Top 14 Semi Finals

[Big Ewis]

Anyone going up to lille for the Semi's?

nah, it's kinda too up North from where I am.

I support Montypellier and they will be TOP 14 CHAMPIONS.!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

I have come out in support of BE....................

 

[gaston le gaff]

Merci Tony the truth and only the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Anyone going up to lille for the Semi's?

theres a good chance but its bloody miles to Lille, could catch a lift on the Presidents plane :!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

theres a good chance but its bloody miles to Lille, could catch a lift on the Presidents plane :!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any tickets left?

 

[Big Ewis]

In hindsight, how downright strange is it neither Toulouse nor CLERMONT passed through the quarters ?!!!...it's actually Racing and Castres who advance....it didn't hit me until I read that headline for some article earlier.....as the matches happen it takes a while to tame down all the activity, and put the latest happenings in perspective.

I support Montypellier and they will be TOP 14 CHAMPIONS.!!!!!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Any tickets left?

We always get a quota whatever happens but they will be like gold dust some will have to restart the AR** Licking others will be ok, depends on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice to see true Montypellier supporters on this thread (B E)
for example!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[goodNumber10]

We always get a quota whatever happens but they will be like gold dust some will have to restart the AR** Licking others will be ok, depends on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice to see true Montypellier supporters on this thread (B E)
for example!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really? I was thinking of trying to pick up a couple for the Montpellier game.

Won't bother then.

 

[Big Ewis]

Nice to see true Montypellier supporters on this thread (B E)
for example!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hmmmm, yes....delightful.......

I support Montypellier and they will be TOP 14 CHAMPIONS.!!!!!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

So Monday morning and 2 press training days this week, then off to Lille on Thurs.....
The preparation time has been magnificent and Montpellier have no excuses, another 4 days of good work a little trip "up North" and everything is ready for Sat afternon.

 

[lynam1104]

I propose Toulon Racing is canceled in favor of Lonzerti and Boudjellal throwing money at each other.

 

[gaston le gaff]

I purpose Toulon Racing is canceled in favor of Lonzerti and Boudjellal throwing money at each other.

sounds like an idea but!!!!!!!!!!! it will go on longer than a Cricket Test match and be equally as boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! even if there is a result they will still both be loaded at the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

I propose Toulon Racing is canceled in favor of Lonzerti and Boudjellal throwing money at each other.

well yeah but in that case Toulon won't get to do what they would under normal circumstances: win both the biggest tournaments in Europe the same year.

gaston, look, we have a special boy amongst our ranks who only loves Montypellier as much as he does chocolate:


So Fufu Ouedraogo could be playing still next weekend, although declared unfit from that thigh injury. What a beautiful semi-final. Toulon Racing is going to be ugly but intense, and this but this one is just so beautiful in theory. I'm not expecting 5 tries each or anything, but just the perfect balance of a few big names, average players playing really well for their team, and brilliant coaching.
So Talès against François Trinh-Duc, the 10 matchup - hopefully PSA will be watching this one and opening his eyes wide, although at this point it's not like he doesn't understand FTD's quality, he just for some reason won't do anything about it...

Oh and gaston, I propose, in fair play (of course, always...) that since you're so thoroughly positive about our precious, beloved team Montypellier's chances here in the 1/2, that you ought to refer to Castres as "the Castre-ators" all the way til the end of their season, however far they make it, would they somehow live to prevail in their next encounter...
and if you don't feel up to it reading this right now, I suppose your confidence in dearest Montypellier isn't all that after all.......

I support Montypellier and they will be TOP 14 CHAMPIONS.!!!!!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Castre-ators, hows that, even changing their name is not going to help them but anything to keep you APPY AND SMILING!!!!!!!!!!! They are still going down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The photo is it in Doha?? and is it family or friend???
obviously a young man who knows all about rugby and who are the Kings of this magical sport he will go far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes Fu Fu trained today!!!!!!!!!! its all part of the plan!!!!!!!!!! but the press were invited today and tomorrow so obviously they cant hold back and they must tell the World ( poor misguided fools) and therefore the plan is working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more news tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

yeah but I'm saying IF they win, you should call them that. Such is the deal, the challenge I propose to you to test your faith in motherly Montypellier.
Nah, he's just a random big mac fan I found online...thought it was half funny...posted it.

