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French rugby Updates : Le café du Rugby.

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Comments

  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,217 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    iroced wrote: »

    Next week tonight's 2 "losers" will meet in Aimé Giral for a critical priceless USAP - BO. Damn the loser !

    Damn the loser is right. It doesn't look good for Biarritz at all now. Lyon, Brive, and Bayonne all have a game or games in hand on them. Their home record isn't great and they've still to play Racing, Stade, and Clermont.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 146 ✭✭Lapsed Catholic


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    Damn the loser is right. It doesn't look good for Biarritz at all now. Lyon, Brive, and Bayonne all have a game or games in hand on them. Their home record isn't great and they've still to play Racing, Stade, and Clermont.

    Imagine the bragging rights in the Basque country if Biarritz go down? Bayonne were once the kingpins only to be usurped by Biarritz. Will the wheel turn again? Not much sympathy for Serge if it happens.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    Yeah. Importantissimissimus victory for USAP tonight. Deserved win too. USAP were strong on the basics and exploited well the Basque YC (stupid one too: how come he was hoping to get away with taking the ball at the back of a progressing maul while the ref had warned them on the multiplication of their fouls?). Biarritz lacked almost everything tonight. So many mistakes (knock-on, line-out not found, possession lost), a lack of intensity/agressivity, no stand-out leader on the pitch. Their only hope is that their list of fixtures is not so bad with 5 home game sout of the last 8. But in fairness they don't deserve to stay in Top 14 this season...

    Last week, Bayonne won a critical game against Stade Francais. Could have been a turning point in the season.

    And tomorrow, Bayonne, Brive & Lyon play at home. If they all get something out of their games, it'll be another blow on Biarritz sore heads ...


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    Imagine the bragging rights in the Basque country if Biarritz go down? Bayonne were once the kingpins only to be usurped by Biarritz. Will the wheel turn again? Not much sympathy for Serge if it happens.


    Don't underestimate Serge B


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    iroced wrote: »
    Yeah. Importantissimissimus victory for USAP tonight. Deserved win too. USAP were strong on the basics and exploited well the Basque YC (stupid one too: how come he was hoping to get away with taking the ball at the back of a progressing maul while the ref had warned them on the multiplication of their fouls?). Biarritz lacked almost everything tonight. So many mistakes (knock-on, line-out not found, possession lost), a lack of intensity/agressivity, no stand-out leader on the pitch. Their only hope is that their list of fixtures is not so bad with 5 home game sout of the last 8. But in fairness they don't deserve to stay in Top 14 this season...

    Last week, Bayonne won a critical game against Stade Francais. Could have been a turning point in the season.

    And tomorrow, Bayonne, Brive & Lyon play at home. If they all get something out of their games, it'll be another blow on Biarritz sore heads ...


    Surprised iroced, you didn't mention the 'refs homer :D


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    iroced wrote: »
    Yeah. Importantissimissimus victory for USAP tonight. Deserved win too. USAP were strong on the basics and exploited well the Basque YC (stupid one too: how come he was hoping to get away with taking the ball at the back of a progressing maul while the ref had warned them on the multiplication of their fouls?). Biarritz lacked almost everything tonight. So many mistakes (knock-on, line-out not found, possession lost), a lack of intensity/agressivity, no stand-out leader on the pitch. Their only hope is that their list of fixtures is not so bad with 5 home game sout of the last 8. But in fairness they don't deserve to stay in Top 14 this season...

    Last week, Bayonne won a critical game against Stade Francais. Could have been a turning point in the season.

    And tomorrow, Bayonne, Brive & Lyon play at home. If they all get something out of their games, it'll be another blow on Biarritz sore heads ...

    You mean stumbled across the line despite dominating


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    Imagine the bragging rights in the Basque country if Biarritz go down? Bayonne were once the kingpins only to be usurped by Biarritz. Will the wheel turn again? Not much sympathy for Serge if it happens.



