Top 14 day 21

[gaston le gaff]

USAP V GRENOBLE
MONTPELLIER V RACING METRO
TOULOUSE V BORDEAUX BEGLES
STADE FRANCAIS V MONT DE MARSAN
AGEN V BAYONNE
TOULON V BIARRITZ
CLERMONT V CASTRES.

Montpellier kicks off this weekends double fixtures (TOP 14+6Nations) Fri 20.50 against Racing tough game with Montpellier's injuries and missing Internationals but hopefully a win, this weekend looks like home wins all round, maybe Bayonne have a chance at Agen who look more and more like Pro D2 material next season.

 

[Tony Manx]

You got nothing to do today?!!

I would agree with you about the home wins....other than I can see Racing being too strong with their strength at last showing through and confidence built on the back of their winning streak.

Apropos the possible challenge by Bayonne, I have to dismiss this as impossible unless they are gifted some points or learn syddenly how to win!

Incidentally....this is only BO's second game on a Saturday afternoon out of the nine (including our next two) that are otherwise on Friday/Saturday night at 21.00 so they can televise the matches.......................obviously not interested in ratings then!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Incidentally....this is only BO's second game on a Saturday afternoon out of the nine (including our next two) that are otherwise on Friday/Saturday night at 21.00 so they can televise the matches.......................obviously not interested in ratings then!!!

You dont understand Tony, Canal+ have done a deal with TF1, they put crap matches on a Friday bar this week and TF1 get the ratings for the Voice or some other crap reality show !!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Ah Now I understand why we have to sit in the pigging cold and dark and sober at 10.30 at piggin night!!!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Agen could move out of relegation zone, and the winner of MHR-RM will be almost certainly in. The other games are a bit too predictible or with too little on the line to be of any importance.
Do you guys think Castres could end ASM's streak?

 

[psychic duck]

Agen could move out of relegation zone, and the winner of MHR-RM will be almost certainly in. The other games are a bit too predictible or with too little on the line to be of any importance.
Do you guys think Castres could end ASM's streak?

I doubt it. Clermont defeated Toulon without their internationals, so they should be able to beat Castres. The streak this season has looked more vulnerable than in the past though, Racing-Métro, Stade Français, Leinster and Toulon have all come close to ending it. Few teams came that close as they did in the previous years.

I hope Bordeaux stay up this season. They play some nice rugby, just their scrum can be a bit too poor when against the likes of Toulouse etc. Their half backs Heinie Adams and Camille Lopez and hooker Ole Avei are a class apart from the rest of their team, those three would challenge to getting in much better teams, but the rest aren't that great, unfortunately for Bordeaux, because they have been poor this season there is now a strong chance that they will lose Adams and Lopez (although replacing him with Argentina's top fly half isn't at all a bad replacement).

I reckon Camille Lopez will get some caps for France soon with their fly half problems. I'm not totally sure he would be a revelation at international level, his up and unders completely bamboozled David Smith and Vincent Martin throughout that 41-0 match (creating 2 tries from them), but not sure his chip and chase tactic would work as there are some superb high ball takers at international (Kearney, Halfpenny etc)

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I hope Bordeaux stay up this season. They play some nice rugby...

This.

 

[Tony Manx]

...... the winner of MHR-RM will be almost certainly in. The other games are a bit too predictible or with too little on the line to be of any importance.

Agreed but, in truth, they probably both to deserve to but USAP will still have a say....

Do you guys think Castres could end ASM's streak?

No!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Originally Posted by ZeFrenchy
Do you guys think Castres could end ASM's streak?

Another NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Camille Lopez will be at USAP next season......

 

[Tony Manx]

15-17 to Racing then Gaston......we had a general broadband failure here so could not see the match (or anything else) but obviously close fought and look forward to your thoughts when you get home and sober up!! All is definitely NOt lost................................

 

[gaston le gaff]

Very sober night, a game of 2 halves 1st was all racing and they deserved their lead with 2 good worked tries and then second all Montpellier but their defence very good and could not get over the line but the boys did try, we lost Privat, Nagusa, and Bustos (prop) to injury so the list just gets longer and longer, atmosphere was electric and the 16th man tried their best to pull Montpellier over the line but it was not to be. Ref Raynal had an awkward fall which resulted in a double fracture tibia, perone
Highlight of my night was holding the H Cup aloft in the office, we had it for the night then photo on the pitch before the ko, somehow dont think it will be going into our trophy cabinet just yet.
Everything still possible but may have to try a little harder. The squad are off to Tignes tomorrow for 3 days and i don't think snowballing and building snowmen will be on Galthie's agenda, running up and down mountains could be more like his plat du jour.

 

[Tony Manx]

Sounds like not the game to have missed.....not good for the ref though......hope no players near him when he fell!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Toulon 50 15 Biarritz
Agen 20 30 Bayonne
Stade 42 14 MdM
UASP 20 18 Grenoble
ST 33 32 Bordeaux

Only managed last half of the Biarritz game but was hugely encouraged by the spirit and determination of the youngsters who were playing and they should certainly be encouraged to play for the rest of the season as there is nothing left to play for in the League........let the old farts play in the Amlin!!

Surpirsed Agen let Bayonne win but more surprised that Bayonne scored 30 points.....Grenoble and Bordeaux were hugely unlucky and USAP certainly going to make it difficult for Racing and MHL.....​

Last edited by Tony Manx; Today at 05:00 PM.​

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Real shame about Bordeaux. They had the match-winning drop goal, but Sanchez missed it despite it looking quite easy. Toulouse leading by 1 with a minute to go.

Not looking good for Agen...

This would be the right thread I believe...

(PS: remove the "sticky" from the 2nd matchday, it's confusing...)

 

[Tony Manx]

Fooled me but agree...can some one remove the sticky?

 

[fcbfan]

33-32 wow.
I need to do some serious catching up later after France's match is over.

 

[gaston le gaff]

good preditions from Gaston he only got Montpellier wrong and got Bayonne to beat Agen you must have more confidence Tony. Montpellier still hanging on to 6th place but the chase is hotting up, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

What you doing up.....past your bedtime is it not?!

Biarritz man to take Bayonne to win...............come on!!!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

What are the tiebreakers in case of equality in points?

 

[Tony Manx]

I have no idea actually............still do not think that is likely but good point!

Gaston.............check your rule book will you...........might be of pertinent interest to you?!