French rugby Updates : Le café du Rugby.

miroslavklose

Big Nelly wrote: »

Quick question, have got in UPC so I have Setanta Sports, not the paid version, they had a French Rugby game on the other day, do they have a review show of the Top 14 on at any stage? Thanks

Yeah, it's on Monday nights I think.

Swiwi.

OK, I'd be genuinely intrigued to know which coaches would have valid claims to replace PSA? France definitely need a new coach, but I'd have no clue as to who that should be. Would France consider an international coach? Deans, Mallett, even steal Brunel from Italy?

rrpc

Swiwi. wrote: »

OK, I'd be genuinely intrigued to know which coaches would have valid claims to replace PSA? France definitely need a new coach, but I'd have no clue as to who that should be. Would France consider an international coach? Deans, Mallett, even steal Brunel from Italy?

I think Guy Noves would be a possibility. He's been making pointed comments about the French team lately.

Swiwi.

rrpc wrote: »

I think Guy Noves would be a possibility. He's been making pointed comments about the French team lately.

Yeah, but he seems to have been ignored on multiple occasions, including when PSA was appointed. Unless he declined the job once, I can't remember.

I reckon France with a decent coach could easily be RWC semi material, but at this rate they risk being knocked out by NZ (without wanting to tempt fate ) in a 1/4 final revenge at Cardiff.

pickarooney

France needs a coach with a clue and some balls, someone who won't bend to pressure and can see a plan through from start to finish.

vienne86

I think France would do well to get a SH coach, but I don't think it is in the French psyche to have a non-French coach. I think Guy Noves is a good call.

Morf

Galthie was being talked up a lot a while back.

rrpc

vienne86 wrote: »

I think France would do well to get a SH coach, but I don't think it is in the French psyche to have a non-French coach. I think Guy Noves is a good call.

Noves seems to be the only French coach who knows what he's doing. Cotter would have been a good call too, but Scotland got there first.

Buer

rrpc wrote: »

Noves seems to be the only French coach who knows what he's doing. Cotter would have been a good call too, but Scotland got there first.

A few years back, Noves was the outstanding candidate without doubt. Unfortunately, Laporte was in place for 8 years.

At this point, Noves would be one of the strongest candidates but that would be as much to do with the lack of a stand out option as opposed to his own suitability. Toulouse have gone backwards over the past year or two. They had a core of outstanding players and are struggling a bit since losing them.

I'd be interested to see how enthusiastic French fans would be to see Noves in the job. Only scoring 16 tries in a pool containing Connacht and Zebre is poor. Their form in the T14 has been much the same. It's going to go down to the wire to see if they make the top 6 and qualify for next season's European tournament.

Something tells me Galthie would be the front runner if the position became open. He seems to fit the profile that has been sought recently in terms of a top player that has retired in the not too distant past.

BoarHunter

Noves was asked to take the responsabilities by the FFR after the last WC and he declined the offer. He knows too much what are the limitations of the job. You get the players a handful of days a year, tired and more concerned about not getting injured than playing for their country. You get no help whatsoever from the clubs, and you don't really have time to build anything.

Also I think Toulouse haven't played a great fashion of rugby in a while now.

I like Galthie, Landreau and Quesada. They developed a nice brand of rugby and proved they could do so with limited teams. Galthie had Montpellier playing great within weeks after taking over the team. Quesada is showing his print on Stade Francais and is really missed in Racing. Landreau is doing great in Grenoble and his Knowledge of the forward game would be precious.

vienne86

Toulouse are certainly having a bad season, by their high standards, but I just don't think they have the players now.

rrpc

vienne86 wrote: »

Toulouse are certainly having a bad season, by their high standards, but I just don't think they have the players now.

Exactly. Noves strikes me as a pragmatic coach, he'll get the best out of what he's got rather than lament the lack.

Working with the French team would require a pragmatist with nerves of steel.

BoarHunter

rrpc wrote: »

Exactly. Noves strikes me as a pragmatic coach, he'll get the best out of what he's got rather than lament the lack.

Working with the French team would require a pragmatist with nerves of steel.

It's funny you say that because in France Noves has a big reputation to be complaining all the time

The Lost Sheep

1st v 2nd this weekend. Does anyone see Toulon beating Clermont and actually breaking Clermonts 70+ four season unbeaten home record?

pickarooney

That's not until next week.

The Lost Sheep

pickarooney wrote: »

That's not until next week.

Ah. thanks
When on superbru Biarritz have a game v Oyonnax and the Clermont game Is part of same game week and I didn't think, didn't look at date of game and assumed it was somehow this weekend even though thinking it strange with 6Ns on

pickarooney

Maybe it's the same 'calendar' week because it's the Friday night game so that's probably why it got picked up. That Biarritz match is one that was postponed last month.

thomond2006

Oyonnax won at Biarritz last night 22-24 after a late penalty from Urdapilleta. This means the battle to avoid the second relegation spot is still very tight as Oyonnax are 39, Perpignan are 42 and Bayonne are 43 but Oyonnax have a game in hand.