    Biarritz Olympique Pas Basque :p


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    4PP wrote: »
    Surprised iroced, you didn't mention the 'refs homer :D

    Well, true that the first catalan try shouldn't have been allowed (there's a "obstruction" (is that the correct word?) from a catalan player on a basque defender).
    But the score was already 15-6 and USAP was within their numerical superiority advantage period. I don't think it would have changed the game a lot. The second try is valid and in the last 10 min with the numerical advantage on their side Biarritz didn't do anything right so being down 25-6 or 20-6 would have been the same thing I believe.

    What I found really cheeky is Lagisquet reaction at the end putting quite some important blame about the result on the referee. When you think about the amount of times Biarritz benefitted from clear home advantage (recently remember the Basque derby)... there's a good expression in French for that "c'est l'hôpital qui se fout de la charité" :D (is it the equivalent of "the pot calling the kettle black" ?)
    4PP wrote: »
    You mean stumbled across the line despite dominating
    I'm not sure I get what you're talking about...:o

    I just meant that a Biarritz defeat combined with a Bayonne victory could see a trend reversal between the progression/ranking of both teams ;).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 146 ✭✭Lapsed Catholic


    4PP wrote: »
    Biarritz Olympique Pas Basque :p

    Not sure what that refers to but BOPB were founded in 1913 after the merger of Biarritz Stade and Biarritz Sporting Club rugby teams.

    Aviron Bayonnais were founded in 1904.

    Without getting involved in local squabbles I was told that the Basque has 2 favourite places San Sebastian (Donostia) and Bayonne (Baiona) with Biarritz only arriving as a town in 1854 after Napoleon III built a palace.

    Bayonne have long begrudged the upstarts from nextdoor their sucess.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    iroced wrote: »
    I'm not sure I get what you're talking about...:o

    I was referring to them (Bayonne) making a meal of it. They could have won handsomely but they made life hard for themselves.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    4PP wrote: »
    Biarritz Olympique Pas Basque :p

    @ Lapsed Catholic


    On the wall outside the stade there is the sign "Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque"

    Bayonne have always disputed this moniker because as far as they are concerned they are the REAL Basques & BO have no right to add "Pays Basque" to their name.

    So a few years back a "commando" of Bayonne supporters stole the "Y" from the sign, which left it reading "Pa s Basque" ie not basque.


    Major incident between the two clubs etc etc, the usual if you like.

    After a while the "Y" was returned but the name has stuck :D.

    Honestly, there are times relations between the two clubs are more surreal than a scene from the Life of Brian! :P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,822 ✭✭✭Morf


    Not sure what that refers to but BOPB were founded in 1913 after the merger of Biarritz Stade and Biarritz Sporting Club rugby teams.

    Aviron Bayonnais were founded in 1904.

    Without getting involved in local squabbles I was told that the Basque has 2 favourite places San Sebastian (Donostia) and Bayonne (Baiona) with Biarritz only arriving as a town in 1854 after Napoleon III built a palace.

    Bayonne have long begrudged the upstarts from nextdoor their sucess.

    Donosti is really really nice. I'd like to visit Biarritz too sometime.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    Wow :eek: ! Quite a dramatic day in Top 14 especially at the bottom of the table.
    • Lyon losing everything in the last min against Racing after an epic comeback. What a pity! They really deserved better. Their game in hand at home to Brive will be critical!
    • Bayonne getting a late try with touchline conversion and resisting to Clermont multiple attacks for 3-4 min over the regulation 80 to finally grab the 2 pts from the draw.
    • Brive scoring a deserved second try in the last min and coming back for the draw against Castres... but unfortunately failing to convert it and just getting the LBP consolation.
    • Toulon scoring a late try with touchline conversion too to grab the draw against Stade Francais in the Stade de France (not good news for me as a Montpellierain :p).
    • Montpellier getting a late try (with a little bit of luck on the penalty kick leading to the line-out which resulted in the successful maul) and resisting the last attacking phases from a doughty Begles-Bordeaux team which got the LBP as a consolation.
    • Agen getting what they thought was a late try for the LBP in Ernest-Wallon but... unfortunately for them video showed that the hooker dropped the ball inches before the try line...

    Jeez just writing this summary was epic and tiring :D. There was quite some time since we'd seen such a dramatic gameweek.




