French rugby Updates : Le café du Rugby.

Buer

Grenoble losing at home 15-3 to Clermont after 30 minutes. Their defending is just awful. Chouly went past their full back before offloading Nakaitaci for the second try. He didn't go through. He didn't step him. He just changed direction about 5 yards away from him and the full back just fell off him.

If they don't get the finger out, they go into their last two games only 1 point off relegation and they've worse points difference than the two teams beneath them (although they've won more games than Bayonne which is the first method of separation).

Buer

And Fofana with the third try. Just went through two tackles from halfway and under the sticks. Farrell on the bench. He can't be any worse than those on the field, hopefully he gets on soon.

Jackman is going to be under serious pressure.

EDIT: And Farrell gets on due to injuries.

vienne86

Thought Grenoble had got a try back there, but just a penalty......went for the corner and got it over the second time. Clermont still very much in control of this game, so a very serious situation for Jackman and co.

Buer

vienne86 wrote: »

Thought Grenoble had got a try back there, but just a penalty......went for the corner and got it over the second time. Clermont still very much in control of this game, so a very serious situation for Jackman and co.

Important to get the try just before the break but given the way that the French BP system works, Clermont will be eager to keep the foot down and score tries if Grenoble do get another one back.

Jackman is under contract until 2017 but if they're relegated, I can't see him being retained.

thomond2006

This is a much changed Clermont side as well.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

This is much changed Clermont side as well.

It is but some big strike runners still in the backs and it's in open play where Grenoble are so weak defensively. Fofana and Nakaitaci are p*ssing through them for fun.

vienne86

Grenoble have Toulouse at home next weekend - can't see them winning that - and then Lyon away - Lyon are gone, so Grenoble should be able to pick up points there - they'll be badly needed.

Nice to see UBB pick up a win today - stops the rot.

Buer

vienne86 wrote: »

Grenoble have Toulouse at home next weekend - can't see them winning that - and then Lyon away - Lyon are gone, so Grenoble should be able to pick up points there - they'll be badly needed.

I'm not so sure. Lyon didn't roll over for La Rochelle today, holding them to a draw. In their last T14 game, I'd say they'll throw the kitchen sink. They've only lost 4 of 12 at home this season, to date.

19543261

Every Grenoble player who drops or knocks on the ball needs to get a % pay-cut.

Buer

Abendanon cruises through for another try. Shame as Grenoble were right on the ASM try line before knocking on. Glad Abendanon got it after showing the flair to try and run from his own line got them into Grenoble's half.

All too easy again, though.

19543261

I enjoy mediocre Top 14 games more than mediocre Rabo games.

vienne86

Parra on now for Clermont to keep the pressure on.

vienne86

That's a try for Grenoble.....Clermont bonus point no on now unless they can answer that.

vienne86

Fofana romps in for an opportunistic try, so bonus point advantage restored.

Buer

Ugh. Chris Farrell throws an intercept try to put the nail in the coffin and ensure they're not going to get a losing BP.

vienne86

Buer wrote: »

Ugh. Chris Farrell throws an intercept try to put the nail in the coffin and ensure they're not going to get a losing BP.

I don't think they were ever going to get the LBP. Poor performance from Grenoble. It's going to be a right scramble to sty in the Top 14.

thomond2006

Montpellier and Bordeaux are back in contention for a playoff spot now. La Rochelle's draw probably makes them safe (that's a run of 8 matches undefeated) while the other relegation contenders all failed to pick up points.

La Rochelle 52
Brive 48
Grenoble 48
Castres 47

---

Bayonne 47
Lyon 37

W25:
Grenoble vs Toulouse
Bordeaux vs Bayonne
Castres vs Brive
La Rochelle vs Racing Metro

W26:
Bayonne vs La Rochelle
Brive vs Stade Francais
Lyon vs Grenoble
Racing Metro vs Castres

vienne86

thomond2006 wrote: »

Montpellier and Bordeaux are back in contention for a playoff spot now. La Rochelle's draw probably makes them safe (that's a run of 8 matches undefeated) while the other relegation contenders all failed to pick up points.

La Rochelle 52
Brive 48
Grenoble 48
Castres 47

---

Bayonne 47
Lyon 37

W25:
Grenoble vs Toulouse
Bordeaux vs Bayonne
Castres vs Brive
La Rochelle vs Racing Metro

W26:
Bayonne vs La Rochelle
Brive vs Stade Francais
Lyon vs Grenoble
Racing Metro vs Castres

Very hard to call. I too would say La Rochelle are safe enough, but Lyon could be joined by any one of Grenoble, Bayonne, Castres and Brive.

