French rugby Updates : Le café du Rugby.

vienne86

thomond2006 wrote: »

Big pressure on Oyonnax today at home to Toulon as Pau earned an upset win at Montpellier yesterday. Oyonnax are in the relegation zone and 10 points from Pau.

Oyonnax lost spectacularly. Now ten points between them them and Pau. Very hard to see them making up that sort of ground.

pickarooney

David Smith to get an international call up?

vienne86

pickarooney wrote: »

David Smith to get an international call up?

Yes, acccording to Wikipedia! Don't know anything about him so just looked him up. Didn't Teddy Thomas get injured yesterday?

thomond2006

vienne86 wrote: »

Oyonnax lost spectacularly. Now ten points between them them and Pau. Very hard to see them making up that sort of ground.

When Piri Weepu is your marquee signing you know you're in trouble.

stadedublinois

pickarooney wrote: »

David Smith to get an international call up?

It would seem he can't as he played 7s for New Zealand. But the FFR say they have a letter from the IRB from 2013 saying he could play for France. It will be confirmed tomorrow.

iroced

Montpellier were so pathetical yesterday I don't even want to talk about it :rolleyes:. Cannot make head nor tail of this team. I never rated Jack White. I still don't.

But fantastic game in Grenoble where Racing managed to get the TBP in a 39-35 thriller. SF, UBB & ASR got great important wins too. Ditto Clermont that regained some needed confidence thanks to a thrilling finish away to Castres.

This year, the league is not as open than last year. Agen & Oyonnax are in ProD2. And I believe top5 won't change. So suspense remains for the 6th team to make the play-off and the 7th position in case Racing or Toulon win ERCC.

Oyonnax made too many changes after Urios departure. Got a synthetic pitch to try and develop a more attacking rugby but I think it was a mistake. Their strength was partly (mainly?) in their restrictive game associated with an admirable fighting spirit on their heavy snowy muddy pitch for a good half of the season. They haven't been half as strong at home as they were last year. And I'm convinced their new pitch doesn't help since their opponent don't feel anymore on hostile ground.
Add to that their hugely unexpected management of ERCC for such a "small" club. Too many changes. Too many new stuff to deal with. It's a real pity since what they did last year was a lesson to many Top14 clubs (Montpellier & Castres above all).

thomond2006

Poor David Smith at Marcoussis:

Take a look at @FaitbienGalthie's Tweet: https://twitter.com/FaitbienGalthie/status/701510198599483398?s=09

Pink Fairy

David Smith? Hiw could he have let this happen? Everybody knows that 7" s tie you to a country, did he think people wouldn't notice?!

thomond2006

Pink Fairy wrote: »

David Smith? Hiw could he have let this happen? Everybody knows that 7" s tie you to a country, did he think people wouldn't notice?!

I don't believe for a second that a professional player who has an agent either wouldn't know this or wouldn't be advised of it. FWIW David Smith was named in a 70 odd player 'watch list' by Philippe Saint-Andre a year or two ago. There's some kind of codology going on.

iroced

thomond2006 wrote: »

When Piri Weepu is your marquee signing you know you're in trouble.

Piri Weepu was fired from Oyonnax and signed for... wait for it... Saint Sulpice La Pointe :pac::pac::pac:. 6th level !!! It's a small town between Toulouse and Albi.

shrapnel222

iroced wrote: »

Piri Weepu was fired from Oyonnax and signed for... wait for it... Saint Sulpice La Pointe :pac::pac::pac:. 6th level !!! It's a small town between Toulouse and Albi.

lovely place to retire :pac:

CMOTDibbler

Birch won't be happy with the defence for this try. Talk about being caught napping. :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUPDU6ENjxI

shrapnel222

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Birch won't be happy with the defence for this try. Talk about being caught napping. :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUPDU6ENjxI

lovely bounce as well!

Buer

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Birch won't be happy with the defence for this try.

The defence at Grenoble is something of an elephant in the room. It's abysmal, year after year. If Jackman could sort that out, they'd actually be in the shake up for ECC rugby. As it stands, I would think Jackman's job is safe thanks to the brutal showings of those in the relegation spots.

iroced

Wow :eek:!!! What a finish in Ernest Wallon where Montpellier were comfortably ahead 28-12 3 tries to none and let Toulouse back in the game 28-24 (2T).

We looked like finishing better. 31-24 and 2 penalties to seal the game (first one on the halfway line but second one in the 79th min 35 m to the right) but we missed both and Toulouse counter-attacked from the second one from under their own posts and eventually scored an 87th min try. Fortunately for us Doussain seemed too exhausted to succeed in scoring the (easy) conversion. Lucky escape for us. Tchale Watchou was an idiot in receiving a YC that cost us 1 pt (I mean the LBP Toulouse got - it could very well count in GW26).