    In the end, Toulouse is a solid leader 17 points clear off the 3rd place :eek: !!! which basically mean that they secured a top 2 position i.e. they'll be in the semi-final again but with a lot more comfort then in the recent years.
    Clermont 8 pts behind is their only "challenger". It's probably a good news for both these teams with H Cup & 6 Nations perspectives coming soon.


    Then we have Toulon, Castres, Montpellier and the 2 parisian teams fighting for 4 places. Toulon & Castres have a little advantage on Montpellier for the home QF positions. SF & Racing follow a little bit more behind.


    In mid table, Begles-Bordeaux & Agen should secure their place in Top 14.


    And, finally, the battle against relegation should be more epic than ever. Perpignan (31), Brive (29), Bayonne (29), Biarritz (25), Lyon (24) with Lyon & Brive having a game in hand between eachother in Lyon. There will be some very tense and dramatic head to head games between these teams.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Bayonne have probably been the disappointment of the year in terms of recruitment.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    I think I understood tonight all the frustration you Irish supporters sometimes feel about how your national team has been playing under Kidney recently.

    Montpellier game tonight was absolutely terrible :mad:. We spent the whole game (even while Toulon had one man out) kicking back the ball to Toulon backs. We almost never tried to pass the ball and go forward. We played like a stupid bunch of brainless chicks (they don't even deserve the term chicken as they didn't even try to run), that's all :mad:.
    Clearly we came to Mayol aiming for the LBP. What an ambition :rolleyes: ! And of course when you play "petites bites" (I let you translate this popular French expression by yourself :p) like that you always get punished and rightly so.
    Anyway nothing to take from that game, maybe the only "good" thing was the defense, but we knew that and when you come only to defend it's the least that you do it well !
    That's incredible how we can look like a harmless bunch of half-wit rough guys when Trinh-Duc is absent... That's actually worrying for the future... :(


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Allez la horde sauvage!


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    iroced wrote: »
    I think I understood tonight all the frustration you Irish supporters sometimes feel about how your national team has been playing under Kidney recently.

    Montpellier game tonight was absolutely terrible :mad:. We spent the whole game (even while Toulon had one man out) kicking back the ball to Toulon backs. We almost never tried to pass the ball and go forward. We played like a stupid bunch of brainless chicks (they don't even deserve the term chicken as they didn't even try to run), that's all :mad:.
    Clearly we came to Mayol aiming for the LBP. What an ambition :rolleyes: ! And of course when you play "petites bites" (I let you translate this popular French expression by yourself :p) like that you always get punished and rightly so.
    Anyway nothing to take from that game, maybe the only "good" thing was the defense, but we knew that and when you come only to defend it's the least that you do it well !
    That's incredible how we can look like a harmless bunch of half-wit rough guys when Trinh-Duc is absent... That's actually worrying for the future... :(

    Totally agree, they were a disgrace to the jersey. Particuarilly when you know how well they CAN play, even without TinDuck!


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    Allez la horde sauvage!

    "Horde Sauvage" is right! icon13.gif

    They represent every negative element of professionnel rugby :cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 779 ✭✭✭padraig.od


    Anyone watching Clermont v Toulouse? Excellent game.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,761 ✭✭✭pappyodaniel


    padraig.od wrote: »
    Anyone watching Clermont v Toulouse? Excellent game.

    any stream?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,599 ✭✭✭✭CIARAN_BOYLE


    padraig.od wrote: »
    Anyone watching Clermont v Toulouse? Excellent game.
    Clermont are running away with it 23 point gap now


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,976 ✭✭✭profitius


    Decent game. The atmosphere and intensity was there but the quality was lacking. Both teams missing players though.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    Butin could really become some player if he continues progressing like that !

    Clermont has a very strong team. They showed it during the WC but the young guys seem to have found perfectly their place in this team. When you think that they have Parra-Rougerie-Fofana-Malzieu with Les Bleus (+ Debaty & Bonnaire for the forwards). They have some squad and an impressive "striking" force.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    iroced wrote: »
    Butin could really become some player if he continues progressing like that !

    Clermont has a very strong team. They showed it during the WC but the young guys seem to have found perfectly their place in this team. When you think that they have Parra-Rougerie-Fofana-Malzieu with Les Bleus (+ Debaty & Bonnaire for the forwards). They have some squad and an impressive "striking" force.


