French rugby Updates : Le café du Rugby.

CiaranMT

Now that's just being greedy.

iroced

ray jay wrote: »

I'd be interested to hear what the reaction in France was to Toulouse's defeat to Edinburgh.

Media reaction was exaggeratively negative like French rugby real level (after a very disappointing 6N - I know no connectio but they mixed up everything :rolleyes: -) is the Amlin Cup with 4 French clubs in the semis. Clermont being "the tree that hides the forest" as we say in French... That's quite ridiculous because had Toulouse won in Edinburgh French media would be all about how great we are and how the Top 14 is the best championship in the universe with 6 teams in the European competitions semi-final.

Anyway, Toulouse is surprisingly poor at the moment. True they are paying a heavy tribute to the 6N (they lost Medard and Clerc) but that doesn't explain it all... Ah they can't always win. But I won't rule them out of the Brennus race as the Top 14 semis will be in Toulouse this year.

yimrsg

George Smith is lining up for Stade Francais at 12 against Toulon in the Challenge Cup semi final. Not sure what Cheika's thinking as he'll be up against Giteau.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7706514,00.html

iroced

Well. Top 14 is back tonight. And a few "hot" games to come regarding the current rankings... Notably Brive - Bordeaux Bègles for the relegation battle and Racing-Métro - Stade Français for the play-off.

Important game for Montpellier tonight to secure a home quarter-final.


Here's the situation and the games to come.

GW 25

04/05
20:45 - Montpellier - Biarritz

05/05
14:00 - Toulon - Toulouse
14:15 - Bayonne - Agen
14:15 - Brive - Bordeaux Bègles
14:15 - Castres - Clermont
14:15 - Perpignan - Lyon
16:15 - Racing-Métro - Stade Français

_______________

GW 26

12/05
14:30 - Agen - Racing-Métro
14:30 - Biarritz - Stade Français
14:30 - Bordeaux Bègles - Perpignan
14:30 - Castres - Bayonne
14:30 - Clermont - Brive
14:30 - Lyon - Toulon
14:30 - Toulouse - Montpellier

Wexfordboy89

came across Lesley Vainikolo`s profile page on la rocelle look at his nationality

http://www.staderochelais.com/joueur/vainikolo

you will have to translate the page into english

iroced

La Rochelle still actually battling for the promotion in TOP 14. They should qualify for the Pro D2 play off. Only thing now is will it be a home or away game.

iroced

Montpellier : 23 - Biarritz :16.
2 tries to 1.

We struggled to pass Biarritz defense and didn't play well 2 or 3 break away that could have resulted in more tries. We'll have to support Clermont tomorrow in Castres as our last game being in Toulouse it's gonna be hard to keep the 3rd/4th position for a home QF.

Action of the game was Amorosino counterattack from behind our posts that was stopped a couple of metres from Biarritz try line. Fantastic inspiration from the Argentine. It's a shame we couldn't convert it. It would have been the try of the season !

irishbucsfan

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

came across Lesley Vainikolo`s profile page on la rocelle look at his nationality

http://www.staderochelais.com/joueur/vainikolo

you will have to translate the page into english

Says English doesn't it? He's a capped English international so I dunno if that's supposed to be odd?

funky penguin

That's what I thought as well, but you actually have to hit the google translate thing.

thomond2006

Bayonne got a huge result, bonus point win at home to Agen, which puts them 5 points of Brive who lost today. Bayonne as good as safe.

iroced

thomond2006 wrote: »

Bayonne got a huge result, bonus point win at home to Agen, which puts them 5 points of Brive who lost today. Bayonne as good as safe.

Yeah, it's pretty much all done and dusted now. Bar a miraculous BPW away to Clermont while Bayonne would sink in Castres, Brive are down. Same situation for Stade Francais away to BIarritz (while Racing will play in Agen) for QF position.

The last thing left to play is the home advantage for the QF. Toulon and Castres (respectively away to Lyon and home to Bayonne) are the evident favorites for 3rd and 4th position. Unless Montpellier can win in Toulouse... I don't really expect it TBH. As Galthié said it's already an achievement to qualify for Top 14 QF after our disastrous start.

Wexfordboy89

just read that david mcgowen from la rocelle is retiring because of injuries

http://rugby-transfers.blogspot.com/2012/05/la-rochelle-announce-10-new-players-and.html

GerM

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

just read that david mcgowen from la rocelle is retiring because of injuries

http://rugby-transfers.blogspot.com/2012/05/la-rochelle-announce-10-new-players-and.html

Shame. A talented player that never really got the chance to deliver on his potential. 18 months ago he had the world at his feet. He was starting in a side in the T14 with the season just beginning but injuries really took their toll. I believe it was a few blows to the head and concussions that sealed the deal and not the long standing shoulder injuries. Going to head off to the States for a while, I believe. Best of luck to him.

Wexfordboy89

michael cheika has been sacked as stade boss

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16600/7758023/Stade-exit-for-Cheika

PhatPiggins

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

michael cheika has been sacked as stade boss

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16600/7758023/Stade-exit-for-Cheika

Would have given him another year myself. Stade were a shambles when he took over and they have been making decent progress. The problem I see for the traditional powers of Biarritz and Stade is the arrival of all the 'new money' teams. You have to really work for a playoff spot in the T14 these days.

thomond2006

Castres vs Montpellier in the first match de barrage on ESPN right now

Castres 3-0 up, Monty have missed a few kicks.

thomond2006

Castres 13-0 up

vienne86

Castres 31 Montpellier 15. Not a great match - lots of errors - and I had been looking forward to it. I thought Montpellier were pretty awful.

duckysauce

vienne86 wrote: »

Castres 31 Montpellier 15. Not a great match - lots of errors - and I had been looking forward to it. I thought Montpellier were pretty awful.

yep and the ref was muck

thomond2006

thomond2006

Racing 3-0 up and Wilkinson just missed a kickable opportunity.

thomond2006

Racing 10-0 up, Mayol is like a morgue atm.

duckysauce

Wilko does not have his kicking boots to-nite allez Racing

thomond2006

Giteau takes over the kicking and kicks 2 penalties in 5 minutes.