P_1

Crikey imagine both Biarritz and Perpignan going down this season :eek:

thomond2006

P_1 wrote: »

Crikey imagine both Biarritz and Perpignan going down this season :eek:

Axel should put in a call to James Hook!

vienne86

So, we have Clermont v Toulon this weekend - tomorrow night. Given that Toulon have Toulouse next weekend and Leinster the following weekend, I'd imagine they won't send their firsts to Clermont.

matthew8

vienne86 wrote: »

So, we have Clermont v Toulon this weekend - tomorrow night. Given that Toulon have Toulouse next weekend and Leinster the following weekend, I'd imagine they won't send their firsts to Clermont.

They indeed haven't fielded their strongest side. Freddy at 10 and Palisson starts. Should be a good win for Clermont if on their game.

BoarHunter

According to the Rugbynistere Julien Bonnaire wouldn't elude the idea of doing a come back in the national team for the world cup. That would be great news for France if the Clermont versatile Flanker keeps his level. He is still huge for Clermont.

ssaye2

Clermont: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Gerhard Vosloo, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Benoit Cabello, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Damien Chouly, 20 Thierry Lacrampe, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Regan King, 23 Daniel Kotze.




Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Alexis Palisson, 13 Rudi Wulf, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Josua Tuisova, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Steffon Armitage, 7 Virgile Bruni, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Jocelino Suta, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Xavier Chiocci.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Noirot, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Pierrick Gunther, 20 Jonny Wilkinson, 21 Theo Belan, 22 Michael Claassens, 23 Levan Chilachava.

thomond2006

Sexton not involved this weekend, Hernandez starts at 10.

damianmcr

Is the Clermont v Toulon match on any tv channel with english commentary?

pickarooney

Which game to watch, Leinster or Clermont, knowing both will win easily?

matthew8

pickarooney wrote: »

Which game to watch, Leinster or Clermont, knowing both will win easily?

Clermont definitely has a better chance of being a close game. They're 10 point favourites, Leinster are 25.

damianmcr

I want to see Clermont get beat if only to see that record gone. I dont care who beats them.

Just for the sake of HCup that if Ulster do return then it just isnt the fortress it once was.

Make sense?

thomond2006

Clermont are missing a lot of names like Toulon.

thomond2006

6-0 to Clermont so far. Toulon were close to getting a try from a cross kick, their lineout has been a major problem with two clean steals by Clermont.

sydthebeat

thomond2006 wrote: »

6-0 to Clermont so far. Toulon were close to getting a try from a cross kick, their lineout has been a major problem with two clean steals by Clermont.

Is that on tv?

matthew8

thomond2006 wrote: »

6-0 to Clermont so far. Toulon were close to getting a try from a cross kick, their lineout has been a major problem with two clean steals by Clermont.

It looked a flat pass to me a minute back, unlucky.

Good try off the turnover for Clermont. Doesn't look like Toulon's night.

matthew8

sydthebeat wrote: »

Is that on tv?

Not on British or Irish TV, but there's a French stream available.

thomond2006

Toulon have an intercept try ruled out with a forward pass. A couple of minutes later Nalaga runs in a try off a turnover. Clermont 13-0 up now.

thomond2006

Toulon turn down a 5m scrum with Cudmore in the bin for Clermont and go for a lineout. They lose the lineout. *facepalm*

They are giving Clermont a good match though: 13-6 at halftime.

matthew8

thomond2006 wrote: »

Toulon turn down a 5m scrum with Cudmore in the bin for Clermont and go for a lineout. They lose the lineout. *facepalm*

They didn't seem to know what they were doing. First they scrum it off a 5m penalty, then they get a penalty there, only one minute left and it was further infield so I reckoned they'd kick the penalty, and then they go for touch. Hard to figure out what they're thinking. Toulon should really be ahead going into the break, and dropped another try just there.

thomond2006

The Armitages are having excellent games.

thomond2006

Chiocci scores under the posts: 16-16 with under 20 minutes to go!

pickarooney

game on!

thomond2006

Fritz Lee in the bin after a clear high tackle.

matthew8

Clermont look very bad but have a chance to attack here.

thomond2006

Clermont win 22-16, Toulon's awful lineout and some missed opportunities cost them dearly.

shrapnel222

sydthebeat wrote: »

Is that on tv?

It was on setanta. Great game.

thomond2006

10 minutes gone and Stade lead Toulouse 10-5.

thomond2006

McAlister gone off with a shoulder injury. He didn't look too bad going off.

Plisson in for a try for Stade. Super match so far at Stade de France!

thomond2006

27-8 to Stade Francais at half-time, 3 tries to 1.

matthew8

From 27-5 to 27-27.

thomond2006

What a brilliant result for Toulouse!

matthew8

Fascinating day today. Montpellier beating Oyonnax 22-8 away, Toulouse earning an away draw, Bordeaux winning away to Bayonne and Metro currently beating Grenoble. So it looks like Montpellier/Toulouse solidify their playoff credentials, Grenoble seem to be dropping off while Metro and Bordeaux are waiting for any slip ups from a top side.