    I was terrified he would be called up the the French XV, he is really excellent both in attack & defense. Amazing to think he fell through almost all the cracks & wasn't destined for a professionnel career

    They have chosen Poitrofart, who am I to complain?

    Mind you Chabal only came to rugby via drink. Thats another story but i've got it seeing as he's from down my way :D

    Allez les Crestois :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    Great game in Aimé Giral yesterday. I was invited in a suite so could enjoy the game with premium finger food and champagne biggrin.gif.

    Anyway, good come back from Perpignan in the second half after a pretty poor first one Porical missing 2 easy penalties putting them under pressure. Strange thing is both teams scored a try while down to 14 men. USAP is still alive and getting the draw at the last min was crucial. It keeps their dynamic of getting points at each game for 3 games in a row now. Next game away to Clermont is gonna be tough from that perspective though. And the next home game against Bayonne will be VITAL !

    Montpellier helped them a bit by beating Bayonne without letting them the LBP despite messing up the game completely 15 min to the end (it actually could have cost us the victory): Bayonne got a YC and while we were clearly on top and comfortably ahead (32-19) we chose to kick a penalty instead of going to score a try to try and get the WBP. I don't know who decided this stupid decision but he should be burned naked in the middle of Place de la Comédie biggrin.gif. Because as a result of this loser attitude, Bayonne came back in the game and Huget scored a magnificient (though a little fortunate) 80 m try from a genius inspiration. Anyway we finally secured the win but this WBP we didn't (even try to) get could be critical come the end of the season...

    Especially when Castres played a fantastic game in Toulouse only losing by 7 points. They lead for most of the game but Toulouse scored 2 tries in the last 10 min to get away with the win. Cracking game !

    Racing struggled to get a second tough victory in a row. In spite of all the recent messing at the club between players and staff, they're still in good position for HC & play-off place. Stade Francais too after a WBP victory over Lyon which seems to condemn the latter to go back down in Pro D2.

    A good second half with 2 tries got Clermont a tough victory in Agen and a 11 pts margin over Toulon. I think they pretty much secured a top 2 spot by now.

    Finally Biarritz got an important second victory in a row (without the WBP this time but still). 2 home games = 9 points. Yachvilli being responsible for... let's say 8.5 of these 9 pts... Blanco's influence is a disgrace to sportsmanship (he's probably the only one capable of dictating the national coach who he can take and who he can not ... rolleyes.gif) but in the end it's probably a good thing to keep at top level such a historical rugby place as Biarritz (even if up to now this year they don't especially deserve it).


    & now ALLEZ LES BLEUS !!! biggrin.gif


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    iroced wrote: »
    Great game in Aimé Giral yesterday. I was invited in a suite so could enjoy the game with premium finger food and champagne biggrin.gif.

    Anyway, good come back from Perpignan in the second half after a pretty poor first one Porical missing 2 easy penalties putting them under pressure. Strange thing is both teams scored a try while down to 14 men. USAP is still alive and getting the draw at the last min was crucial. It keeps their dynamic of getting points at each game for 3 games in a row now. Next game away to Clermont is gonna be tough from that perspective though. And the next home game against Bayonne will be VITAL !

    Montpellier helped them a bit by beating Bayonne without letting them the LBP despite messing up the game completely 15 min to the end (it actually could have cost us the victory): Bayonne got a YC and while we were clearly on top and comfortably ahead (32-19) we chose to kick a penalty instead of going to score a try to try and get the WBP. I don't know who decided this stupid decision but he should be burned naked in the middle of Place de la Comédie biggrin.gif. Because as a result of this loser attitude, Bayonne came back in the game and Huget scored a magnificient (though a little fortunate) 80 m try from a genius inspiration. Anyway we finally secured the win but this WBP we didn't (even try to) get could be critical come the end of the season...

    Especially when Castres played a fantastic game in Toulouse only losing by 7 points. They lead for most of the game but Toulouse scored 2 tries in the last 10 min to get away with the win. Cracking game !

