Top 14 Day 21

[gaston le gaff]

Montypellier just 3pts behind leader "Gastons Supreme Masters" after they lost to UBB 26-16, this winger Talebula is something for UBB another couple of tries again today, Bordeaux will be playing TOP 14 next season. Exciting game last night against Stade Franchouillard, right down to the wire then a brilliant piece of work by Pelissie when everyone thought he was going to kick the ball out to end the game he chips and Nagusa collects and scores, FTD converts from the touchline against strong wind on the wrong side (right) and he tackled and attacked like a demon all night so much for PSA can't kick can't tackle no.10, the Scots and Irish must be very happy Bunnies seeing him left in France and not playing for his country, Montypellier also not unhappy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

that's the comment on EVERYBODY's mouth in France atm. PSA must feel like an idiot not picking FTD, but MP are glad he isn't.
First half wasn't as entertaining as expected, couldn't get back for the second half. Apparently Pélissié was good too...definitely a prospect for the future for us.
Unless they pick South African Rory Kockott, with Parra behind there's no way Machenaud or Pélissié or Doussain see the light of day although especially the last two deserve it.

 

[jaunard06]

No surprise here...I predicted that loss.
Congratulations to UBB they fully deserve that victory, we showed nothing, controlled nothing, were unable to take advantage of the nervousness of UBB at the beginning of the game. Many players were injured or off due to the Tournament but that's not an excuse for showing so few interest for such games...for the moment the only match where the guys seemed to realized they were outside to take a win was at Grenoble...still they managed to lose this one.

Topping the rankings with losses without even a DB show that the Top 14 "powerhouses" are weaker this year - this of couse includes ASM - as I don't believe that suddenly Grenoble, Oyonnax or UBB have progressed so much since last year. They improved, that's for sure, but at the same time ASM, Toulouse, Toulon, Racing were very average, Castres - the champion ! - are abysmal. Only Stade Français play above expectations and Montpellier are where we expect them also,

Side note: I'm not even talking about Perpignan, Bayonne or Biarritz...that would make me cry I think.

 

[Big Ewis]

yeah well Clermont played alright still. They were some 30 meters from winning in the last few minutes there. Much more of a result than most teams away from home. And they weren't terrible or even bad, but they definitely didn't look anything like last week, or like when they're at home (if without a ton of premier players).

I still see Clermont making it far this year. They're the most consistent side in the Top 14 by far and the most solid bet for anyone's money.

 

[Big Ewis]

ohhhhhh shhit...Toulon is reminding the Top 14 who the bosses are with one of their trademark 60-pt blasting of the visitors.
Sweet vengeance for em against an Oyonnax that challenged and beat them earlier the year at home...

Good signs this late in the season for Toulon.

 

[Big Ewis]

sorry to hog this thread but anyone watching the Toulouse match here ? Vincent Clerc still scoring tries off his own initiative, what a gem that guy has been...

Picamoles and Huget can play well together on that play there in Toulouse, but not with the French XV. They must really feel like aliens in Bleus atm seeing how good they look here in 'rouge et noir'.

 

[Draggs]

Huget has been pretty effective for France recently. I'd put it down more to PSA being a complete clown.
Watching it along with the Scarlets right now.
What was the pen try for? Couldn't understand commentary.

 

[Big Ewis]

Huget has been pretty effective for France recently. I'd put it down more to PSA being a complete clown.
Watching it along with the Scarlets right now.
What was the pen try for? Couldn't understand commentary.

Vincent Clerc with a fantastic kick forward for himself, runs the remaining 10 meters but is pushed by the Perpignan defender. Penalty try. Don't worry, most certainly wasn't Toulouse's scrum !! Boy the scrum is so clearly their one big flaw....

And of course PSA is totally incompetent lol, why do you even bring that up ? I'm just saying it's funny/weird Picamoles/Huget/Fickou can string nice plays together here as they have in red and black, and not in blue. It's like there's a mental block when they wear the blue, like there's some malaise or underlying issue, obviously due to the fact that there's little cohesion and chemistry, that itself due to PSA's lack of game plan and authority/charisma.

 

[Big Ewis]

bam. 37-9 Toulouse, 4 tries. Some really nice ones too. The Toulouse we like to see, and the Toulouse we should (but don't) ALWAYS see.

If France could play like this in Scotland, we could really be having a field day. Too bad we're called France and not Toulouse, play in blue and not red and black. And too bad our coach's name is Phillipe Saint-André while I'm at it.


Boudjellal (president of Toulon) teased the latter yet again after his club's enormous victory (64-10) over poor Oyonnax:
"make us dream ! PSA must have a world champion's attitude, even if they lose in Scotland. These days, he gives the players excuses by saying they play too much or that he doesn't have the players he'd want at his disposition. The guys feel like they're picked by default ! Philippe is going to be world champ, he must tell himself that !"

Awkward !...

 

[jaunard06]

sorry to hog this thread but anyone watching the Toulouse match here ? Vincent Clerc still scoring tries off his own initiative, what a gem that guy has been...

