Top 14 Day 13

[TRF_stormer2010]

Oh, man, seeing those line-ups for Grenoble vs SF. I'm going to have to watch that one. Tonight late(ish) is a good time for me as I'm up anyway with the little one ill ATM and the wife out on her feet. I'm probably going to have some big feelings of nostalgia watching Gio Aplon jog out in a jersey other than WP or Stormers. He is not quite the danger on the counter he was even in 2013 but I am sure he'll still make a few opposition players look foolish like awkward, geeky teens being stood up at the prom with those sheepish looks on their faces; in and out, what just happened ? You know it's coming but you still can't help it..

Yeah but Toulouse are on the way up and Montypellier are plummeting............no contest.

Match of the weekend is clearly the evening game in Bayonne!!! Would have gone to that had I been able as there will be more than 60 points scored if the weather is half decent!

Well, sure the smart money is probably backing Toulouse as the form team and they have been getting the results on the road in the ECC but I can't help feeling Montpel just isn't their bich just yet and will have something to say about the situation they are in. In the ECC they have had nothing to play for anymore but they have the quality in their ranks still, they are backed into a corner and they have everythng to fight for in the context of the Top14.

We'll have to disagree regarding the match of the weekend then. I can understand it's a derby but the 'occasion' of the match is purely cultural.. I've had a look at the table again and I can see where you are coming from; a result for UBB will see them getting one step further in their campaign to get into the play-offs though it's a long season still while Bayonne need the result to get out of the red zone but I still think it's not reached a *critical* point for either team just yet.. but yes, a few encounters with some interesting permutations even if there isn't any point-of-no-return/make-or-break or clash-of-the-***ans type match ups for the week.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Well we have got Tuitavake back in the centre with Olivier thats excellent, all i can say at the moment team published later today, but it will be strong upfront and a bench which hopefully will do the job on Sat. Will have the honour of seeing Toby Floooooooooooooood for the first time in Montypellier!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

I read SF compo top to bottom, was like "WTF are Arias & Lakafia doin' there?!" :lol:

are you insinuating Arias isn't a top winger somehow ??...:huh:

 

[Sapinou]

Hahaha no I've read it vertically. So I believed Gonzalo wanted to try him as a prop \o/ Then I saw there were too many Guys in the front row

 

[Sapinou]

Oh, man, seeing those line-ups for Grenoble vs SF. I'm going to have to watch that one. Tonight late(ish) is a good time for me as I'm up anyway with the little one ill ATM and the wife out on her feet. I'm probably going to have some big feelings of nostalgia watching Gio Aplon jog out in a jersey other than WP or Stormers. He is not quite the danger on the counter he was even in 2013 but I am sure he'll still make a few opposition players look foolish like awkward, geeky teens being stood up at the prom with those sheepish looks on their faces; in and out, what just happened ? You know it's coming but you still can't help it..



Well, sure the smart money is probably backing Toulouse as the form team and they have been getting the results on the road in the ECC but I can't help feeling Montpel just isn't their bich just yet and will have something to say about the situation they are in. In the ECC they have had nothing to play for anymore but they have the quality in their ranks still, they are backed into a corner and they have everythng to fight for in the context of the Top14.

We'll have to disagree regarding the match of the weekend then. I can understand it's a derby but the 'occasion' of the match is purely cultural.. I've had a look at the table again and I can see where you are coming from; a result for UBB will see them getting one step further in their campaign to get into the play-offs though it's a long season still while Bayonne need the result to get out of the red zone but I still think it's not reached a *critical* point for either team just yet.. but yes, a few encounters with some interesting permutations even if there isn't any point-of-no-return/make-or-break or clash-of-the-***ans type match ups for the week.

If Bayonne looses This one, it's ganna ne more than tough till the end of the season, the 2 following games are at Oyonnax ( the 28th décembre, again a game in winter against them...) and at Brive... Goddamn we NEED That four points

 

[Big Ewis]

Hahaha no I've read it vertically. So I believed Gonzalo wanted to try him as a prop \o/ Then I saw there were too many Guys in the front row

hahaha, oh right !
Rabah Slimani on the wing, tranquille... Jérome Fillol 2nd rower...maybe under PSA, but Quesada is a tad more professional.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Le XV de départ: Berard ; Fall, Tuitavake, Olivier, Artru ; (o) Pélissié, (m) Paillaugue ; Bias, Tulou, Ouedraogo (cap) ; Tchale-Watchou, Donnelly ; Mas, Geli, Nariashvili.
Les remplaçants: Ivaldi, Watremez, Timani, Galletier, Iribaren, Selponi, Ranger, Attoub.

Well there it is the XV + bench to take 4 points from Toulouse, it looks good on paper and if they get their act together could be ok. i have lit many candles around the house nothing to do with Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

I LOVE the way Bernard Jackman speaks French with absolutely no French accent at all.............just like me except he knows more French words!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Who says the French do not travel well.................SF are 6-18 with two tries after 28 minute are Fortress Grenoble and thoroughly deserve the lead even if the defense has assisted with both tries!!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Pick it up, Grenoble.

The scrum is not goig to help; Grenoble can't afford to play in their own 1/4 if they are going to give away 3 pointers of their OWN SCRUM BALL!!

