Top 14 Day 15

[Big Ewis]

A Japanese beer / explanaiton of what? I guess the team management thing is pretty similar, although I believe less so as a) the season is not so intense (there being fewer teams in the league, the extra weekends are taken up by the LV Cup, which is essentially a second team competition) and b) teams don't tend to have the same depth - Northampton / Bath / Saracens probably have notably better depth than the rest of the division but if you compare the Northampton and Toulon second XVs I can't imagine they would look comparable in terms of class, experience and numbers of proven international quality players. No Prem team could dream of signing Nico Sanchez, arguably the best ten in the world last year, as temporary cover, that's inconceivable.

Happy new year to you too

it's still interesting to me. There's a gap between those explanations, the ones I could imagine and then the results. I mean, I'd made a thread some months ago comparing English and French players. A majority of the main English ones (Mike Brown vs Brice Dulin, Tom Wood vs Nyanga, and so on) actually played fairly more minutes in fact than their French counterparts. An absolute surprise. Debunks the myth some (French players are tired, etc etc). Then some English posters made the argument one needs to look at 'what minutes' we're talking about, and that's where it all lies to me: what is it about the French/Top 14 club style that is so taxing, so grueling that they have real issues with it ?...
England doesn't benefit from any less injuries. They've been notoriously bit by the injury ***** (or injury bug, can't remember which...). France all the same, though. England has 12 teams, we've got 14, okay. I can't quite remember you guys' relegation system...anyways, it's like for whatever reason Prem is "smoother". For me, it's a better system because you guys can afford a healthy league AND fresh int'ls ready to go; but I prefer Top 14 if we're comparing leagues only (w/o the int'l dimension) because it gives me such a deep pool of players, high intensity, lots of high profile teams and good players..etc.....but then again the downside: we're fkd because it takes up too much space ! Test Rugby wise, especially.

About the Tln Nico Sanchez bit: yeah that's just the exaggerated amount of money clubs like Toulon have. Wilko retires, okay we've got Giteau. Giteau's out long term, okay let's get a Top 5 world-wide flyhalf...


About the LOU Stade Friction game:
hugely intense first 30min, very enjoyable. Paris did fantastically well to hang in there, amazing the 12 points Lyon had were off the 2 tries, fantastic discipline from the Parigots. Very promising signs for them. A scrum is a scrum, and still today can keep you in a game on its own, even when down one player for 75% regulation time. Plisson as brilliant this season as he is miserable. High highs, and low lows (dear lord, I'm just NAILING this prose right now...). Hilarious how neither team could "win" that ending ! Lyon couldn't get their bonus third try point, and Paris were just petrified of tying. Both losers, really.

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Januarie still has an awesome pass.................shame the LOU backs keep dropping the ball even when there is no one around to challenge them! Their mistakes against 14 men will cost them this match................

YES, he does.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

How is Tubby Floody doing with Toulouse now?

 

[FrenchFan]

Contrast the management of a bad run. Montpellier dismissed their head coach which could further unsettle the team.

In Toulouse everybody pulled together behind Noves, the President first of all. No one pressed the panic button. And we erased that bad run with 6 victories in a row.

Any club can have a bad run. The difference is how each club chooses to deal with it.

I think Montpellier should hold on to Galthié.

 

[Tony Manx]

Contrast the management of a bad run. Montpellier dismissed their head coach which could further unsettle the team.

In Toulouse everybody pulled together behind Noves, the President first of all. No one pressed the panic button. And we erased that bad run with 6 victories in a row.

Any club can have a bad run. The difference is how each club chooses to deal with it.

I think Montpellier should hold on to Galthié.

I agree about Galthie! Mind you, time Noves went!!

