James O'Connor: another big name in Toulon

[FrenchFan]

James O'Connor has signed to Toulon
http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Article/O-connor-sera-toulonnais/6769

Toulon demolished Montpellier yesterday 43-10

who will survive a trip to Mayol and come back with a win in HCup or Top14?

 

[Big Ewis]

it stopped being ridiculous a long time ago for me with Toulon. I'm pretty amazed at how OK the general public (French AND foreign) is with this. I once said "why doesn't Boudjelal just buy all the All-Blacks, simply ?" on a forum and got hammered badly, not even RCT fans...

Here's something floating in my head atm:
"You're a world class player ? You've got drinking problems ?? Nobody, not even your own country wants you anymore ?? Fear not ! We have the solution for you ! Call 1-800-RCT, that's 1-800-RCT ! Call now, you won't regret it !"

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

wow toulon are like the PSG of rugby got alot off money and buying alot off class players thank god sam warburton turned them down but seriously it wouldn't be good for france

 

[Groundhog]

Toulon are a shower of *****. Can't blame the players who move there, but any team who buys success deserves nothing but hatred. If young French players can't break into the first fifteen of Frances top clubs like Toulon (although Toulon would be nothing without the cash) because they have the funds to bring in international superstars instead it will seriously hurt the national team.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, Toulon are just a joke.


Also a weird move for JOC - he claimed he wants to nail down a position as his own, and said he wants to be a fullback not a utility back, but he's not going to get that at Toulon - the exact opposite, in fact.
They've got Delon at 15, and have been using Drew Mitchell there too. He'd have more luck if he wanted to focus on inside centre, as they can move Giteau to 10 on a more permanent basis.

 

[Tony Manx]

Toulon are a shower of *****. Can't blame the players who move there, but any team who buys success deserves nothing but hatred. If young French players can't break into the first fifteen of Frances top clubs like Toulon (although Toulon would be nothing without the cash) because they have the funds to bring in international superstars instead it will seriously hurt the national team.

Yet they had the highest "French qualified" number of players in their match day squad over the whole of last season?

It is a fact of French rugby life that the teams import, within their 10 million euro salary cap, the best players they can but they also produce players through their academies. The fault is not with Toulon, Racing, Stade, Clermont, Toulouse, Montpellier, who all have quality overseas players, it is the fact with the salary cap, they can and do! In that they are no different to Saracens, Leicester or even Northampton who all do the same within their salary caps!!

As the supporter of the least well financially managed clubs in the French league (Biarritz and Bayonne) I am just jealous we do not..............

Yeah, Toulon are just a joke.


Also a weird move for JOC - he claimed he wants to nail down a position as his own, and said he wants to be a fullback not a utility back, but he's not going to get that at Toulon - the exact opposite, in fact.
They've got Delon at 15, and have been using Drew Mitchell there too. He'd have more luck if he wanted to focus on inside centre, as they can move Giteau to 10 on a more permanent basis.

Also strange if he really wants, as BT Sport indicated on Friday night, he wants to get back to Aus to try for the RWC 15!

 

[Groundhog]

Yet they had the highest "French qualified" number of players in their match day squad over the whole of last season?

It is a fact of French rugby life that the teams import, within their 10 million euro salary cap, the best players they can but they also produce players through their academies. The fault is not with Toulon, Racing, Stade, Clermont, Toulouse, Montpellier, who all have quality overseas players, it is the fact with the salary cap, they can and do! In that they are no different to Saracens, Leicester or even Northampton who all do the same within their salary caps!!

As the supporter of the least well financially managed clubs in the French league (Biarritz and Bayonne) I am just jealous we do not..............



Also strange if he really wants, as BT Sport indicated on Friday night, he wants to get back to Aus to try for the RWC 15!

How many of those guys are young academy products as opposed to established players who came from other French clubs. Only a few like Gunther and Orioli. It does little good to the long term development of the national team if the old heads are blocking academy products.

 

[Draggs]

So I guess that's the end of Halfpenny joining?
Interesting that OConnor sees his future our wide. I always liked him in the back three, just because he is there doesn't mean he can't join the line early as a playmaker, always good to have options.
Aus will have some options, Folau and Beale both at the Tahs, wonder if Kurtley will move to standoff, although I like Foley. Jason Woodward is coming along well, keep an eye out for him!

