Top 14 - Match Day 2

[Feicarsinn]

The Top 14 continues this Friday evening when Bordeaux Begles welcome Perpignan. In the other noteworthy games of the weekend early pace setters Biarritz travel to Agen and Montpellier look to bounce back from their first round defeat again last year's beaten semi finalists Clermont. Racing host Toulon in a clash of two of the wealthiest clubs in European and champions Toulouse host newly promoted Mont-de-Marsan.
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Friday:

V

Bordeaux Begles vs Perpignan @ Stade Andre Moga, 20:50



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Saturday:

V

Racing Metro vs Toulon @ Stade Olympic Yves Du Manoir, 15:00

V

Bayonne vs Stade Francais @ Stade Jean Dauger, 18:30

V

Castres vs Grenoble, Stade Pierre-Antoine, 18:30

V

Montpellier vs Clermont Auvergne @ Stade Yves Du Manoir, 18:30

V

Toulouse vs Mont-de-Marsan @ Stade Ernst Wallon, 18:30

V

Agen vs Biarritz @ Stade Armandie, 20:40



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All times given are local.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Racing against Toulon is going to be the game of the season. Score to be of the form 3n-3m.

 

[Feicarsinn]

It's going to be a classic all right. I'm looking forward to the Bayonne Stade game this week. I have high hopes for Stade this year, it's about time they got their act together.

 

[Tony Manx]

It's going to be a classic all right. I'm looking forward to the Bayonne Stade game this week. I have high hopes for Stade this year, it's about time they got their act together.

Not sure why Racing v Toulon should have the potential of a "classic" in view of the Racing inability to put away Agen until very late but should be the game of the round.

Bayonne v Stade strikes me as a game between two sides with bags of talent in each side but neither have shown themselves to be a "team" which accounts for their poor performances in the league of late.

BO to remain at No 1..................

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think the "classic" comment was sarcastic. We both agreed it is going to be the most boring game of the round.

I have mixed feelings about SF. On one hand, what Tony says is right, but on the other hand, they are the only ones that are making a serious attempt to attract new people to rugby. And they get most of the hating from the people outside of Paris. This actually makes that they have to pay more to the players to make them come to Paris, and thus they have one of the biggest payrolls for a squad that definitely would be cheaper elsewhere.
Bayonne just threw a century of tradition away last season. Personnally, I don't think their long term place will be in the top 14...

 

[Tony Manx]

I think that most people in France dislike.......I feel perhaps "hate" is an overused and too strong a word!!......all things Parisien due to their arrogance and attitude so probably, if Stade are disliked in France it is because of this rather than anything else.

I have also found that the French do not like the nouveau riche clubs such as Toulon who are trying to buy their way to success which I find hard to equate with teams like ST and ASM with their corporate backing and wealth!! I agree with you about Bayonne and have long considered a merger in the Basque country will be the only way to ensure longevity of top rugby in the Basque country particularly against the money sides that will be competing for the top 6 this season

I am a "little" old fashioned and do not like the concept of turning rugby matches into "entertainment" with the raucous music being played at every opportunity, the changes of venues and times, the horses and dancers etc but then again I cannot stand the music on television when golf scores appear either........................I am sure that it all appeals to some but I am there to enjoy the rugby!!

 

[BZHopenside]

I do like how many of the French teams have little brass bands in the stands. Really adds to spectacle while not seeming pretentious.

 

[dudeabides]

Stade Francais and Biarritz Olympique are my fav's hope they pull through while they are both away to 0 and 1 clubs this week.

 

[BZHopenside]

Stade Francais and Biarritz Olympique are my fav's

Somehow, I suspect they're your favorite teams for the same reasons I support them.

 

[dudeabides]

Hmmm, you could be onto something there...

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Lavalla was a very good surprise last season.

 

[Tony Manx]

Lavalla was a very good surprise last season.

He was to me as never heard of him!! Looked him up for any other interested ignoramus'................

Scott LaValla (born July 4, 1988 in Olympia WA) is an American rugby union player. LaValla plays at lock for Stade Français in the Top 14.
Scott first started playing rugby at age 16. He attended North Thurston High School in Lacey, WA. He went on to play for the Budd Bay Barbarians U-19 team and then the Pacific NW Loggers U-19.[1]​
LaValla played his club rugby for Dublin University Football Club until signing for Stade Français in the Summer of 2011. He was elected Dublin University Club Captain for the 2010â€"2011 season and captained the side to a 31-22 win in the annual Dublin Universities Colours match, over University College Dublin R.F.C..[2]​ LaValla studied Philosophy and Political Science while at Trinity College Dublin. The IRFU introduced the annual club rugby sevens tournament during the 2010â€"2011 season. LaValla was the winning captain for DUFC.[3]​
Scott also represented the Ulster Ravens during the 2009-10 season.

 

[DonBilly]

I do like how many of the French teams have little brass bands in the stands. Really adds to spectacle while not seeming pretentious.

It's rather specific to South-West clubs where the Banda tradition was imported from their close neighbour Spain. Stade Français have two bands in the stadium when they play in Stade de France.