 

[Big Ewis]

How is Tubby Floody doing with Toulouse now?

he featured amongst the Top 5 flops of this first half of the season, and agreed upon by the readers (incl myself). I liked him a lot, I liked that he was willing to change his game and play it France style a bit, ball in hand, activate the backs and all but he did too little/too much and just for wtvr reason could not bring the stability Toulouse so dearly wanted from this semi-blockbuster offseason deal. With McAlister and his obvious talent but never really a 10, Doussain a 9/10 hybrid who's really an openside flanker but lives in denial, and the rise this year of youngster Bézy picking up the slack of the "big boys" in town (thank God that kid's there, *loving* him), Toulouse is ambiguous as ever with their halfbacks but have found some stability intermittently. Flood just...strangely, and against my expectations and desire, just never quite translated into the 'English flyhalf' addition Toulouse were counting on. He had some flat out bad ones, but overall hasn't been awful, but has been lackluster and unfortunately inefficient. He even learned the language as soon as he arrived (and spoke fairly well, very fast), put in the will, the effort; I still appreciate the guy. But just so-so..

It's with guys like Sexton and Toby Flood not insuring the results their status mandates as they participate abroad in the Top 14 that you see Wilko's true greatness. Never falter, always, always find a way...against all odds, physical or mental barriers have only made him stronger through the years, as opposed to collapse. Remarkable. Legendary. Got the Toulon DVD, and there are some very powerful moments in there.








Love this one. The emotion in his eyes.







Woops...sorry about that last one, how strange. Hmm...didn't even know Giteau liked Champagne that much.

So anyways...what was that about Boty Dulf ? Tofu Blood ?

 

[gaston le gaff]

That was a very harsh red card. That wasn't a strong kick and the Lyon guy clearly had a hand on his face before that reaction.

it has nothing to do with the strenght of the kick, in fact he kicked his rear, it' a kick which is a red card, head, body ,legs etc Steyn was stupid it was a soft kick but intention is there the ref had no choice and as far as i could see the other guy pushed him in the face to get him off no offence as his hand was flat. maybe Steyn has learnt a lesson which cost his team 3 pts.

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Contrast the management of a bad run. Montpellier dismissed their head coach which could further unsettle the team.

In Toulouse everybody pulled together behind Noves, the President first of all. No one pressed the panic button. And we erased that bad run with 6 victories in a row.

Any club can have a bad run. The difference is how each club chooses to deal with it.

I think Montpellier should hold on to Galthié.

this is only partly to do with the bad results, there are a lot more to it than that!!!!! and has been going on so a long time even before the bad results, so at the moment it is all behind closed doors, and that is probably where it will stay.

 

[Tony Manx]

this is only partly to do with the bad results, there are a lot more to it than that!!!!! and has been going on so a long time even before the bad results, so at the moment it is all behind closed doors, and that is probably where it will stay.

Interesting......very interesting!

 

[FrenchFan]

I agree about Galthie! Mind you, time Noves went!!

yes Noves will retire eventually. I think he should have retired a couple of years ago. He has earned it. 22 years at the club and a trophy cabinet like no other.

He will go on his own terms. Either full retirement or move up. The latter is the best option for the club. His management of our espoirs is peerless imo.

 

[Tony Manx]

yes Noves will retire eventually. I think he should have retired a couple of years ago. He has earned it. 22 years at the club and a trophy cabinet like no other.

He will go on his own terms. Either full retirement or move up. The latter is the best option for the club. His management of our espoirs is peerless imo.

I would agree with that post......good to hear about your Espoirs and maybe that is where he should concentrate his efforts and allow a new guy to take charge of the rest?

 

[FrenchFan]

I would agree with that post......good to hear about your Espoirs and maybe that is where he should concentrate his efforts and allow a new guy to take charge of the rest?

Yes. I hope they move him up or sideways. But it's time for a new head coach. They also need to beef up the staff with a break down specialist, a kicking coach etc. A technician from NZ with a fresh approach.

But his input into the espoirs his ability to guide youngsters all the way thru to the senior side, detect real talent at an early age, coach, give confidence etc is legendary. He has always trusted youngsters when many would just buy a player. Look what he's doing with Bezy atm.

I hope he stays involved with the espoirs. I think the board should be working on his replacement. Maybe they are.

 

[Tony Manx]

Looks like Bayonne are joining Oyonnax and La Rochelle at the bottom this pm?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Alll Hail White, All hail White.