    Racing struggled to get a second tough victory in a row. In spite of all the recent messing at the club between players and staff, they're still in good position for HC & play-off place. Stade Francais too after a WBP victory over Lyon which seems to condemn the latter to go back down in Pro D2.

    A good second half with 2 tries got Clermont a tough victory in Agen and a 11 pts margin over Toulon. I think they pretty much secured a top 2 spot by now.

    Finally Biarritz got an important second victory in a row (without the WBP this time but still). 2 home games = 9 points. Yachvilli being responsible for... let's say 8.5 of these 9 pts... Blanco's influence is a disgrace to sportsmanship (he's probably the only one capable of dictating the national coach who he can take and who he can not ... rolleyes.gif) but in the end it's probably a good thing to keep at top level such a historical rugby place as Biarritz (even if up to now this year they don't especially deserve it).


    & now ALLEZ LES BLEUS !!! biggrin.gif


    VENDU-TRAITRE-POURRI!!!!!!!!!! et tu oses dire "allez les bleus"????????

    Tu defends le gros Merde qui est Serge B??????


    Je ne suis pas français mais la c'est le pompom!

    Translation= I'm not french but that is disgracefull! typical bloody frog btw!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,386 ✭✭✭✭DDC1990


    4PP wrote: »
    VENDU-TRAITRE-POURRI!!!!!!!!!! et tu oses dire "allez les bleus"????????

    Tu defends le gros Merde qui est Serge B??????


    Je ne suis pas français mais la c'est le pompom!

    Translation= I'm not french but that is disgracefull! typical bloody frog btw!
    To be fair, Biarritz Rugby supporters are fantastic.

    Been to a good few of their games, in the Aguilera and in Donastia, and they have been brilliant atmospheres and great craic.

    Would be a travasty to see them go down, whatever you think about Serge Blanco.

    They really have gone off the rails with some of their signings however.

    They had a period of signing English has-beens... or never was'.
    Balshaw, Lund and Eirinle!

    Far cry from the glory days of 2006.

    Traille, Lievermont (not the crazy one, his brother), Brusque, Bobo, Dusatoir, Harinordoquy, Betsen, Yachvili, Thion.

    Some team.

    Really hope they stay up.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    4PP wrote: »
    VENDU-TRAITRE-POURRI!!!!!!!!!! et tu oses dire "allez les bleus"????????

    Tu defends le gros Merde qui est Serge B??????


    Je ne suis pas français mais la c'est le pompom!

    Translation= I'm not french but that is disgracefull! typical bloody frog btw!

    You misunderstood and misinterpreted me completely mate ;). By the sentence you put in bold I meant exactly what DDC1990 said.

    Biarritz deserve to go down this year from what they showed up to now. But my total disapproval of fat Blanco's attitude won't translate in animosity towards Biarritz club (players, staff, supporters).

    Biarritz has given great players to the French team and for example today Harinordoquy was probably our best man on the pitch against England. Lagisquet (Biarritz coach) has never refused to try and help France staff despite Biarritz awkward position in Top 14.

    The only disgrace in Biarritz is Blanco who thinks he is God in terms of rugby in France.

    A little fast to generalise from a misunderstood statement isn't it ;) ?



    - Edit -

    I understand better now your other post in the France-England thread ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,092 ✭✭✭CiaranMT


    This game must have been a belter:



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,592 ✭✭✭GerM


    Biarritz's revival continues. 15-14 win at home to Clermont, really ground out the win.

    Bayonne deserve to go down. Perpignan, who are poison this year, are thumping them 45-9 currently. Rokocoko, Phillips, Huget, Boyet, Tialata, Flavell and Heymans are all playing. Brive and Biarritz both winning which will leave them 6 points adrift with only 4 games left. I wonder what the situation is going to be for all those stars if and when they're relegated.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,592 ✭✭✭GerM


    Complete screw up by referee and TMO in the Stade vs Toulouse. Parisse went over after team mate took out a defender to make the hole. Referee saw something but went to TMO incorrectly (ball was grounded perfectly and clearly). TMO called it back for a penalty due to the block off the ball. Never had the right to make that decision.

