Top 14 Day 8

[Tony Manx]

Friday
20.50 Castres v Clermont

Saturday
15.00 Biarritz v Toulon
18.30 Bayonne v Agen
18.30 Racing v Montpellier
18.30 Mont de Marsan v Stade France
18.30 Racing v Montpellier
20.40 Bordeaux Begles v Toulouse

Cracking line up this week with joint leaders Clermont attempting to conquer fortress Castres and Toulon with a far easier, but still difficult task if BO start to play with some confidence, at Biarritz. One wonders how long it will be before the ever loyal Blanco is forced to take some action................just saying!!

Montpellier visit Racing in what could be a tight game and Bayonne host Agen to show last weekend's "shock" win was not a fluke!!

USAP should see off Grenoble and Toulouse will eventually do the same at Bordeaux

 

[oldscumbagonian]

Could Stade actually get an away win?!

 

[Tony Manx]

Could Stade actually get an away win?!

Well this is the one to do it.......................Incidentally for you Irish (and NZ) guys.....Berquist finally makes his debut and only against Toulon.....not a bad way to start so we shall see if he is any good!!! He might like the temperature as it was 35 on way back from the beach today!!!

 

[Draggs]

Bored with Pro12, who is watching Castres and Clermont?

 

[Hill-Back-Dallaglio]

Bored with Pro12, who is watching Castres and Clermont?

Now that is a shock.

 

[Draggs]

Now that is a shock.

OK, Castres Clermont is 3-3, so hardly any better.
I see Sale are up, perhaps time to change the channel again

 

[Tony Manx]

Got the Castres game on computer....not great....and the Sale one on TV! The latter is the better game!!

Teams for the big match tomorrow

1 - Barcella 2- Geneva 3 - Gomez Kodela 4 - Lund E. 5 - Dubarry 6 - Guyot 7 - Lauret 8 - Lakafia 9 - Lesgourgues 10 - Berquist 11 - Brew 12 - Traille (c.) 13 - Gimenez 14 - Ngwenya 15 - Balshaw 16 - Heguy 17 - Blaauw 18 - Taele 19 - Mr. Lund 20 - Peyrelongue 21 - Barn 22 - Haylett-Petty 23 - Synaeghel
<o
Toulon </oArmitage, Martin, Mermoz, Giteau, Smith, (o) Wilkinson,(m) Tillous-Borde; S.Armitage, Masoe, Van Niekerk,Suta, Botha, Hayman, Bruno, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1Sheridan
</st1</st1:city>Substitutes: Orioli, Jenkins, Chiocci, Shaw, Bruni, Michalak,Bastareaud, Lapeyre.

 

[Tony Manx]

Just woken up in Castres with brilliant ball handling by Castres before giving interception to Buttin and try from his own line..................similar sort of game to Sale who are playing in same colours as Castres. Boys in blue are playing the rugby and ASM and Leicester playing shut up shop..................

When Leicester scrum let the ball out and in open play, Georgie Ford is giving a master class to fly halves..........Ford for England this season and maybe the Lions?

Very deserved win for Castres..........................can Sale do it too? Doubt it but 12 to go!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Anyone happen to watch the BO/Toulon game as would be interested in hearing any views on the Irish ref (Peter Fitzgibbon?) because from the stands he was awful!! Almost as bad Traille who again was pathetic and one can only hope that he is rested for a few weeks......Berquist was good enough, without being startling, in open play but missed three not difficult but not easy penalties before being subbed after about 50 minutes.

I can only think that this was due to it being his first game in about two years as they brought Perylongue (who was brave but inept) on and proceeded to let Traille kick all penalties from wherever into touch! Mind you they also substituted Brew who had another good game and Gimenz who was far better than his replacement...........Management - wish BO had some! BO were well beaten at the scrum although thought back row was enormous at te break down and in open play.....

That all being said, the first try from Toulon was wonderful to watch and almost All Black like in its concept and execution. They are a very, very good team (not just a side), and have a fantastic record away this year to match their home record and have only lost when their second string took on Toulouse.......I can see a double for them this year with this team and their depth. Would not mind moving to Toulon and watching them all season no matter that they have paid a fortune to get the players, they have made them work as a team.....................and some of their interplay makes me understand why I like this game!!

Wilkinson showed his real class and seemed ageless. His field work was excellent and kicking faultless and a joy to watch to this JW sceptic!!! Lions....why the hell not?!!

 

[Black_Magic]

What a try by UBB againdst Toulouse! And what a match by them so far! Toulouse are lucky to be only 10-14 behind. Jauzion is definitely not the player he used to be, I think he's already lost the ball two or three times in a tackle! Picamoles on the other hand is awesome, his running is just like the All Blacks' loosies ;-)

 

[Black_Magic]

Bordeaux dismantling Toulouse, 29-10 now, 3 tries scored, flawless kicking from Lopez and stuff like winning lineout from opposite throw. I wonder if they can hold on to win it convincingly, 25 minutes remaining.

Edit: No they can't What a story, a penalty try in the 86th minute wins it for Toulouse, 34-32. Although I'm a Toulouse fan, I really feel for UBB, they deserved to win today. At least they get the losing bonus, as the smallest of consolations.

 

[Tony Manx]

Seems that that could have been the match of the week end but, personal note, good to see Montpellier up there as Galthie is a hell of a coach and with the Argies due back soon........................they will be topping the second "division" behind RCT, ST and ASM!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

good to see the armchair pundits have been silenced by Shontayne Hape last few performances, give a good player a good club and an excellent coach (Fabien Galthie ) and the good player becomes excellent!!!!! Montpellier does not sign players who are of no interest to the club, WELL PLAYED Shontayne. even got himself on the score sheet against Castres, away wins against Bordeaux-Begles, Racing this weekend and Castres at home give MHR an excellent 4th place with the next 2 games Grenoble and Mont de Marsan to come after the H Cup....

 

[Tony Manx]

Playing well is he.................hadn't noticed!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Playing well is he.................hadn't noticed!!

Maybe that's because there are worrying times at BO for Serge and Co, games not so easy to win anymore Tony, at least we did get a losing bonus point against Toulon and scored more tries than them still lost though !!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

I agree on all that but let me have my beginning of the season euphoria......there has not been a lot to be happy about considering we do not have management, direction, structure or depth of players of the necessary class!! Strange when we are woeful in attack that are attack coach is spending so much (or indeed any) time at Worcester!!

Besides, as Brucie would say in an ironic tone, Montpellier are my favourites !!!