
