Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
International Test Matches
Brief digression: PSA-era France
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="TRF_stormer2010" data-source="post: 655900" data-attributes="member: 39190"><p>Another aspect of rugby where the Top14 doesn't help the XV de France is team dynamics. </p><p></p><p>1) The French probably have the least time together as a national squad of the top 8 teams - I am not 100% sure this is fact but I'd be happy to hazard it is just because the Top 14 is the longest running.</p><p></p><p>2) Then there is another important aspect and that is settled combinations and playing styles. The fewer club/provincial teams you are picking players from the higher the likelihood you are picking settled combinations. I am thinking of the old Bull's duo of Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn, old Hurricanes duo of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith. Genia/Cooper, Ireland has a few as well. And I don't just mean 9/10, 12/13 combo's. </p><p></p><p>3) Most nations' clubs/provinces also play somewhat similar styles so they basically have the basic structure set when getting called up and it should be more of a case of fine-tuning than learning totally new structures. No-one tajes this as far as NZ with obvious advantages leading to obvious results; the NZ franchizes are basically non-entities in and of themselves if I can put it so simply and rather are just microcosms of and development platforms for the ABs. </p><p></p><p>So I'd say the French have pretty obvious conflicting interests between the clubs and the national team and should basically accept the status quo and adapt their approach to test rugby or alter the set-up of the Top14. Rugby has become less and less a game where it is about one-off star players' athletic ability over team dynamics. I think the 'fall' of France and Fiji are indicative of that statement.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TRF_stormer2010, post: 655900, member: 39190"] Another aspect of rugby where the Top14 doesn't help the XV de France is team dynamics. 1) The French probably have the least time together as a national squad of the top 8 teams - I am not 100% sure this is fact but I'd be happy to hazard it is just because the Top 14 is the longest running. 2) Then there is another important aspect and that is settled combinations and playing styles. The fewer club/provincial teams you are picking players from the higher the likelihood you are picking settled combinations. I am thinking of the old Bull's duo of Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn, old Hurricanes duo of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith. Genia/Cooper, Ireland has a few as well. And I don't just mean 9/10, 12/13 combo's. 3) Most nations' clubs/provinces also play somewhat similar styles so they basically have the basic structure set when getting called up and it should be more of a case of fine-tuning than learning totally new structures. No-one tajes this as far as NZ with obvious advantages leading to obvious results; the NZ franchizes are basically non-entities in and of themselves if I can put it so simply and rather are just microcosms of and development platforms for the ABs. So I'd say the French have pretty obvious conflicting interests between the clubs and the national team and should basically accept the status quo and adapt their approach to test rugby or alter the set-up of the Top14. Rugby has become less and less a game where it is about one-off star players' athletic ability over team dynamics. I think the 'fall' of France and Fiji are indicative of that statement. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
International Test Matches
Brief digression: PSA-era France
Top