 

[Tony Manx]

So I guess that's the end of Halfpenny joining?

NOT necessarily!!!

 

[Draggs]

NOT necessarily!!!

Toulon need some inside backs! Giteau can't play 9/10/12 simultaneously. Maybe McAlister if Toulouse bring in Flood?

 

[Tony Manx]

Do not think that they need a 9, they have them, particularly with Kockett under pre season contract (and Castres having to find the money to buy it out) so the question is 10/11 with Basteraud and Mermoz outside.....Giteau at 11 seems ideal to me and I would not look further than Michalak (not my choice I hasten to add) at 10.

McAllister has been terribly inconsistent over the last 18 months(although was playing well until his quite serious injury) but reckon ST would prefer to keep as an inside centre as they have Barraque and Dussain as back up 10's

 

[Jaguares]

WTF??????????!!! Fu**ing Toulon!

 

[Tony Manx]

Sorry...late at night so could you clarify?

 

[Big Ewis]

It's pretty amazing all the money Toulon has though...with each new big acquisition I think to myself "AND this guy too ?...man, that's gotta be it for some time and they must be at the very limit..." and every single time I hear about a new acquisition.
O'Connor will have to switch to wine now..and it's only about 12-13%...

What a player in his on-form Wallaby days though...
and I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but he's just going to have to grow a thick beard. It can be uhmm...distracting and confusing at the same time to look at him some times, especially back in the younger days XD

 

[Tony Manx]

Clear you PM box!!!!

 

[Aedaphon]

So I know Toulon get a lot of hate, but I really do love them. The heart of Toulon is taking players who aren't seeing game time in their own country but with true international class and (attempting to) bring it out in a group of equally skilled players. Sure, the spending is absurd and I can't say I'd like it to become the standard for top teams.

But as a supporter who fantasises about (and is mostly disappointed by) Barbarians games, I can't help but get a little giddy when I watch Toulon.

 

[Tony Manx]

Do not think that they need a 9, they have them, particularly with Kockett under pre season contract (and Castres having to find the money to buy it out) so the question is 10/11 with Basteraud and Mermoz outside.....Giteau at 11 seems ideal to me and I would not look further than Michalak (not my choice I hasten to add) at 10.

Never finished this off as to why JOC is not surplus.........

Next season wil see a change in amount of games played by French internationals in the Top 14 and, whilst this is not a huge problem for the Toulon backs, the drift will be to have plenty of back up players for internationals such as Halfpenny, Bastereau, Memoz(?) and others....so JOC/Armitage/Halfpenny at 15, JOC/Wulf/Smith/Armitage/Habana on the wings, Mermoz/Giteau/Bastereau/JOC as centres, JW(?)/Giteau/Michalak/JOc at 10 and Classens/Michalak/Kockett(?)/Tillous Bord at 9......

In addition, Toulon want French and European domination and they failed last time as their first team squad was knackered with the high pressure games played over the last weeks of the season and they need to have a bigger squad to avoid this........

There is no doubt that players will get less game time but will huge success and longer careers and much euros compensate......I think so!!

 

[Tony Manx]

JOC not signed for Toulon as yet.......McKenzie has said RWC players must play in Super rugby and JOC considering his options!

 

[FrenchFan]

How many of those guys are young academy products as opposed to established players who came from other French clubs. Only a few like Gunther and Orioli. It does little good to the long term development of the national team if the old heads are blocking academy products.

>>but the development of the national team is NOT Toulon's problem. The clubs dont exist to serve the national team. Its the job of the federation's and national coach. Clubs are not structured around the national side. Not their problem.

 

[Groundhog]

>>but the development of the national team is NOT Toulon's problem. The clubs dont exist to serve the national team. Its the job of the federation's and national coach. Clubs are not structured around the national side. Not their problem.

Well in my opinion they should be. Works for nearly every other top tier nation. It may not be the problem of the French clubs but it could become your problem as a French fan if you care about the long term continuity of the team.