Top 14 Day 18

[Tony Manx]

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR="class: infoboxheadlite, bgcolor: #E9EAEA"]
[TH="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, colspan: 4"]18th Day[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow, bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]15/02[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]8:50 p.m.[/TD]
[TD="class: textright, align: right"]Toulouse[/TD]
[TD]USAP[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]16/02[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]3:00 p.m.[/TD]
[TD="class: textright, align: right"]Toulon Rugby Club[/TD]
[TD]Montpellier Hérault Rugby[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow, bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"] -[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]6:30 p.m.[/TD]
[TD="class: textright, align: right"]ASM Clermont[/TD]
[TD]Mont-de-Marsan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"] -[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]6:30 p.m.[/TD]
[TD="class: textright, align: right"]Grenoble[/TD]
[TD]SU Agen[/TD]
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[TR="class: altrow, bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"] -[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]6:30 p.m.[/TD]
[TD="class: textright, align: right"]Stade France[/TD]
[TD]Union Bordeaux-Begles[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"] -[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]6:30 p.m.[/TD]
[TD="class: textright, align: right"]Racing Métro 92[/TD]
[TD]Bayonne[/TD]
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[TR="class: altrow, bgcolor: #EEEEEE"]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"] -[/TD]
[TD="class: textcenter, align: center"]8:40 p.m.[/TD]
[TD="class: textright, align: right"]Biarritz Olympique[/TD]
[TD]Castres[/TD]
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Another week another tough round! After last week that saw little overall change with the top three teams losing and the bottom four teams winning, there was a closing of ranks but still the league looks pretty settled and, out of the positions of note, only the 6th place looks likely to be changed during the next 9 rounds with at least the top 4 and probably fifth likely to qualify and the bottom two looking to be relegated.

I suspect that Toulouse, Toulon and Clermont should alll win but Toulon only be virtue of hurt feelings after their thrashing at Bordeaux last week and home advantage against MHL. That will be a tight one and should be worth a 21.00 spot rather than the Bo clash against Castres....interesting fact, after the game against Bayonne on 1st March, BO will have played 7 out of 8 games at 21.00 which is ridiculous scheduling!

The BO game will be horrid to watch but will be a close win for BO with wins for Grenoble (but close), Stade and Racing

 

[gaston le gaff]

You have got it about right Tony, we are sending a mixture to Toulon but with still many injuries we are hanging on in their but can not afford many more, Privat joined the ranks after a broken nose on Saturday needed a General and reset so he will be sideline for at least a couple of weeks Fulgence adds to the list with Berand and Amorosino and no break till the 16th March could be a problem!!!!!
A point at Toulon would be a result for us and we need your boys to put one over on Castres to do us a favour as we were very gentle with BO last weekend !!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

The BO team for Castres clash has been announced as

Balshaw - Ngwenya, Baby, Bosch, Brew - (o) Peyrelongue, (m) Yachvili - Lakafia, Harinordoquy (cap), Gray - Dubarry Taele - Synaeghel, Heguy Broster.


Substitutes: Ruffenac Barcella, Erik Lund, Guyot, Lesgourgues Barn, Gimenez, Van Staden.

Ruffenac, an Under 20 International from Stade Rochelais will make his debut if he gets on and with Lauret injured, the only changes I would make are for Gimenz/Barraque to play rather than Baby/Perylongue but other than that, not a lot they could do with the present squad!

Interestingly, they have now announced (not on their web site "obviously"!!) that Benoit Guyot, has extended his contract for two years, and centres Seremaia Burotu and Charles Gimenez and hooker Arnaud Heguy have confirmed on Friday extensions to their contracts. Heguy is the number one hooker and Gimenz should be used more than he is but Burotu is your average Fijian who is probably comparable to Basterau and one feels they could do better!

Long term squad member Jérôme Thion reaches the end of his contract this year and has not been, so far, offered and extension (good news for the change that is SOOOOO necessary) and surprisiingly it is being reported that Argentinian, Marcelo Bosch, may be offered an additional year which is very strange as he has hardly appeared (or impressed) this season and will be on international duty again next season

 

[oldscumbagonian]

So what's with Toulouse going down at home to USAP?

 

[ZeFrenchy]

McAlister blowing it... twice. A Donald-esque performance.