Last day will be fascinating, when all matches are played at the same time. I listened to it on the radio in a hire car en route from an airport in France a couple of years ago - they had commentators at every game, and a group in studio, and it was brilliant. I'd love to listen in to that again in two weeks' time on the internet radio, but have no idea which station it would be on. Anyone any ideas?

Buer

I can see any of 10th, 11th, 12th or 13th being relegated at this point.

Toulouse are playing for a home semi final and won't be taking that game lightly at all but I don't think Bayonne will get anything in Bordeaux. They might well beat La Rochelle though who could be one of the few sides on the final day who have nothing to play for.

I can see Brive having to rely on bonus points and hoping one of the others loses their last two games.

You'd have to say that Grenoble and Brive are the most likely to lose both their remaining games out of those 4 though.

vienne86

That Castres v Brive match will be a biggie.

thomond2006

In the event of a tie, the first differentials are the head-to-head results.

1. The number of points earned
2. The points differential
3. The tries differential

P_1

Biarritz look like spending another year in the D2 after today's last round

thomond2006

P_1 wrote: »

Biarritz look like spending another year in the D2 after today's last round

All over, they are in ProD2 again next season. Perpignan in the semi-finals.

Buer

Racing blowing a huge opportunity at home to Stade Francais. Parisse was red carded in the 18th minute and they're losing 28-19 in the last 10 minutes.

CatFromHue

P_1 wrote: »

Biarritz look like spending another year in the D2 after today's last round

I've been loosely following their results and it looked like they really struggled away from home, quelle surprise!

roundymac

CatFromHue wrote: »

I've been loosely following their results and it looked like they really struggled away from home, quelle surprise!

Is Eddie O Sullivan still involved with them?

CatFromHue

roundymac wrote: »

Is Eddie O Sullivan still involved with them?

He's the head coach

vienne86

So Racing blew that - home quarter final down the tubes.

aimee1

Buer wrote: »

Racing blowing a huge opportunity at home to Stade Francais. Parisse was red carded in the 18th minute and they're losing 28-19 in the last 10 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVTil0xZS-0


a terrible decision. One racing player held him back which caused the collision with a player in the air.

Buer

aimee1 wrote: »

a terrible decision. One racing player held him back which caused the collision with a player in the air.

Hard to tell from that angle but he appears to lift his leg on the way down which does a lot of the damage. It that's the case, he has to go.

total former

aimee1 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVTil0xZS-0


a terrible decision. One racing player held him back which caused the collision with a player in the air.

Well, the Ulster fans will be glad to see someone else getting a red...

But that looks harsh. Parisse seems to have his eyes on the ball the whole time.

aimee1

Buer wrote: »

Hard to tell from that angle but he appears to lift his leg on the way down which does a lot of the damage. It that's the case, he has to go.

i think being dragged back as he jumped might have caused that though.

Buer

aimee1 wrote: »

i think being dragged back as he jumped might have caused that though.

It might have but I'm not sure to that extent where his leg comes up that high/far when his other leg is on the ground. Parisse for all his good points has a slight petulant streak in him that has raised its head once or twice.

With that said, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the disciplinary judge the red card sufficient and no further suspension.

Neoulous

thomond2006 wrote: »

All over, they are in ProD2 again next season. Perpignan in the semi-finals.

What a stressful team they are to support! Couldn't do the job at home to Albi last week and had to pull an extraordinary game today in Agen. We were behind all the game. Came back twice but both times to offer easy penalties to Agen and the lead back. But we finished better than them and a 48m last min penalty gave us the win. From out of top 5 (with Biarritz losing in the last min) to third place and a home semi vs... Agen. Phew...

sydneybound

Neoulous wrote: »

What a stressful team they are to support! Couldn't do the job at home to Albi last week and had to pull an extraordinary game today in Agen. We were behind all the game. Came back twice but both time to offer easy penalties to Agen and the lead back. But we finished better than them and a 48m plast min penalty gave us the win. From out of top 5 to second place and a home semi vs... Agen. Phew...