9-13

porterbelly

4 French players in the Toulon 15 :rolleyes:

thomond2006

What a try!!! Stunning!

Smith beats numerous Racing players and Armitage is on his shoulder to finish in the corner.

thomond2006

14-13 to Toulon with 12 to go.

thomond2006

Hernandez hits the post from a kickable penalty. That miss could be fatal.

duckysauce

thomond2006 wrote: »

Hernandez hits the post from a kickable penalty. That miss could be fatal.

he is having a good game

thomond2006

Wisniewski misses a penalty, albeit harder angle.

Toulon using up their nine lives here.

vienne86

Toulon win, but I'd say Clermont will make mincemeat of them. Better match than last night.

thomond2006

vienne86 wrote: »

Toulon win, but I'd say Clermont will make mincemeat of them. Better match than last night.

They did very well in the last 20 minutes to come back into it, Giteau in particular stepped up. Wilkinson was awful all game, if he's not nailing his kicks then he's not up to much these days.

Awful game but the winning try was unreal, Smith made lots of mistakes throughout the game but made up for it with that one searing break.

Agree with you regarding Clermont, I can only see one winner.

Judgement Day

Another walk in the park for Toulon - is there anything that this team can't do? An awe inspiring display by both sides that would be an embarrassment if produced by a JCT side. I watched the first 20 mins and the last 10 - it was more than enough and if Steffon Armitage hadn't got over for a try I might be in even worse form.

sickpuppy

Judgement Day wrote: »

Another walk in the park for Toulon - is there anything that this team can't do? An awe inspiring display by both sides that would be an embarrassment if produced by a JCT side. I watched the first 20 mins and the last 10 - it was more than enough and if Steffon Armitage hadn't got over for a try I might be in even worse form.

They couldnt beat a poor Biarritz team for silverware and will get smashed by Clermont next week.

justsomebloke

Toulon really have to stop their love affair with wilkinson if they want to win anything

Judgement Day

justsomebloke wrote: »

Toulon really have to stop their love affair with wilkinson if they want to win anything

Jonny, Armitage and now Giteau seem to be the only players on the team who appear to know what they are there for - the rest are there for the tan and the pay cheque. Truly awful stuff.

duckysauce

sickpuppy wrote: »

They couldnt beat a poor Biarritz team for silverware and will get smashed by Clermont next week.

Clermont are -4 at the mo easy money ?????:)

sickpuppy

duckysauce wrote: »

Clermont are -4 at the mo easy money ?????:)

Is it a home game for Clermont or a neutral venue?
if its a home game id lump on that alright.

duckysauce

sickpuppy wrote: »

Is it a home game for Clermont or a neutral venue?
if its a home game id lump on that alright.

Municipal Stadium toulouse

thomond2006

Judgement Day wrote: »

Jonny, Armitage and now Giteau seem to be the only players on the team who appear to know what they are there for - the rest are there for the tan and the pay cheque. Truly awful stuff.

You've hit the nail on the head there, too many 'tourists' in the squad, unfortunately Toulon have hired so many duds like Willie Mason. They avoid French players as they'll be taken away for the Six Nations, look what happened to Leicester at the start of the season when their big players were away at the RWC, they couldn't buy a win.

Jonny is the ultimate professional and doesn't know not giving 110%. Armitage grew up in Nice so effectively Toulon is his 'home' team, I'm sure it gives him immense pride to play for the club. IMO he is a dark horse to go on the Lions Tour, he'll need to get picked by England come the AIs though.

Also, from a French perspective look out for Perrick Gunther to develop over the next few seasons. He's come through the Toulon academy and is a good backrow. He'll have to leave Toulon to get more gametime however as Van Niekerk, Armitage, Lobbe, Delve and Masoe will all be there next season.

I also saw Clermont -4, there's no such thing as free money but IMO that is a cracking bet, Clermont have shipped a few injuries mind. IIRC Hines, Lee Byrne, Buttin and a few others will miss the rest of the Top14 season.

thomond2006

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7782991,00.html

Stade Montois (Mont-de-Marsan) promoted to the Top14 after winning a playoff against Pau.

thomond2006

Toulouse 9-9 Castres, 27 minutes gone.

Taco Corp

unbelievable try saving tackle from Clerc.

thomond2006

Surley wrote: »

unbelievable try saving tackle from Clerc.

amazing

I can't believe Castres are taking 3 points, it would 7 vs 5 in the backs if Castres took a scrum!

Taco Corp

how was that not a penalty try?

Toulouse down to 13

Podge_irl

Castres doing their best not to score against 13 men.

Podge_irl

Castres are just completely headless in possession.

thomond2006

Podge_irl wrote: »

Castres are just completely headless in possession.

aye

dastardly00

Neither of the two teams tonight looked like they were going to score a try.
Toulouse deserved it but Max Evans should have scored / Castres should have scored when they had a 2 man advantage.

JustinDee

Judgement Day wrote: »

Jonny, Armitage and now Giteau seem to be the only players on the team who appear to know what they are there for - the rest are there for the tan and the pay cheque. Truly awful stuff.

A privately-owned soul-less franchise. Bouj will get bored with nearly winning one day and bolt like a bat out of hell.