 

[Tony Manx]

I think it is the way Toulouse are at the moment.....they seem to be in third gear and unable to find fourth or fifth......I would agree with Zefrenchy about McAllister but he has been like that all season and why they are taking our Barraque for next sesaon to link up with his Under 20 international buddy, Dussain (interesting Dussain played 10 and Barraque 12 in those games).

USAP were certainly up for it but did not look like winning until they scored the very good try but ST did not seem to have any attacking idea as a team and made too many mistakes. Poitrenaud and Medard both played really well as did Galin their number 8 but as a team....poor but, as I have said, did seem to have it under control with bish bash find territory and look for the easy penalty that even McCallister could get!

Edit....oh and Fickou was invisbile and is not the player he was earlier in the seasons ince returning from injury although the lack of form is probably temporary!

 

[oldscumbagonian]

Thanks to you both; what with Toulon creaking in recent weeks it looks like a close run-in to the play-offs. ASM could be the beneficiary?

 

[Peat]

I don't know if anyone's watching Toulon - Montpellier, but there's been some lovely play here.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Do you have a... ahem... way of watching it? PM me please!

 

[Tony Manx]

I don't know if anyone's watching Toulon - Montpellier, but there's been some lovely play here.

I was keeping an eye on it whilst watching the saracens game................have to say the weakened MHL were battered and were not really in it!!

 

[Tony Manx]

"Wonderful" game of rugby that hardly kept the meagre crowd on the edge of their seats, in mostly silence, throughout......Have to say the BO front seven were superb, agile, quick to the ball, quick at the break down and the 8, Imanol (who looked knackered by half time but was not subbed at all) showed up occasionally. This was a gritty Biarritz of old where the pack ruled as the backs could hardly mount an attack and the one time they did, Bosch took advantage of a hole the width of a motorway with three backs oustide and two defenders in front, amd he kicked the ball to prove that not only are they inept but stupid!!

It was hearteninig in many respects to see different kick off options used and receiving kick offs improved immeasurably, the break down and defence was very well marshalled, the penalty count (paticularly in own half) reduced dramatically, and the scurm was almost dominant until Castres changed their entire front row at once when it became more equal.

A deserved win and would have been more had Yach not missed at least three penalties, and the ref (who was dreadful to both sides) used his yellow card even once. I imagine that Diara of Castres got the MoTM as he was immense in an otherwise disappointing Castres side. Further cements BO's place in the bottom middle of the table but it was the younger members of the team that did best and gave hope where none existed and maybe that lesson will be learnt this time?


Edit.....Gaston, you got my champagne ready for me?

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Some weird stuff went on during SFP-UBB. Parisse got a red card fo insulting the referee, and Stade français scored after a quick line out was played with the wrong ball.

 

[Tony Manx]

Had Sergio had a yellow before or was this a straight red?

Rugbyrama say he was sent off for verbally abusing referee Cardona....what on earth did he say that he could have received a red for?

 

[SelimNiai]

Question that was posed to me after that, possibly in hope. Are there bans after red cards? If so will that mean he will be banned internationally. I said I didn't know and if so I'd assume its domestic only. Is that right?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Well from what I gather (no doubt I am wrong) the referee will write a report of the incident and then submit it to the necessary authorities. If he is found guilty and further punishment is needed then a ban is possible. As to whether it will affect internationally ... I am not so sure.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Parisse only commented on the refs inability to ref which is not far from wrong as later Stade were awarded a try after a quick line out with the wrong ball and the ball was given to Doumayrou by a ball ball also illegal, something that the ref and both linemen chose to ignore!!!!! ( it will not ne long before refs are microed up and provided with white sticks or maybe even a dog)!!!! As there was probably bad language used he could well be banned , Jaques Brunel (Italian coach) was however straight on the phone pleading his innocence.
Another fine example of French refereeing was when Bakies Botha charges Audrin without the ball from a restart he was catapulted into the Toulon winger who was in mid air and after an oscar performance and several minutes on the deck Audrin was given a yellow when he did not even know what he had done..... is Bakies Botha the brother of Richie Macaw !!!!!!! he still has to receive a yellow this season and he does it all with a smile on his face you have to toff your cap to him the Happy Assasin.... every team should have one!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Parisse SWEARS...........My God, that is almost as bad as watching Pelous standing behind me in the commentary box last night puffing away on a FAG............guess he did not juist start when he retired!! Interestingly, Tomas Lieveremont was there too, without a lolly! Was he having an interview or just with old friends.............

