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Match Thread: Toulon vs Leinster Rugby, Stade Felix Mayol, 4:30 PM Irish Time, SS3
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04-04-2014 7:38pm#1|
01: Cian Healy|01: Xavier Chiocci
02: Richardt Strauss |02: Craig Burden
03: Mike Ross|03: Carl Hayman
04: Devin Toner|04: Danie Rossouw
05: Mike McCarthy|05: Jocelino Suta
06: Rhys Ruddock|06: Juan Smith
07: Shane Jennings|07: Juan Fernandez Lobbe
08: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN|08: Steffon Armitage
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09: Eoin Reddan|09: Sebastien Tillous-Borde
10: Jimmy Gopperth|10: Jonny Wilkinson CAPTAIN
11: Dave Kearney|11: David Smith
12: Gordon D'Arcy|12: Matt Giteau
13: Brian O'Driscoll|13: Mathieu Basteraud
14: Fergus McFadden|14: Drew Mitchell
15: Rob Kearney|15: Delon Armitage
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16: Sean Cronin|16: Jean-Charles Orioli
17: Jack McGrath|17: Florian Fresia
18: Martin Moore|18: Martin Castrogiovanni
19: Leo Cullen|19: Virgile Bruni
20: Jordi Murphy|20: Bryan Habana
21: Isaac Boss|21: Maxime Mermoz
22: Ian Madigan|22: Michael Claassens
23: Zane Kirchner|23: Konstantine Mikautadze
Tables, bitches
It's nearly here!! Santa Claus is coming to Toulon and he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake... especially with Wayne Barnes in the middle
Anyway I'll keep this simple and go through the the units
Front Row
Healy, Strauss, Ross v Chiocci, Burden, Hayman
I'll admit my knowledge on Chiocci is patchy, but I don't care how good the fella is, he's not better than Healy. All 4 Leinster props were part of an all-conquering Irish scrum and have the medals to prove it. Moore and McGrath's struggles in Paris aside, all 4 played their part and gained the upper hand in virtually every encounter.
Toulon are not lacking in size and Hayman is widely considered one of the most talented fat men of his generation, but parity should be the minimum expectation for Leinster here, ideally with the screw to be turned late in the game, although the actual match fitness of Leinster's returning cohort will obviously be critical.
Cronin to cause fcuking chaos on 55 minutes, you heard it here first.
Second Row
Toner, McCarthy v Rossouw, Suta
Leinster upper hand in the second row? Away in France? To Toulon? If you're reading this in Toulon I am of course taking the piss and you have nothing to fear from our middle of the road journeymen, Cullen is a 36 year old has-been and Toner never had it. Keep an eye on this battle, that is all I dare say.
Konstantine Mikautadze is on the bench for Toulon. He deserve a mention for no other reason than a name like that needs to be highlighted.
Back-row
Ruddock, Jennings, Heaslip v Smith, Lobbe, Armitage
Shít just got real.
Mouth-watering contest here, Ruddock has come on a huge amount this season, Heaslip's carrying has stepped up big time in SOB's absence, Jordi Murphy will make an impact whatever position he comes on but Toulon's backrow is skid mark worthy.
The Tullow tank will undoubtedly be missed, for my money he would have made the difference for Ireland in Twickenham, and how Leinster manage his loss could define the game. Angry Jennings will need to be a legendary pain in the arse for just one last time. On the bright side SOB and Lobbe on the same pitch at the same time could have caused the universe to implode. Every cloud.
Half-backs
Reddan, Gopperth v Tillous-Borde, Wilkinson
Gopperth will be starting his first game for well over a month and inexplicably MOC's starting 10 for the single biggest game this season didn't leave the bench at all the week before. Maybe Madigan is injured, maybe Gopperth has compromising photos of the MOC, maybe it's a stroke of genius, who knows. Hindsight is 20-20, and like any true fan I will be non-committal in advance but rest assured if it all goes catastrophically wrong I will be on the internet within minutes registering my disgust throughout the world.
Wilko deserves a mention too, an absolute legend on and off the field and seeing as it will be his last European game (see what I did there?) I wouldn't mind him having a decent game. However while he is sure to punish any Leinster indiscretions, his ability to get his backline moving can be limited while his individually running threat will do little to worry Leinster at this stage. Wouldn't hurt to send Healy down his channel once or twice either.
The haircut to make an impact at 60 mins.
Centres
D'Arcy, BOD v Giteau, Basteraud
Basta seems to love playing against O'Driscoll, and after a marauding game in Paris just a few weeks ago he will be confident even in the presence of BOD, legend and all as he may be.
Darce is just a workhorse and if at any given moment you see him doing anything but hard work, a quick check of his pulse should confirm he has moved on to the beard heaven in the sky. Giteau will provide the spark to Wilkinson's control, and he will have to be watched closely lest he be allowed to release...
Back 3
D Kearney, McFadden, R Kearney v Smith, Mitchell, Armitage
Quality all over the shop but Fitzgerald is a huge loss. I don't care what anyone says, he has not been dropped, and his potential moments of genius could have swung what might seem a lost cause. Armitage is a prick of the highest order but he is a damn fine rugby player, and it's great to see Kearney back to somewhere near his best form.
