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Top 14 Day 22

The problem with the FFR and PSA in their selection of Doussain they will finish up breaking him physically and maybe even Machenaud, could go the very same way, you have to be extremely careful in selection of no.9's are they are nevery as physically strong as most of the rest of the team but they are at the hub of everything movement and physical and its not the back rowers of 110 kgs who feel sorry for them. We have the same problem at Montypellier where we are very careful who starts and who is on the bench both our principal 9's Paillaugue and Pelissie have already had serious injuries this season, and we are losing Escande to Toulon so we need another, as you can't revolve with just 2. in the TOP 14 impossible.
We all know there are too many games in the calender, so some sort of agenda should be sort with the clubs and maybe have a set of at least 3, no.9's for national selection. This would protect and also ensure you always have 2 available with a little luck.
Can get away with more on the forum than on the site i have a little yardage but must contain myself, can't criticize to much especially
referees !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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I'm not a big fan of test matches only allowing a team of 23 players. I understand it makes the coaching choices strategic, you only get one replacement 2nd row, 3rd row, only one 3/4 back...but I mean there should be as many as the coach wants, or at least a higher limit.
I mean in theory, what makes it impossible for PSA to just want to change both wingers and a center and fullback for e.g. ? But anyways...

Pélissié is the least experienced right now in Bleus. We barely saw him and his bearded smile for like 10min. So right now the hierarchy is probably as follows for our 9's:
Parra, Machenaud, Doussain, Pélissié, others.

But the thing we dearly, dearly want and need is consistency and continuity in selection especially at the half-back pairing. Unless PSA decides to finally pick FTD, I think we should go Parra-Talès with no hesitation into the Aussie tour. Plisson or even Lopez perhaps on the bench, and Machenaud or Doussain (based on current form).
 
gaston le gaff said:
The problem with the FFR and PSA in their selection of Doussain they will finish up breaking him physically and maybe even Machenaud, could go the very same way, you have to be extremely careful in selection of no.9's are they are nevery as physically strong as most of the rest of the team but they are at the hub of everything movement and physical and its not the back rowers of 110 kgs who feel sorry for them. We have the same problem at Montypellier where we are very careful who starts and who is on the bench both our principal 9's Paillaugue and Pelissie have already had serious injuries this season, and we are losing Escande to Toulon so we need another, as you can't revolve with just 2. in the TOP 14 impossible.
We all know there are too many games in the calender, so some sort of agenda should be sort with the clubs and maybe have a set of at least 3, no.9's for national selection. This would protect and also ensure you always have 2 available with a little luck.
Can get away with more on the forum than on the site i have a little yardage but must contain myself, can't criticize to much especially
referees !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Doussain is the most physical of all. He is strong as an OX. I have seen him fend off backrowers. The thing about Doussain is that he can run STRAIGHT at the bacrowers and shove them ouf of the way. I've seen him. If there is one area no one doubt him his ability here in Toulouse then thats definitely his physique. He is known for his mental strength as well.
At the end of the day, Doussain is having an EXCELLENT SEASON with Stade Toulousain. Noves has picked him regularly as SH and outhalf. He's been kicking well all season and delivering for the club both in Top14 and HCup.
With a possible injury to Mc Alister again, he is going to come back to the front and show his class. Funny, Noves knows how to get the best out of him, why can't PSA do the same?
what does that tell you about PSA coaching ability vs Noves...
 
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Big Ewis said:
I'm not a big fan of test matches only allowing a team of 23 players. I understand it makes the coaching choices strategic, you only get one replacement 2nd row, 3rd row, only one 3/4 back...but I mean there should be as many as the coach wants, or at least a higher limit.
I mean in theory, what makes it impossible for PSA to just want to change both wingers and a center and fullback for e.g. ? But anyways...

Pélissié is the least experienced right now in Bleus. We barely saw him and his bearded smile for like 10min. So right now the hierarchy is probably as follows for our 9's:
Parra, Machenaud, Doussain, Pélissié, others.

But the thing we dearly, dearly want and need is consistency and continuity in selection especially at the half-back pairing. Unless PSA decides to finally pick FTD, I think we should go Parra-Talès with no hesitation into the Aussie tour. Plisson or even Lopez perhaps on the bench, and Machenaud or Doussain (based on current form).
Click to expand...