Unbelievable last couple of games. After losing to Albi at home I thought they lost their chance as playing Agen at home was a tough ask. Now a home semi which will be huge. They are a side that should never have been relegated. Really hope they go up although if they do out of the two promoted sides I can only see Pau with all their new signings staying up. That side La Rochelle went up via the playoffs and after looking doomed for most of the season aren't that far off the playoff positions it's that tight!

vienne86

sydneybound wrote: »

Unbelievable last couple of games. After losing to Albi at home I thought they lost their chance as playing Agen at home was a tough ask. Now a home semi which will be huge. They are a side that should never have been relegated. Really hope they go up although if they do out of the two promoted sides I can only see Pau with all their new signings staying up. That side La Rochelle went up via the playoffs and after looking doomed for most of the season aren't that far off the playoff positions it's that tight!

I'd love Perppignan to go back up - it's where they should be.

Neoulous

sydneybound wrote: »

Unbelievable last couple of games. After losing to Albi at home I thought they lost their chance as playing Agen at home was a tough ask. Now a home semi which will be huge. They are a side that should never have been relegated. Really hope they go up although if they do out of the two promoted sides I can only see Pau with all their new signings staying up. That side La Rochelle went up via the playoffs and after looking doomed for most of the season aren't that far off the playoff positions it's that tight!

vienne86 wrote: »

I'd love Perppignan to go back up - it's where they should be.

Yeah we should have never been relegated in the first place. But no one at the club seemed to realise how our situation was getting worse and worse last year :rolleyes:...

Now we have this home semi so we don't have the right to bottle it. We have to go to Ernest-Wallon and play Mont-de-Marsan or Albi for a top14 spot.

But I'm not yet reassured about how our club is managed...

thomond2006

Neoulous wrote: »

Yeah we should have never been relegated in the first place. But no one at the club seemed to realise how our situation was getting worse and worse last year :rolleyes:...

Now we have this home semi so we don't have the right to bottle it. We have to go to Ernest-Wallon and play Mont-de-Marsan or Albi for a top14 spot.

But I'm not yet reassured about how our club is managed...

Losing your first choice 10 and your top tryscorer to injury was what screwed Perpignan IMO.

Neoulous

thomond2006 wrote: »

Losing your first choice 10 and your top tryscorer to injury was what screwed Perpignan IMO.

That's true. But can't explain alone how we went from playing HCup to getting relegated in a couple of months.

The real issue for USAP is the (in)competence of our head. The way they managed our 2 finals in a row with the long-awaited Brennus was catastrophic. Brunel actually said it tacitly. I remember, before our second final, how much he was repeting that this was a key game to mark the history of our club. No one followed his footsteps at the head of the club :eek: :rolleyes:... And in the end we lost it to Clermont and it looked like we didn't care... We almost looked blasé :rolleyes:...

And last year, I actually know it from a young player (who played a couple of games this year but mainly for the "espoirs" team) who's studying with me this year, no one realised that we could go down... until it actually happened. Such unprofessionalism is not acceptable. We can complain all we want about our lack of cash power now but if we don't rearrange the head structure of the club and become more professional, we'll go nowhere!

nc6000

Will Nicolas Mas return if USAP get back to the Top14?

iroced

nc6000 wrote: »

Will Nicolas Mas return if USAP get back to the Top14?

I can't see this happening. And I think it'll be a mistake from USAP. They have to continue building a new squad with a mid to long term plan.

The only thing I could see him do if he wants is get in their staff and coach the forwards.

iroced

thomond2006 wrote: »

Montpellier and Bordeaux are back in contention for a playoff spot now. La Rochelle's draw probably makes them safe (that's a run of 8 matches undefeated) while the other relegation contenders all failed to pick up points.

La Rochelle 52
Brive 48
Grenoble 48
Castres 47

---

Bayonne 47
Lyon 37

W25:
Grenoble vs Toulouse
Bordeaux vs Bayonne
Castres vs Brive
La Rochelle vs Racing Metro

W26:
Bayonne vs La Rochelle
Brive vs Stade Francais
Lyon vs Grenoble
Racing Metro vs Castres

Unless Lyon don't give a damn about their last game at home (which I doubt) I think Grenoble will join them in ProD2.

Castres will beat Brive. I can even see them getting the TBP.
Brive should beat SF on the last GW since the latter (home to Montpellier next week and I can't see us getting anything there) will have nothing to play for and will have all their focus on their 1/4f (particularly since it has been 6 years they haven't made it to the top6 :eek: !!!).
Bayonne should beat La Rochelle.
And I can see La Rochelle beating Racing.

---

And for the top6.