I love how the diminutive Aplon makes meters in close while Brice gets thumped bckwards and turned over the very next carry; body position and speed counts. Grenoble with it all to do and it's not like SF are giving them anything to work with.... going to have to make some gambles later on is my prediction.

 

[Big Ewis]

Pick it up, Grenoble.

The scrum is not goig to help; Grenoble can't afford to play in their own 1/4 if they are going to give away 3 pointers of their OWN SCRUM BALL!!

I love how the diminutive Aplon makes meters in close while Brice gets thumped bckwards; body position and speed counts.

a total Top 14 fan now ! Even getting a bit angry and everything there
Nice first half of Rugby. The good Paris showed up. Will be tough for Grenoble in the second, I say first loss at home of the season. Burban not disappointing in his return :3

 

[Tony Manx]

Burban not disappointing in his return :3

He moved for his try there sure enough................interested to see how Lakafia goes as he has had a rotten time with injuries!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

a total Top 14 fan now ! Even getting a bit angry and everything there
Nice first half of Rugby. The good Paris showed up. Will be tough for Grenoble in the second, I say first loss at home of the season. Burban not disappointing in his return :3

LOL, I hate that it is getting under my skin but TBH a game is always more enjoyable if you are invested. Going to get the beer out.

Ratini must be one hell of an attacking player because he sure isnt there for his defensive play on the wing. Just so very.. Fijian. I'd love to see him and Aplon combining in attack but it's not going to happen with the Grenoble pack not managing to keep head above water.

I have to say I am watching this game more for the sake of seeing SF.. fail.. which I can't see happening sadly.

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Okay. This is not even funny. Grenoble get the turn over, rumble, rumble. Cough it up and POW! SF at the other end. This game feels like watching a midget trying to wield a club against an Olympic fencer.

Apon getting burned for that try and then with space to work with decides to kick for safety rather than take the line on. At 19 points down. Not the Aplon I know.

 

[Tony Manx]

SF are really Biarritz "Seconds"......Heguy, Lakafia and now Florian Faure..............mind you, it would only be a fit Lakafia that we miss!!!!!

Heguy is of course playing for Grenoble with another export in Fabian Alexandre!!!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

How are BO doing in Pro D2 though? Think they'll be up again next season?

Can hardly believe it. Try for Grenoble and through taking it up with the forwards. I'd have thought an intercept or a runaway against the head. 2 more...

 

[Tony Manx]

How are BO doing in Pro D2 though? Think they'll be up again next season?.

Full details on the Pro 2 thread!!! But, much to my amazement (and probably Blanco's) and lack of belief, they are in the middle of a purple patch (as in bruising the opposition with the odd punch or two) and find themselves in the rarified heights of second behind Pau who hold the one automatic promotion slot.

Heguy proving why he is more a liability than an asset.....that and his poor throwing in!!!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Full details on the Pro 2 thread!!! But, much to my amazement (and probably Blanco's) and lack of belief, they are in the middle of a purple patch (as in bruising the opposition with the odd punch or two) and find themselves in the rarified heights of second behind Pau who hold the one automatic promotion slot.

Heguy proving why he is more a liability than an asset.....that and his poor throwing in!!!

Oh, come on, man. I have barely enough time to follow Top14! But glad to hear BO are on the up. Too much of a 'fixture' to be missing from the top flight for long.

THat scrum.. like a hot hammer through butter.

 

[Tony Manx]

Oh, come on, man. I have barely enough time to follow Top14! But glad to hear BO are on the up. Too much of a 'fixture' to be missing from the top flight for long..

Can sympathise with that!!! No worries..............

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yes! Denying SF the BP on the hooter. I'll take that. Grenoble lucky with a few calls (non-calls more like) at the end there but it's SF's own fault for getting caught up in the frenetic type of rugby Grenoble wanted to play at the end there.

 

[Big Ewis]

Stade Fornication showing what a squad with superior talent can create as a final result. Individual quality combining to form just a higher caliber ensemble. First 50 were awesome from them, then Heguy's yellow kind of disrupted the flow of the game, but then again this happens in most games, that 50th-60th on-field tea break with the occasional tempers running high. Knockons start to appear, play isn't as crisp...
Nice game overall. Grenoble with two hilarious passes in their own 22, one (the bowling pass offload, classic) cost 7 points courtesy of a very good Jo Danty, one for the future for France I've been saying for a year now.
Wisniewski the only guy with a real pass at times there for Grenoble, what a talent.
Plisson very mediocre, still very much a work in progress. Threw a brick at Parisse on the latter's knock on. Some bad decisions, and indecision still evidently symptomatic in his game. A superb break and ball retention for the first try, but then weird errors...
Aplon was pretty good ball in hand but almost always spilled in the end.

Paris' winger (impossible name, sorry !) and Ratini showing how Fijians are a whole class above everybody in the backs. Just incredible turbo, pace, stealth and elusive running.

And WHAT A CHARGE on that driving maul at the end, what was that ???....
8 tries total. Grenoble a bit fortunate not to concede a whole 50.
Now Paris shows us how 'for real' they are after Christmas as they host the magnificent, the great, the one and only Toulon.

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Jimmy Yobo making his second appearance. Young Frenchman, from Grasse, some 40min from here...let's see what the center can do.
Nice to see the return of:
- Chris Tolofua for Toulouse
- Guitoune for Bordeaux
- Laulala for Racing.