Picamoles and Huget can play well together on that play there in Toulouse, but not with the French XV. They must really feel like aliens in Bleus atm seeing how good they look here in 'rouge et noir'.

I looked the match with enthusiasm, it's been a long time Toulouse wasn't Toulouse, when they play that sort of rugby they become again the more pleasant team to watch.
It's like if Noves ask the guys to let their flair lead the game against teams that are supposed weaker, and ask them to play that sh.tty defensive rugby that became the trademark of Top 14 when the adversary is considered a "powerhouse".

Anyways great match and great tries.
Clerc is incredible, but here his mates helped him also a lot.

He definitely knows where to be on the field when it counts, that's probably something easy for him when playing for Toulouse, but more difficult with France - if he would play again in the national team - when your teammates train only one week with you. Ans as you said that's exactly what happens for Picamoles and Huget.

 

[jaunard06]

bam. 37-9 Toulouse, 4 tries. Some really nice ones too. The Toulouse we like to see, and the Toulouse we should (but don't) ALWAYS see.

If France could play like this in Scotland, we could really be having a field day. Too bad we're called France and not Toulouse, play in blue and not red and black. And too bad our coach's name is Phillipe Saint-André while I'm at it.


Boudjellal (president of Toulon) teased the latter yet again after his club's enormous victory (64-10) over poor Oyonnax:
"make us dream ! PSA must have a world champion's attitude, even if they lose in Scotland. These days, he gives the players excuses by saying they play too much or that he doesn't have the players he'd want at his disposition. The guys feel like they're picked by default ! Philippe is going to be world champ, he must tell himself that !"

Awkward !...

Sometimes - always ? - Boudjellal can be a reall ass.le.
'excuses' ? PSA is certainly not the best coach we had, but this is a fact that french players play too much (look at the number of injured players on ASM's bench for example), and that we need to have a TOP12 instead of a TOP14 at least, and also have rules that allow the players to have regular trainings with the national team and not only one week per year before the Tournament.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Some very good rugby played this weekend, managed to watch most of the matches, with home wins all round, Gaston woulds have had a 100% except for B Ewis punishment orders making him choose Gaston's Supreme Masters instead of UBB, who he thought would win, but punishment over next week i hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The TOP 6 begining to fall into place, but certainly not over a couple of mistakes by anyone and there are teams waiting to jump into their places.Toulouse starting to warm up for the H Cup 1/4's never write those guys of.
As far as Boudjellal is concerned he actually talks a lot of sense more often than not, he just does not come across well and it is often turned against him by the media, they love someone controversial and often against the authorities like he can be. If he could tone down his commentries a lot more people would listen, and the fact that he has bought every ex international on the planet makes everyone super jealous but they hate admitting it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gaston's Supreme Masters and Toulon will be 1st and 2nd, their next game is against each other 20/21 March, with Gaston's Supreme Masters at home (hows that for sucking up B. E.) Excellent week of TOP 14 rugby lets see how it pans out on the International scene next weekend. France can still top the Championship wouldn't that pi** an awful lot of forumers off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too many foreigners, no home grown players unprofessional coaches and clubs ya di ya di ya etc etc.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Interesting little stat.the difference in points between the 5th and 8th positions in the 3 European leagues.This gives the teams approx who may qualify for next seasons H Cup or whatever its goin to be next season.
Premiership 11pts
Rabo 14pts
TOP I4 4pts the rabo the games are not all equal as some have played less than others but the Premiership and the TOP 14 are more or less equal The Top 14 has the most number of clubs so you would think there would be greater points difference between the top and bottom or the 5th and 8th this is not at all the case, so where is the most competive rugby played, i would like to answer that but i decline!!! you may all have your chance!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

I looked the match with enthusiasm, it's been a long time Toulouse wasn't Toulouse, when they play that sort of rugby they become again the more pleasant team to watch.
It's like if Noves ask the guys to let their flair lead the game against teams that are supposed weaker, and ask them to play that sh.tty defensive rugby that became the trademark of Top 14 when the adversary is considered a "powerhouse".

Anyways great match and great tries.
Clerc is incredible, but here his mates helped him also a lot.

He definitely knows where to be on the field when it counts, that's probably something easy for him when playing for Toulouse, but more difficult with France - if he would play again in the national team - when your teammates train only one week with you. Ans as you said that's exactly what happens for Picamoles and Huget.

agreed. Clerc scored 2 tries against Argentina the last time we saw him in bleus btw before the huge injury (well after the Samoa game...). The guy is a natural born killer on that wing, and though I miss him a LOT in Bleus, we're not actually lacking any quality wingers either so let's leave it to the new generation: Fall, Guitoune, Bonneval, O'Connor, Huget etc...

And for your other post about the fact our guys play too much, read the what I've posted on the Scotland - France thread about that.