 

[Tony Manx]

Biarritz team to play Agen

Synaeghel Heguy Gomez Kodela Thion Taele Lund (Magnus) Lakafia Lauret
Lesgourges Barraque Brew Traille (c.) Gimenez Ngwenya Balshaw
Subs - Genevois Barcella Lund (Erik) Dubarry Peyrelongue Baby Burotu Van Staden

Probably the strongest teams BO can put out in absence of Haylett-Petty, Gray, Harry and Yach (all injured) and Bosch (Argentina) and should prove good enough away to Agen but feel it will be a much closer game than last week and an offensive bonus point would be a surprise.................win by 4 points? Be interesting to see how Barraque goes at 10 in the continued absence of Berquist who should be back in training on Monday......!!!

 

[dudeabides]

In an ongoing match, Biarritz scored the opening try by their right winger, Ngwenya, to take an 0-7 early lead away to Agen.


Here are some... brief... recaps of the earlier matches:

A late Jonny Wilkinson penalty was enough to give Toulon a 23-21 win away at Racing Metro on Saturday.

The result means Toulon are now two from two in this season's Top 14 after overcoming Perpignan last weekend. Wilkinson and Jonathan Wisniewski traded penalties and it was Racing Metro who crossed the line first with Virimi Vakatawa going over. Matt Giteau soon struck back for Toulon and the two teams went into the break locked at 13 apiece.

It was the home side who started the second 40 the better with Antoine Battut scoring but Giteau got Toulon back in the game with his second score of the match. But it was that man Wilkinson who will get the headlines with his late penalty enough to give Bernard Laporte's side the win.

Top 14 Orange champions Toulouse survived a scare against new boys Mont-de-Marsan to eventually prevail 37-22 at home on Saturday. Mont-de-Marsan led 19-17 at half-time but the experience of the Top 14 giants paid off as they managed to secure the four-try bonus point win. Tries from Jean-Baptiste Poux, Vincent Clerc, Virgile Lacombre and Louis Picamoles got Toulouse over the line with Jean-Baptiste Dubie going over for the visitors.

Elsewhere, Clermont Auvergne fell 13-8 to Montpellier in the Stade Yves du Manoir. A drop-goal from Francois Trinh-Duc along with Pierre Bernard's try and the boot of Benoit Paillaugue was enough to get them over the line with Wesley Fofana's going over for Clermont.

Bayonne recorded their first win of the season with a 24-11 win over Stade Francais. Jacques-Louis Potgeiter scored all of their 24 points with Sergio Parisse going over for the Parisians. And Castres brought Grenoble back down to earth - after they triumphed last week against Bordeaux - with a 30-13 victory. Antonie Claassen, Jan Bornman and Pedrie Wannenburg went over for the home side with Wannenburg also receiving a red card late on for two yellows.

On Friday evening Bordeaux-Begles overcame Perpignan 26-22 for their first victory of the season. It was a ill-tempered affair with the referee showing four yellow cards in the 80 with Perpignan also getting a penalty try. Bordeaux's sole try came through Andrew Mailei.

http://www.espnscrum.com/france-top-14-2012-13/rugby/story/168888.html

 

[Tony Manx]

That try was the highlight of a very tight and quite boring match!! First half stats show the ball in play just 16 minutes out of 40......and second half was no different. Although BO did not look like they would lose, they were far from convincing with their old faults of kick off's and indiscipline to the fore.

Agen will cause a few sides problems again this term with a solid pack that played as one, a very good driving maul and hard work at the breakdown. Not sure there was sufficient good ball for either side to be able to judge their attacking competence. Balshaw had a very good game at 15 whereas Traille had a shocker until he managed a very, very limp drop goal that required a TMO to determine it had crept over!!

A win is a win and away win is gold............................top for a second week (jointly now with ST though)!!

 

[Black_Magic]

The yellow cards are pouring down like rain in Top14 so far this season. Did I miss something and it was turned into a competition in which the team with most sin binned players win?

 

[Tony Manx]

The yellow cards are pouring down like rain in Top14 so far this season. Did I miss something and it was turned into a competition in which the team with most sin binned players win?

There has been no rain in the Top 14 this season?!!! You have to remember the standard of "reffing" (apart from Poite) is quite poor in the Top 14 and they are under pressure to try and show they are improving. Consequently, they issue cards to make themselves feel better and also at times where decent and good refs will control the game and the players in a better and more professional manner!

 

[Draggs]

Steffon Armitage is a beast. Must be the third best home nations-qualified openside.
Certainly a potential Lions tourist.

 

[gaston le gaff]

If you think that is excessive, yesterday Beziers v Brive ProD2 2 reds after 10mins both captains, then 4 yellows to follow both teams finishing with 13 a side. Plus several handbags throughout the match, things never change at Beziers. Brive came out winners 20-27. and look good to come back into TOP 14, which is brill as they have great cheese and the best steak in France in Brive look forward to a Brive v Montpellier next season + La rochelle for the seafood but there i have my doubts as they lost at home first game of he season.