Oyonnax 58
Racing 58

---

Montpellier 55
Bordeaux 55

W25:
Oyonnax vs Lyon
La Rochelle vs Racing Metro
Stade Français vs Montpellier
Bordeaux vs Bayonne

W26:
Toulon vs Oyonnax
Racing Metro vs Castres
Montpellier vs Clermont
Toulouse vs Bordeaux

I see Oyonnax beating Lyon which will see them through.
Racing could well lose in La Rochelle. And Bordeaux should beat Bayonne. Montpellier will lose in Paris. SF will look to secure their home 1/4f.
So it'll be between Racing & Bordeaux and on the last game I can't really see Racing losing home to Castres even if Castres play for their survival. And I can't see Bordeaux winning away to Toulouse. So top6 should not change.


Actually, now that I remember the discussion we had on the ERC topic about Toulon winning thanks to their big money, Racing is a perfect example to demonstrate it's not that simple.

vienne86

iroced wrote: »

Unless Lyon don't give a damn about their last game at home (which I doubt) I think Grenoble will join them in ProD2.

Castres will beat Brive. I can even see them getting the TBP.
Brive should beat SF on the last GW since the latter (home to Montpellier next week and I can't see us getting anything there) will have nothing to play for and will have all their focus on their 1/4f (particularly since it has been 6 years they haven't made it to the top6 :eek: !!!).
Bayonne should beat La Rochelle.
And I can see La Rochelle beating Racing.

---

And for the top6.

Oyonnax 58
Racing 58

---

Montpellier 55
Bordeaux 55

W25:
Oyonnax vs Lyon
La Rochelle vs Racing Metro
Stade Français vs Montpellier
Bordeaux vs Bayonne

W26:
Toulon vs Oyonnax
Racing Metro vs Castres
Montpellier vs Clermont
Toulouse vs Bordeaux

I see Oyonnax beating Lyon which will see them through.
Racing could well lose in La Rochelle. And Bordeaux should beat Bayonne. Montpellier will lose in Paris. SF will look to secure their home 1/4f.
So it'll be between Racing & Bordeaux and on the last game I can't really see Racing losing home to Castres even if Castres play for their survival. And I can't see Bordeaux winning away to Toulouse. So top6 should not change.


Actually, now that I remember the discussion we had on the ERC topic about Toulon winning thanks to their big money, Racing is a perfect example to demonstrate it's not that simple.

Isn't it some acheivement by Oyonnax to get in to the top 6? Small town, small club, and as I recall, they barely hung on to stay up in the top 14 on last day of last season.

Buer

Michalak has broken his hand so is out of the run in as well as a doubt for the RWC squad now too (which he may not have been involved in anyway).

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

Michalak has broken his hand so is out of the run in as well as a doubt for the RWC squad now too (which he may not have been involved in anyway).

I'm not sure he would have getting much pitch time for Toulon in any case. Since his poor performance against Leinster Giteau is now preferred at 10 with Mermoz or JMH at 12.

iroced

vienne86 wrote: »

Isn't it some acheivement by Oyonnax to get in to the top 6? Small town, small club, and as I recall, they barely hung on to stay up in the top 14 on last day of last season.

In fairness, if USAP was better managed, they should have gone down last season. But for 3 pts better in their H2H result they sent the catalans down.

And no this is not "some" achievement, this is a "huuuge" achievement to make a top6 finish . Incredible season from them. The only team they haven't beaten (yet, they play in Toulon on GW26, who knows ...) this year is Toulon, the triple European Champion. They have 2 home defeats only (to both ERC finalists) but managed to beat Clermont in Marcel Michelin :eek:. They love Paris , beat both clubs twice :eek:! Fantastic stuff from them and a lesson to many top14 sides.

thomond2006

Toulouse have won their last five including away to Toulon (Marseille) and Stade Francais.
Grenoble have lost their last four and three of those were at home.

There's only one winner if form means anything and Lyon away is a lottery as has been suggested here.

The Lost Sheep

Biarritz and Bayonne potential merger hitting the news again. Will it go happen this time?

sydneybound

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Biarritz and Bayonne potential merger hitting the news again. Will it go happen this time?

It's been more or less confirmed. Fans from both sides not happy. Management will give the example of Bordeaux and Begles merging but not sure if that'll work. Also EOS will be out of a job, he's not wanted in the new set up. Can't say I'm suprised as he didn't even get Biarritz in the playoffs which should be a sackable offence.

its_phil

Sexton on the bench for Racing this weekend. Dropped?