I support Montypellier and they will be TOP 14 CHAMPIONS.!!!!!!!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

even if he is only a Big Mac Boy it is obviously he knows who to support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As Castre-ators will not win and their season will be over Sat afternoon i will rise to the occaision and give them credit all this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FrenchFan]

I take the main points being growing management within the club and there is no one to replace him and can see why you say that and that it also works or has worked to a point. I would quote Liverpool as a prime example where the "boot room" ethos brought manager after manager and continued success but then................it has been years since they won anything of significance!

Biarritz is another that believes that anyone who has played for the club has a right to a job at the club and that an ex player is preferential to anyone else and look what happened to us!

Great players such as Servat or Bru do not necessarily make good trainer/managers and I do not think that players should become first team coaches/trainers without a period away from the club to learn their trade where they do not have to deal with men they have been playing with only a few months previously. You can be too close to players and perhaps this is what is wrong with them at the moment?

I do take you point that there should be a suitable capable alternative but if he dropped dead he would have to be replaced and there is no point just keeping him on that basis whilst the club disappears down the tube (which could happen)!

No major change of staff next seaon. Looks like Deylaud might enlisted and work with the staff next season, his name's been circulating for a while. Won't be a revolution for sure!

 

[gaston le gaff]

At the end of the day Toulouse are still a great club even though this season has been a tad unusual for their likings. The major problem i think is that Toulouse are not any worse its just there are lots of teams that have got a whole lot better, massive improvement throughout the TOP 14. Where as for years Toulouse were heads above everybody else all of a sudden there is a massive catch up, foreign signing bigger budgets, better run clubs, there are mant facets of improvements with many clubs, but this is just a timely reminder for Noves and his crew that maybe a few sutle changes are to be made within the infrastructure of the club while keeping the same coaching staff for next season. Civil war will not be breaking out around Ernest Wallon, maybe just things will be done slightly differently..............

 

[welshglory]

The thing about Toulouse is they don't seem to play with much intensity most of the time. Their pack is enormous but so is most of the Top 14's, so they can't use that unless they're playing against smaller teams (budget wise and size).
Toulon, Clermont play with huge intensity as well as physicality, this is why they can beat the top Heineken Cup teams where they can't outmuscle their opponents. Montpellier haven't worked this out and Castres are just a Top 14 side. Racing will probably improve in the next few years the way Toulon did although their recruitment isn't as effective as Toulon's was.
Their backplay is very stale, they just use ex factor players to make something happen. Which Clermont also does but they play with pace and physicality all across the team. With guys like Fickou, Mccalister (who is a bloody 12), Fritz, Huget, Medard they should do a lot better there.

I admire Toulouse but i think they're a bit arrogant and i think Noves hasn't moved with the times.

I think Flood will help a lot next year if.... Noves will let him run the backline and help with attack structure. If Noves just says no im the coach and you play how i say then nothing will change. He's a proper fly half unlike Skrela, Mccalister and Beauxis.... To be fair though France just doesn't produce fly halves full stop, to say that the Top 14 is the reason is disingenuous. I guess there just aren't enough good 10's enough around the world to come to the top 14 until these years (for another thread)... and theoretically there should be a huge increase in the standard of their play there.

I do agree they haven't declined but i don't think they've actually been that impressive anyway.

 

[FrenchFan]

At the end of the day Toulouse are still a great club even though this season has been a tad unusual for their likings. The major problem i think is that Toulouse are not any worse its just there are lots of teams that have got a whole lot better, massive improvement throughout the TOP 14. Where as for years Toulouse were heads above everybody else all of a sudden there is a massive catch up, foreign signing bigger budgets, better run clubs, there are mant facets of improvements with many clubs, but this is just a timely reminder for Noves and his crew that maybe a few sutle changes are to be made within the infrastructure of the club while keeping the same coaching staff for next season. Civil war will not be breaking out around Ernest Wallon, maybe just things will be done slightly differently..............

after 2 QF we're kind of a long way from disappearing into a black hole! From the moment Biarritz had lost the full backing of their sponsor the
writing was on the wall for them. Not such problem here as the club has secured more funding from a heavyweight.

Im all for change. As said before bring in a specialist defense coach and/or forwards specialist from NZ to beef up Noves staff. They need outside input.

Not sure what Deylaud's job will be exactly but that could be a start. I think the bigger change in staff will come in a few years as Noves engineers his own succession. When he goes that'll be the big change. Not now.

the bigger changes now coming are from elsewhere:

1. The club no longer seats at LNR which says something about the widening gulf btw the club & league boss

2. They are going to hire more foreigners to deal with les doublons - looks like Cory Flynn the AB hooker will be here next year. More to come!

3. They will be less Toulousain available for selection as the club won't play ball any longer with the powers that be