If I had sworn openly at every ref who had deserved it, I would have been banned for life.......this ref shoould be banned for not being able to control a game that provoked such an outburst and will, obviously, now be a marked man amongst the players if he gets to carry on which he should not.....

I know what you mean about the poor reffing....we had that arrogant barsteward who looks a little like Bardos who was just terribel to both sides....one example, when a ball was thrown forward and went into touch, the linesman had his flag up, the ref clearly called a scrum for the forward pass wit all the right hand movements but Balshaw took a quick throw in and off they went with the ref waving them on.....you could not make it up!!

I agree with you about Botha, not with the reference to McCaw though, and wonder how he has managed to stay on the field so many times.....

Where is my champagne anyhow......................!!

 

[Peat]

Parisse SWEARS...........My God, that is almost as bad as watching Pelous standing behind me in the commentary box last night puffing away on a FAG............guess he did not juist start when he retired!! Interestingly, Tomas Lieveremont was there too, without a lolly! Was he having an interview or just with old friends.............

If I had sworn openly at every ref who had deserved it, I would have been banned for life.......this ref shoould be banned for not being able to control a game that provoked such an outburst and will, obviously, now be a marked man amongst the players if he gets to carry on which he should not.....

I know what you mean about the poor reffing....we had that arrogant barsteward who looks a little like Bardos who was just terribel to both sides....one example, when a ball was thrown forward and went into touch, the linesman had his flag up, the ref clearly called a scrum for the forward pass wit all the right hand movements but Balshaw took a quick throw in and off they went with the ref waving them on.....you could not make it up!!

I agree with you about Botha, not with the reference to McCaw though, and wonder how he has managed to stay on the field so many times.....

Where is my champagne anyhow......................!!

I'm sorry, I have to completely disagree with you in the first couple of paragraphs, once the standard was you didn't gob back at the ref and that was that - this is eroding mightily, I am quite happy to see a line drawn in the sand particularly if Parisse swore at him. We've all had crap refs, if I swore at one I'd expect to walk. That is - or was - a standard set amongst rugby players. The quality of the ref should not matter, you treat them with respect anyway - and without wishing to sound like a nursery teacher, two wrongs don't make a right.

As for your example - he was mistaken in automatically calling a scrum, he should have offered the choice of scrum or lineout, Balshaw chose lineout and the ref was correct to let it play on.

 

[Tony Manx]

I'm sorry, I have to completely disagree with you in the first couple of paragraphs

As for your example - he was mistaken in automatically calling a scrum, he should have offered the choice of scrum or lineout, Balshaw chose lineout and the ref was correct to let it play on.

Don't mind the disagreement between us, but a red card and potential ban when you hear Cockerell say what he did last night about Barnes?....I would agree there is too much chat, appealing for penalties, play acting to get the opponent yellow carded and diving now and it has to change but if they are going to clamp down on one or all of the aforementioned surely they should let the players know it or make their point with a yellow and explain that this going to happen every time in future? As it happens it did not affect the result but imagine if it had.............

One other thoought, maybe the refs should enforce other laws such as crooked feeds whilst they are at it?


I thought the new law of options was when the ball was knocked on only as did everyone aroud me......but, yet again, I stand corrected!

 

[Peat]

Don't mind the disagreement between us, but a red card and potential ban when you hear Cockerell say what he did last night about Barnes?....I would agree there is too much chat, appealing for penalties, play acting to get the opponent yellow carded and diving now and it has to change but if they are going to clamp down on one or all of the aforementioned surely they should let the players know it or make their point with a yellow and explain that this going to happen every time in future? As it happens it did not affect the result but imagine if it had.............

One other thoought, maybe the refs should enforce other laws such as crooked feeds whilst they are at it?

I thought the new law of options was when the ball was knocked on only as did everyone aroud me......but, yet again, I stand corrected!

I didn't hear Cockerill, but having read what he said, I hope for a good sized touchline ban - coaches as well as players need to calm it down.

Maybe refs should enforce crooked feeds, but that's another discussion.

Fairly sure that it applies to forward passes as well.