Interesting little stat.the difference in points between the 5th and 8th positions in the 3 European leagues.This gives the teams approx who may qualify for next seasons H Cup or whatever its goin to be next season.
Premiership 11pts
Rabo 14pts
TOP I4 4pts the rabo the games are not all equal as some have played less than others but the Premiership and the TOP 14 are more or less equal The Top 14 has the most number of clubs so you would think there would be greater points difference between the top and bottom or the 5th and 8th this is not at all the case, so where is the most competive rugby played, i would like to answer that but i decline!!! you may all have your chance!!!!!

I know I noticed before myself. The Top 14 is tight as......mmm, let's not get too intimate here. It's very very tight and anybody's league. True.
I was AMAZED to see that in the Aviva Premiership for e.g. the top team had only lost ONE game all season long. Second on the list, the Saracens are 14 and 2. Worcester hasn't won a single game. Definitely a more "elitist" sort of league...

And yes the Top 6 teams are well established now in the Top 14.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Final game of this weekend and BO complete another weekend of pure misery going down in the Basue derby 8-11 with a last minute drop goal, but the match was not great but watchable always a load of tension on this particular derby and a few handbags thrown in for good measure.
Can someone check on Tony that he has not done anything silly, or maybe he will just start supporting Bayonne if they stay up, today was a big effort and it does not look pretty for OYONNAX, now they have 2 games more to play than everyone else.(bar UBB and BO who have one less both play Oyonnax, postponed matches because of weather.)
Big Ewis please reajust your tables now the last game has been played giving Bayonne a tiny bit more breathing space, it would be a pity to lose both Basque teams from the TOP 14.

 

[Big Ewis]

good point, here it is:
[h=2]Top 14[/h][TABLE="class: statstab, width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR="class: infoboxheadlite"]
[TH="class: textcenter"] [/TH]
[TH] [/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]Pts[/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]J[/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]G[/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]N[/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]P[/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]p[/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]c[/TH]
[TH="class: textcenter"]+/-[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow , textcenter"]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Boudjellal Army
[/TD]
[TD]60[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]527[/TD]
[TD]350[/TD]
[TD]177[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: textcenter"]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]ASM we own Gaston for another week
[/TD]
[TD]60[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]559[/TD]
[TD]403[/TD]
[TD]156[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow , textcenter"]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Montypellier
[/TD]
[TD]57[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]510[/TD]
[TD]428[/TD]
[TD]82[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: textcenter"]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Stade Franchouillard
[/TD]
[TD]56
[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]409[/TD]
[TD]373[/TD]
[TD]36[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow , textcenter"]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Stade Toulousain
[/TD]
[TD]55[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]420[/TD]
[TD]347[/TD]
[TD]73[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: textcenter"]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Castres Olympique
[/TD]
[TD]55[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]449[/TD]
[TD]387[/TD]
[TD]62[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow , textcenter"]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Racing Métro 92
[/TD]
[TD]52[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]332[/TD]
[TD]356[/TD]
[TD]-24[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: textcenter"]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]CA Brive-Corrèze
[/TD]
[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]400[/TD]
[TD]362[/TD]
[TD]38[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow , textcenter"]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Union Bordeaux-Bègles
[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]474[/TD]
[TD]441[/TD]
[TD]33[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: textcenter"]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Grenoble
[/TD]
[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]380[/TD]
[TD]464[/TD]
[TD]-84[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow , textcenter"]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Aviron Bayonnais
[/TD]
[TD]43[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]307[/TD]
[TD]430[/TD]
[TD]-123[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: textcenter"]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Perpignan
[/TD]
[TD]42[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]390[/TD]
[TD]477[/TD]
[TD]-87[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: altrow , textcenter"]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Oyonnax
[/TD]
[TD]35[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]310[/TD]
[TD]433[/TD]
[TD]-123[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: textcenter"]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]We're doomed
[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]262[/TD]
[TD]478[/TD]
[TD]-216[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]





sorry for the B.O. All good things must come to an end, so is the unforgiving, unfeeling cycle of life...and death...

And don't worry gaston, Tony will be right back in time for you two to go at it like good old times !...have faith.

 

[Big Ewis]

I'm watching Toulon Oyonnax. Super entertaining game, Toulon played superbly (despite red for Oyonnax).

Again, it's pretty "funny" to see Bastareaud and Mermoz putting excellent sequences of play together, comfortably and fluidly here in red; and they're both the least appreciated centers for the Bleus and are criticized all the time when wearing that uniform.
If you saw these two players during that match (or other Toulon matches) you'd say France are in good hands. Hah !

 

[usap dessie]

Tony Manx , where's a good place to meet up for a drink next season for our big PRO2 clash !!!!! FFS USAP !!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Tony Manx , where's a good place to meet up for a drink next season for our big PRO2 clash !!!!! FFS USAP !!!

Why????? are you moving to Oyonnax, with their 2 extra games to play they are going to find it very difficult to stay up.and and USAP have them at home on the 11/12 April could be the decider who stays up and who does down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[usap dessie]

wish I had your faith gaston , from what I'm seeing oyonnax are a least putting up a fight !!!