Ah well. We're a strange ugly team to follow under White. It's a good win. An absolute key one after the ridiculous game home to Pau last week. But we'll have to be more consistent to hope for anything this season. And I do hope we'll target the Challenge Cup to try and grab a trophy (though away to Sale won't be an easy QF).


Grenoble & Castres respectively beating SF & Racing away put themselves back in contention for the top 6 too. That' ll probably be the only exciting race this year in top14 since I feel Toulon & Racing will share the top2 and Oyonnax & Agen will go down.

pickarooney

Great to see an increase in away wins this season.

vienne86

Top 14 has nothing like the same excitement this year. Last year the last day of the season had a lot hanging on it, but we already know who will be demoted this year, and the top two slots seem settled as well.

pickarooney

vienne86 wrote: »

Top 14 has nothing like the same excitement this year. Last year the last day of the season had a lot hanging on it, but we already know who will be demoted this year, and the top two slots seem settled as well.

The rugby has been better, from what I've seen. That Grenoble Racing game, the Pau match and Montpellier Toulouse for some recent examples.

thomond2006

It's looking very likely that Oyonnax and Agen will go down. Pau are nine points clear and with their squad I can't see them being caught. Stade Francais are only two points ahead of Pau on 26, it's been a nightmare season for them. Many of their big name signings seem to be injured: Will Genia is gone for the season after knee surgery and Willem Alberts has been out.

JPNelsforearm

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's looking very likely that Oyonnax and Agen will go down. Pau are nine points clear and with their squad I can't see them being caught. Stade Francais are only two points ahead of Pau on 26, it's been a nightmare season for them. Many of their big name signings seem to be injured: Will Genia is gone for the season after knee surgery and Willem Alberts has been out.

I dont understand Stade signing Genia, he's been done since 2011 and injury prone. Investing in a guy looking to pay his pension whilst there are holes in the squad isnt a smart move.

vienne86

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's looking very likely that Oyonnax and Agen will go down. Pau are nine points clear and with their squad I can't see them being caught. Stade Francais are only two points ahead of Pau on 26, it's been a nightmare season for them. Many of their big name signings seem to be injured: Will Genia is gone for the season after knee surgery and Willem Alberts has been out.

Stade lost again today - away to Pau. They really are in bits - 12th in the table. Montpellier have just beaten Castres; Montpellier are 6th and Castres 7th, and tonight's result puts a bit of daylight between them - 7 point gap.

errlloyd

Toulose messed up again. Scored a last minute try under the posts to equal 21-21 with Brive. Then the conversion (from about 8m out) got charged down.

phog

ROG extends his contract with Racing

Cian Tracey ‏@CianTracey1 1m1 minute ago

Ronan O’Gara has signed a contract extension with Racing 92 until 2019. @IndoSport

Clegg

Fair play to ROG. Racing are obviously happy with the work he's doing.

And tbf it's better for him to get his education over there, surrounded with more experienced coaches than trying muddle your way through a mess of your own making with no experienced voice to guide you out ala Foley.

vienne86

phog wrote: »

ROG extends his contract with Racing

Delighted it seems to have worked out so well for ROG and the family.

shrapnel222

brutal head on collision this weekend :eek:

Journeyman_1

shrapnel222 wrote: »

brutal head on collision this weekend :eek:

Warning, there is no replay. There's 5 minutes I'm not getting back!

shrapnel222

Journeyman_1 wrote: »

Warning, there is no replay. There's 5 minutes I'm not getting back!

true! should've mentioned, but when it's like that, you should hover over the bar to see where the next piece of action is coming from. No idea why they let it play on so long.

pickarooney

It's the ProD2. That's the highlights package.

Journeyman_1

shrapnel222 wrote: »

true! should've mentioned, but when it's like that, you should hover over the bar to see where the next piece of action is coming from. No idea why they let it play on so long.

Does not work on mobile

pickarooney

Toulouse draw yet again.

thomond2006

Lyon announce their recruitment for next season's return to the Top14, which will be their third attempt to remain there in recent years. The arrivals include Alexandre Menini, Virgile Bruni and Delon Armitage from Toulon.

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/transferts/2014/transferts-lyon-le-lou-officialise-l-arrivee-de-12-recrues_sto5320420/story.shtml

pickarooney

Frees up a space for Stuart Hogg

thomond2006

pickarooney wrote: »

Frees up a space for Stuart Hogg

Goromaru is replacing Felon.

pickarooney

Is he not replacing Halfpenny?

thomond2006

pickarooney wrote: »

Is he not replacing Halfpenny?

No Halfpenny is staying for at least one more season.

thomond2006

Freddy kicked a last minute penalty to earn a win for Toulon at Racing. Toulon had sent their seconds so it's a huge result for them.