    16-15 to Toulouse but Stade have them on the ropes. Contepomi very lively. He's still electric.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,262 ✭✭✭iroced


    GerM wrote: »
    BiarritzBlanco's revival continues. 15-14 win at home to Clermont, really ground out the win.
    FYP :pac:. Seriously though the try refused to Fofana will be another straw on Blanco's team's back... :rolleyes:


    Massive massive win for USAP today. Bayonne has 1 foot and a half in Pro D2.
    Huge victory for Brive against Toulon in the perspective of saving their place in Top 14.
    Epic last 10 min gave Montpellier the WBP which could be critical for a top 4 position.
    Racing got a critical win against Castres yesterday for a play-off position...

    Top 14 is really fascinating this year. The battles for play-off and against relegation are still lively and epic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Crazy considering some of Bayonne's big names: Tialata, Phillips, Rokocoko, Heymans et al


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    Crazy considering some of Bayonne's big names: Tialata, Phillips, Rokocoko, Heymans et al


    Names & big paychecks don't make a team in rugby any more than in soccer. You just have to look at the rabble in Toulon


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    GerM wrote: »
    Biarritz's revival continues.

    "Orchestrated" revival.
    Via a few well placed phone calls from one S.B.

    -Yachvili gets called up to the national XV but gets "back pains". Lumbago to be precise. That did not stop him playing for BO. BO gain precious pts.
    In the meantime Julian Dupuy, AIL level at best nowadays, gets an extra cap or two.
    -National team in sh1t, no league games for the last 6N WE & Yach' gets the call. France give their best 'perf of the 6N despite losing.
    GerM wrote: »
    15-14 win at home to Clermont, really ground out the win.

    I must assume by your comments that you didn't see the game. Just two points (of many).
    -Totally unjustified yellow card for JM Buttin.
    -Valid try by Fofana refused for an imaginary forward pass.


    I have remarked oftentimes posters bemoaning the structures of the IRFU. They are but boyscouts compared to the LNR. (btw the LNR is the tail that wags the dog that is the FFR)


    The 'ref was never going to allow anything bar a BO win.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    iroced wrote: »

    Top 14 is really fascinating this year. The battles for play-off and against relegation are still lively and epic.

    I don't agree my friend. I would say that the competition is totally skewered/tronqué/falsefied by 12 "doublons" WC & 6N.

    Agen & Brive, possibly UBB are the teams who don't have a future in the T14 longterm.

    LOU may go down but they will be back. They have the economic "bassin/infrastructure" to survive at the top. The others mentoned do not.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,592 ✭✭✭GerM


    4PP wrote: »
    I must assume by your comments that you didn't see the game. Just two points (of many).
    -Totally unjustified yellow card for JM Buttin.
    -Valid try by Fofana refused for an imaginary forward pass.

    Caught the last 20 minutes or so. The Fofana decision was incorrect. I thought Biarritz scrapped really well though and took their chances. Not many sides from from behind in the closing stages to win against Clermont. They put their bodies on the line and, whilst fortuitous in some big decisions, showed a lot of guts and got the result.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    GerM wrote: »
    Complete screw up by referee and TMO in the Stade vs Toulouse. Parisse went over after team mate took out a defender to make the hole. Referee saw something but went to TMO incorrectly (ball was grounded perfectly and clearly). TMO called it back for a penalty due to the block off the ball. Never had the right to make that decision.

    Don't know about the rest of world but he does have that right in France.
    In the T14 the 'ref can call on the TMO on any incident either on or over the try line & within 5 metres of the line. For example if the block was 6 metres out the try would have been given.
    GerM wrote: »
    16-15 to Toulouse but Stade have them on the ropes. Contepomi very lively. He's still electric.

    :pac: Just wiped my first reply when the lightbuld went on above my head :D

    I thought you had lost the plot completely with your post but I've got it now lol!.

    In France noone refers to Paris as "Stade", now & again as Stade Francais but thats rare.
    There is only ONE "Stade" - Toulouse - but I suppose when the English & Irish press can't get that right I can understand the confusion :pac:

    Nevermind, I got a laugh anyways :p




    Btw what did you think of Cencus' chip kick for himself? he very nearly collected it too! Priceless :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,592 ✭✭✭GerM


    4PP wrote: »
    Don't know about the rest of world but he does have that right in France.
    In the T14 the 'ref can call on the TMO on any incident either on or over the try line & within 5 metres of the line. For example if the block was 6 metres out the try would have been given.