The Leinster back 3 screams kick chase (with Kirchner also waiting in the wings) and although such a gameplan may appear limited, the great field position successful kick chases provide will give Leinster the platform to launch their Leinstertainment. The kick chase is becoming another set-piece and that Leinster back 3 has it down to a fine art. Still though, if that Toulon back 3 sees the ball, watch out. Oh yeah, and Bryan Habana is on the bench.
Prediction: I've done my best to be optimistic, and I maintain that of all the teams in Europe Leinster are one of the only ones I would have any faith in winning this match, but Toulon have just so much quality all over the park, their stadium such a fortress, Leinster too unconvincing, for me to back the boys in blue. Toulon by 335
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CatFromHue wrote: »we're going to win, our pack is better than theirs.
I like that optimism even if I can't feel it!
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I can't disagree with CFH; we do have the better pack. If they had Botha, Williams and SHeridan, I'd be of the opinion that Toulon are an unassailable challenge. However, when you break it down into units, we are their match in the pack.
Healy, Strauss, Ross vs Choccy, Burden, Hayman
In Healy, we have the best loosehead in the world, quite possibly. I think he's the one Irish player that you can say there's a strong case for in that regard. His work rate along with his carrying is freakish and his scrum work has become, at worst, solid and, at best, a threat to serious opposition. Strauss is coming back to speed still and hasn't reached the heights of previous seasons while Ross is enjoying his Indian summer.
Chiocci is unknown in these parts, largely, but is a capable player; he's the type that France produce regularly and waste. But he's green and would not be in this game if others were present. Burden is Schalk Brits #2 and must be watched closely but can wobble in his throwing when I've seen him. Hayman needs no introduction. Carl Hayman is a multi-capped New Zealand international who has been widely regarded as their best ever tighthead.
At lock, we've the edge. Suta and Roussow are no slouches but they are not world beaters. They'll be more worried about us than vice versa. Rossouw's legs are not there any longer at almost 36. Suta is 31 and, ever since he was capped, his career appears to have slid backwards. He's not much in the loose but doesn't need to be with their back row and is a solid option if not spectacular. A big showing from Toner and McCarthy could have them in difficulty.
Unfortunately, that's where the edge ends. If we had SOB, it would be close to even but, as it stands, Jennings does not match up to JFL at all. If we are to match them, it will need to be with intelligence. It will need to be by outsmarting them in our positioning and support. We will not beat them in skills or pace or carrying. The referee needs to look favourably on us.
Alas, from 9-15, I see a distinct advantage to Tolon that shades anything we have in the pack. I think it will be a home win by about 6 but I have hope. We have some players that can deliver big moments and, as a team, we have more nous and experience to drag us through games by sheer belief. If we are in this game with 20 minutes left, it could happen.
Um, didn't Tox56 just do a preview... 0 -
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LeeroyJones wrote: »Might just take a look upstairs
"Is there any reason the game can't start at that time?":pac:0 -
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So, this is how Les Toulonais welcome the teams to the stadium...
And this is how they welcome the teams to the pitch...
It's essentially the Toulon Haka, but instead of being performed by 15 men on the pitch, it's performed by 15,000 people in the stadium.
Here is the translation:
Ah! We, the terrible Pilou-Pilou warriors
Pilou-Pilou!
Who come from the mountains and go out to sea
Pilou-Pilou!
With our savage wives breastfeeding our children
In the shadow of massive white coconut trees
Pilou-Pilou !
We, the terrible warriors cry out loud our terrible war song
AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !
I said: "OUR TERRIBLE WAR SONG"
AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !
Because TOULON
RED!
Because TOULON
BLACK!
Because TOULON
RED AND BLACK!
I'm not sure if there's a more intimidating place to play rugby or set of fans more intimidating than that.
Soak it up boys, use it as your motivation. The louder they shout at the start of the game, the quieter and more unnerving it will be for the Toulon players when you silence them.0 -
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So, this is how Les Toulonais welcome the teams to the stadium...
And this is how they welcome the teams to the pitch...
It's essentially the Toulon Haka, but instead of being performed by 15 men on the pitch, it's performed by 15,000 people in the stadium.
Here is the translation:
Ah! We, the terrible Pilou-Pilou warriors
Pilou-Pilou!
Who come from the mountains and go out to sea
Pilou-Pilou!
With our savage wives breastfeeding our children
In the shadow of massive white coconut trees
Pilou-Pilou !
We, the terrible warriors cry out loud our terrible war song
AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !
I said: "OUR TERRIBLE WAR SONG"
AAAARRRGGGGHHHHH !
Because TOULON
RED!
Because TOULON
BLACK!
Because TOULON
RED AND BLACK!
I'm not sure if there's a more intimidating place to play rugby or set of fans more intimidating than that.
Soak it up boys, use it as your motivation. The louder they shout at the start of the game, the quieter and more unnerving it will be for the Toulon players when you silence them.
So wait, not content with buying every player who has ever laced a pair of boots, they annex a pacific island tradition and hire in some mouri lookin fella to scream at them. Have they an ounce of originality to them at all?
What'll be next? They'll probably buy the rights to bread of heaven and sweet chariot, and give cindy lauper residency to sing America the Beautiful at half time, as young local men charge across the field waving red flags while being chased by bulls.
God I hope Leinster smash these vacuous new money parasites.0 -
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