Racing 92:
15 Brice Dulin, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Rémi Talès, 9 Maxime Machenaud,
8 Chris Masoe, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Julien Brugnaut

Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Khatchik Vartanov, 18 Manuel Carizza, 19 Antonie Claassen, 20 Xavier Chauveau, 21 Johan Goosen, 22 Albert Vulivuli, 23 Martin Castrogiovanni

Toulon:
15 Quade Cooper, 14 Delon Armitage, 13 Théo Belan, 12 Tom Taylor, 11 James O'Connor, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Éric Escande,
8 Charles Ollivon, 7 Gregory Annetta, 6 Virgile Bruni, 5 Kote Mikautadze, 4 Thibault Lassalle, 3 Manasa Saulo Romumu, 2 Jean Charles Orioli, 1 Alexandre Menini

Replacements: 16 Iuri Natriashvili, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Andrew Cramond, 19 Jocelino Suta, 20 Kylian Jaminet, 21 Bryan Habana, 22 Anthony Meric, 23 Mohamed Boughanmi

Pink Fairy

Some feckin seconds!

thomond2006

Stade Francais' miserable season continues. Hockeyed 36-3 at Toulouse in the 'Clasico'.

vienne86

thomond2006 wrote: »

Stade Francais' miserable season continues. Hockeyed 36-3 at Toulouse in the 'Clasico'.

Well it looks like they have just written off the season, knowing they are at least safe enough to survive in the Top14 for next season.

pickarooney

Lyon officially crowned champions of ProD2

31 points clear and +423 points difference and it's only the 3rd of April.

iroced

7th win (4th away!!!) in a row in top14 for Montpellier :eek:! Up to 2nd in top14. Add to that the away win in Sale in the Amlin!


Something has changed.

Altrad claimed he/they had to readjust quickly after the messy ending with Galthié. Hence the South African team mostly wished by White. It took time for them to get used to life in here and apparently all the work done in the first part of the season is starting to pay off now... I'm still not a fan of White's gamestyle but must acknowledge it's working great so far. Bismarck Du Plessis could well be the best transfer ever for the club!

Hopefully it continues and we play the Amlin to win it. We need trophies!

CMOTDibbler

iroced wrote: »

7th win (4th away!!!) in a row in top14 for Montpellier :eek:! Up to 2nd in top14. Add to that the away win in Sale in the Amlin!


Something has changed.

Altrad claimed he/they had to readjust quickly after the messy ending with Galthié. Hence the South African team mostly wished by White. It took time for them to get used to life in here and apparently all the work done in the first part of the season is starting to pay off now... I'm still not a fan of White's gamestyle but must acknowledge it's working great so far. Bismarck Du Plessis could well be the best transfer ever for the club!

Hopefully it continues and we play the Amlin to win it. We need trophies!

One of my most favourite cities in France. Every time I've been there, it has been a pleasure. The only drawback is that it's too close to my least favourite place in France: Perpignan.

pickarooney

Perpignan has fantastic beaches at least.

CMOTDibbler

pickarooney wrote: »

Perpignan has fantastic beaches at least.

And that's very true. But I think I'd drive across the border into Spain tbh.

shrapnel222

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

One of my most favourite cities in France. Every time I've been there, it has been a pleasure. The only drawback is that it's too close to my least favourite place in France: Perpignan.

there are some pretty grim cities in France, i would not have Perpignan as one of them :eek:

iroced

Perpignan county is one of the nicest in our country. Nice beaches (sandy and rocky) with still some wild ones (only equivalent on the other side of the border is the Cap Creus natural park) and mountains close by (2h drive and you're above 2000m high). Not to mention the favourable weather :cool:. Only downside for me is it's further away from the great Alps than my hometown .

JPNelsforearm

iroced wrote: »

7th win (4th away!!!) in a row in top14 for Montpellier :eek:! Up to 2nd in top14. Add to that the away win in Sale in the Amlin!


Something has changed.

Altrad claimed he/they had to readjust quickly after the messy ending with Galthié. Hence the South African team mostly wished by White. It took time for them to get used to life in here and apparently all the work done in the first part of the season is starting to pay off now... I'm still not a fan of White's gamestyle but must acknowledge it's working great so far. Bismarck Du Plessis could well be the best transfer ever for the club!

Hopefully it continues and we play the Amlin to win it. We need trophies!

I'd say Montpellier would beat whatever Bok lineup is put out against Ireland. Serious spine in that team

iroced

JPNelsforearm wrote: »

I'd say Montpellier would beat whatever Bok lineup is put out against Ireland. Serious spine in that team

Yeah... not sure how I like it to be honest... At least now I understand why they did it since Altrad explained it clearly.

thomond2006

Silvere Tian has been suspended until 30th-June-2017 and Oyonnax have been fined €10,000 for Tian's meltdown at the referee in the match against Grenoble. As he turns 36 in July that's almost certainly the end of his rugby career.