    Very interesting. Didn't know that. I know he doesn't have that right in international rugby either.

    4PP wrote:
    Btw what did you think of Cencus' chip kick for himself? he very nearly collected it too! Priceless :D

    Alas, I missed it. Watching T14 on bad, internet feeds means I miss bits and pieces! Seemed to be doing well in the scrum though. Toulouse were destroying them there. Stan Wright is a loose head that can cover tight. Cheika needs to stop putting him at 3.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Anyone heard about the Willie Mason twitter mess? Pretty hilarious stuff, considering his excuses for some of the tweets coming out of his account.

    Anyway looks like Toulon have released him. Total flop.... Pity, he looked pretty good in that Barbar's game.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    .ak wrote: »
    Anyone heard about the Willie Mason twitter mess? Pretty hilarious stuff, considering his excuses for some of the tweets coming out of his account.

    Anyway looks like Toulon have released him. Total flop.... Pity, he looked pretty good in that Barbar's game.

    He was labelled "The Tourist" quite early into this Toulon career. He's actually been gone from RCT for a few months. The club weren't bothered to make a public statement about it, he left that bad an impression it seems.

    He got off the bench for one Top14 game and was apparently so bad that he was never going to be picked again.

    As a Toulon fan I was really looking forward to see how he would link with Wilkinson and Giteau in the backline, as you said his cameos for the Barbarians showed what he could do.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,217 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    The commentator in the Brive Lanelli game just said that Joe Rokocoko was voted the biggest dud import in the Top 14. Which reminded me of one of his quotes when he was thinking of leaving NZ "I will probably go somewhere, though. I'll be looking to balance some good money with a good lifestyle, too. It's a matter of finding your comfort zone.".

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10723629

    I think he may have said something about going somewhere with a beach but I can't find the quote!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 881 ✭✭✭ray jay


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,340 ✭✭✭nc6000


    ray jay wrote: »
    I'd be interested to hear what the reaction in France was to Toulouse's defeat to Edinburgh.

    I thought Toulouse were shocking against Edinburgh. Two extra men late in the first half and they kept kicking the ball away.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 27,271 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Anyone know what the general opinion in France is with regards the Leinster-Clermont game and how they see it going?


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 756 ✭✭✭4PP


    ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 872 ✭✭✭smurphy29


    Someone on LF reported back from the Clermont forum. Basically, they think Leinster are fantastic and wish Jonny Sexton was French! Someone said Leinster are the Barcelona of rugby or some such. There's a bit of a love-in between the fans after the 29-28 in the RDS and we all exchanged scarves after and some of the Clermont fans stripped in the Anglesea stand (!). There's a lot of respect between the two sets of fans, and the general feeling is they can't wait for what will be a cracking game. I don't think either will be talking up their chances too much, as each is wary of the opponent's strengths.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,207 ✭✭✭durkadurka


    My memories of the clermont fans is that they were plastered in a good way and they were all poking me in the ribs as I tried to carry three pints back from the bar. They were funny feckers


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    Podge_irl wrote: »
    Anyone know what the general opinion in France is with regards the Leinster-Clermont game and how they see it going?

    I've been on cybervulcans.net, a Clermont fans forum. TBH, it's like boards.ie, mostly reasonable posters who see it being very close and then the occasional loose cannon saying things like:

    "ils vont venir avec beaucoup d'arrogance , pour eux Clermont n'existe pas et Bordeaux c'est pas un forteresse !"

    (They'll come full of arrogance, for them Clermont doesn't exist and Bordeaux is not a fortress)
    http://www.cybervulcans.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=51013&st=15

    Consensus on there seems to be that Clermont will bring 20,000 people to Bordeaux...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    Clermont have looked to patch up their threadbare squad by re-signing Napolioni Nalaga on a two-year deal from next season onwards.
    http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Nalaga-de-retour/275811


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