 

[Big Ewis]

@gaston le gaff well done Montpellier. Dupond is turning out to be one HECK of a winger. Gotta love a 3/4 who can fetch in a ruck, and he bonnifies almost every ball he gets, and his steps are definitely something else, special. That Aussie boy Lucas at 10 wasn't bad. Where the hell did that pack come from, what a reaction...Hayman seems just about done unfortunately...what a player, I'm afraid the Toulon scrum won't be nearly as dominant in the coming playoff runs...
I'm not too concerned about Toulon's current bad form, I understand they've got a large injury list with notable absentees and just didn't show up today. In the second half, they started reacting a bit, so if they really wanted to, they could've...but props to MP, that was pretty fkng impressive. Pretty damn impressive. Top 14 is just insanely competitive at this point...

The shock of the weekend:

That's quite nearly the very best Clermont xv (just Nalaga missing for Guilford).

 

[gaston le gaff]

thank you Jake White and Shaun Sowerby for installing the confidence that Montpelier needed which has been lacking for quite a while, this is not the finished product but i don't think you can get a better start to a new job by whipping the double H Cup winners and Bouclier de Brennus champions enjoyed every minute even the beer drinking from the boot by Ben Lucas 1st pts for the club and new comers White and Sowerby, + fantastic atmosphere, we need more !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jaguares]

:lol:

 

[Big Ewis]

How ephemeral that first seed is. Paris stumbles from the throne already. Clermont back on top and Toulon a frustrated little ogre atm. Bordeaux and Grenoble still in the Top 6 more or less firmly, this, 15 days into the season...MP and Toulouse still right outside for the taking. Castres finally out of the relegable red zone, and a bit of breathing space

 

[Tony Manx]

How ephemeral that first seed is. Paris stumbles from the throne already. Clermont back on top and Toulon a frustrated little ogre atm. Bordeaux and Grenoble still in the Top 6 more or less firmly, this, 15 days into the season...MP and Toulouse still right outside for the taking. Castres finally out of the relegable red zone, and a bit of breathing space

So that is the top but at the bottom, it looks to me between.........

La Rochelle,
Bayonne,
Oyonnax

and perhaps LOU but feel they, like Castres, have enough to move up the table enough..................mind you there is always dear old Montypellier!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Happy New Year Tony!!!!!!!!!!! when you beat Toulon you don't finish in the Pro D2, even you should know that, sour grapes so early in the New Year, we have a long way to go but after the, after match vestiares ambiance of beer boot drinking i can see this going only one way, of course there will be reversals but looks like everybody is getting a bit of that at the moment. JW has introduced something very new to our players something they have not known for nearly 3 seasons FUN ENJOYMENT, early days but the corner is being turned.

 

[Big Ewis]

and perhaps LOU but feel they, like Castres, have enough to move up the table enough..................mind you there is always dear old Montypellier!!!

:lol: sure don't look like-ee atm ! Right now, there's absolutely no saying what MP could achieve this season. Their Euro campaign was over some weeks ago, so that's that. But the Top 14 run looks well right now. That pack's dominance was no mistake against Gorgodze and Toulon the other day...and as time passes, so is Trinh-Duc susceptible of returning...a well-in-place Montypellio could've smashed Toulioni the other day. It's pretty amazing all things considered they're actually 1 point away from the 6th seed ! They were looking downright formidable when they almost beat Racing down to 14 at home and then got Clermont in the volcano.
It may be cliché, and somewhat sad, but it seems Grenoble and possibly Bordeaux will have to just leave their places to the two more obvious picks as the season moves on: MP and Toulouse.

As for the relegated, I'd go for Lyon and LAR I believe right now.

 

[Tony Manx]

Happy New Year Tony!!!!!!!!!!! when you beat Toulon you don't finish in the Pro D2, even you should know that, sour grapes so early in the New Year, we have a long way to go but after the, after match vestiares ambiance of beer boot drinking i can see this going only one way, of course there will be reversals but looks like everybody is getting a bit of that at the moment. JW has introduced something very new to our players something they have not known for nearly 3 seasons FUN ENJOYMENT, early days but the corner is being turned.

You rise to it very time!!!

:lol: sure don't look like-ee atm ! .

You trying to spoil my fun?!