French rugby Updates : Le café du Rugby.

bilston wrote: »

Is that even possible? Surely he would had to have had a medical carried out on him. Is it actually possible to disguise an injury that is debilitating enough to keep you out of the game for a longish period of time?

Well that's what I was wondering myself.

But maybe with a groin injury you could push through the pain for one day.

Awful disrespect of an employee.

Giteau staying at Toulon, two year extension: http://www.rctoulon.com/en/news/article/matt-giteau-prolonge/

One thing Racing should be admired for is the number of French/French Eligible players in their squad. In their 23 for Toulouse I count 15 French and 18 French eligible when you include Van Der Merwe, Le Roux and Claassen.

Toulon went on to hockey Brive: 13-53. All eight tries were scored by backs: Wulf (3), Mitchell (2), Delon (2) and 1 each for STB and Mermoz.

Never seen a French team lose so badly at home. It's tough when a player sees red but with that score they'd hardly have come close anyway.

In any case Brive look like they're in big trouble. Not only failing to get results at home but lacking bonus points and playing really really poorly. All teams should be targeting a win there.

Vital win for Castres over Oyo

Clermont 23
Toulon 19
Bordeaux 17
Racing 17
Stade F 17
Grenoble 16

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Montpellier 14
Oyonnax 11
Toulouse 10
Bayonne 10
La Rochelle 10
Castres 10

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Lyon 9
Brive 9

It's been a competitive opening to the season. No team has been useless (Lyon and Brive have both won twice) while top side Clermont have lost once.

sydneybound wrote: »

Jesus that game put me near to sleep never got going.

You could feel from the sky team that they'd obviously much prefer covering the prem then some boring French game!

Am I correct in thinking that the Sky commentators are are not actually at the games?

France squad for November:

1- XAVIER CHIOCCI – RC TOULON
2- ALEXANDRE MENINI – RC TOULON

3- GUILHEM GUIRADO – RC TOULON
4- BENJAMIN KAYSER – ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE

5- UINI ATONIO – ATLANTIQUE STADE ROCHELAIS
6- NICOLAS MAS – MONTPELLIER HERAULT RUGBY
7- RABAH SLIMANI – STADE FRANÇAIS PARIS

8- ALEXANDRE FLANQUART – STADE FRANÇAIS PARIS
9- YOANN MAESTRI – STADE TOULOUSAIN
10- PASCAL PAPE – STADE FRANÇAIS PARIS
11- ROMAIN TAOFIFENUA – RC TOULON

12- THIERRY DUSAUTOIR – STADE TOULOUSAIN (C)
13- BERNARD LEROUX – RACING METRO 92
14- YANNICK NYANGA – STADE TOULOUSAIN

15- DAMIEN CHOULY – ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE
16- CHARLES OLLIVON – AVIRON BAYONNAIS

17- RORY KOCKOTT – CASTRES OLYMPIQUE
18- SEBASTIEN TILLOUS BORDE – RC TOULON

19- CAMILLE LOPEZ – ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE
20- REMI TALES – CASTRES OLYMPIQUE
21- FRANCOIS TRINH-DUC – MONTPELLIER HERAULT RUGBY

22- MATHIEU BASTAREAUD – RC TOULON
23- WESLEY FOFANA – ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE
24- REMI LAMERAT – CASTRES OLYMPIQUE
25- MAXIME MERMOZ – RC TOULON

26- SOFIANE GUITOUNE – UNION BORDEAUX BEGLES
27- YOANN HUGET – STADE TOULOUSAIN
28- TEDDY THOMAS – RACING METRO 92
29- BENJAMIN FALL – MONTPELLIER HERAULT RUGBY

30- BRICE DULIN – RACING METRO 92

http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/historique/2014/xv_france_stage_preparatoire

Toulon are the most represented with 7 players. Rory Kockott has been called up along with Kiwi prop Uini Atonio from La Rochelle. No place for Parra or Machenaud who were both named in the France 30 group for the season, whose gametime is limited.

One player to look out for is Ollivon from Bayonne in the absence of Picamoles who is out due to illness.