Pellissié is having a fine season. I like him.

I hope none of our players go to Australia. If Toulouse go all the way to either Top14 & HCup. I think they will be more up for the Top14. If they lose in Munster they will refocus on Top14, so the motivation to win another Brennus will be even stronger. I think chasing both is a distraction. If they get knocked ouf of the HCup they will come back stronger in Top14 and chase that Brennus all the way to HELL.
The senior players won't be made available for Australia. If they play one of the finals, they need a rest. They're already talking of resting Picamoles and give him a proper break in the summer.
 
gaston le gaff said:
That was some weekend of class TOP 14 rugby away wins for Bordeaux, Racing and Montypellier, who are now tied in 2nd place with Toulon, BO are relegated into the Pro D2 along with ???? i think it will be Oyonnax but still time for upsets, and the match of the weekend Stade Franchouillarde v Stade Toulouse 27 apiece they called it the Classico and they were not wrong probably the best game of the season so far, obviously not counting any of Montypellier's games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 games to play and still no outright top 6 but i think it will be as it stands with Racing just missing out.......
Hope PSA watched Montypellier's game FTD cant kick cant defend what a plonker, leading drop goal specialist with 7 ( one yesterday) and kicked 4 penaties and a conversion and tackled like a flanker. and just orchestrated everything from the no.10 spot superb.
Click to expand...

oh oui alors...c'est une pipe ce PSA. What a game FTD had. Talk about bossing the game for his team. His kicking was excellent, not just goal kicking. His physicality seems to have grown since the start of the season or is it the game getting more physical? the oppositions like to channel runners his way but the man can tackle.

I read an interview by Alain Penaud who was saying that the national side was a "GRAVEYARD for french outhalves" in his time.....and well, nothing has changed.

PSA's mismanagement of FTD is another case in point.
 
Big Ewis said:
haven't had time for Rugby this past weekend too much, damn regular life with its people and what not...

FINALLY watched the whole Clermont Toulon match. Michalak looking good again, God what a lunatic...how does one play with complete command in every sector of the game and then looks like he never touched an oval ball in his life a month later ?

I'd like to point out Chiocci is looking better and better. For such a young LH, the guy's future is looking bright. Powerful scrummager for a LH, he's got the physical attributes rather of a TH and contributes in the loose too, doesn't just settle for scrumtime. The guy's scored a few tries already in his career...interesting prospect.
Click to expand...

I didn't think Michalak had a good game. He is on his way out of Toulon first team. He has signed for another year. But it has Last Year written all over it. He won't get a game. Maybe his versatily to cover both positions might help in case of injuries, but his physique is not there anymore. He is going to struggle to get a start next season.
 
Big Ewis said:
I'm not a big fan of test matches only allowing a team of 23 players. I understand it makes the coaching choices strategic, you only get one replacement 2nd row, 3rd row, only one 3/4 back...but I mean there should be as many as the coach wants, or at least a higher limit.
I mean in theory, what makes it impossible for PSA to just want to change both wingers and a center and fullback for e.g. ? But anyways...

Pélissié is the least experienced right now in Bleus. We barely saw him and his bearded smile for like 10min. So right now the hierarchy is probably as follows for our 9's:
Parra, Machenaud, Doussain, Pélissié, others.

But the thing we dearly, dearly want and need is consistency and continuity in selection especially at the half-back pairing. Unless PSA decides to finally pick FTD, I think we should go Parra-Talès with no hesitation into the Aussie tour. Plisson or even Lopez perhaps on the bench, and Machenaud or Doussain (based on current form).
Click to expand...

yes imagine pauvre Philippe is struggling to find competitive talented players amidst the hordes of foreign mercenaries bleeding our Top14 clubs to death.
I mean for the scrum half position he only has the 4 players you mention who are all tried and tested, to which you can add Kockott !
in the backrow, if you were to only pick players from my beloved Toulouse, the names go: Picamoles Dussautoir Galan Nyanga Camara. The last one is still U20, but what a prospect. Many here are starting to say that Camara could be better than Nyanga, he is another Yannick with even more pace...
And Im not including other clubs, im just picking from one backrow in one club (the one and only he he ;-)

hey there's no strength in depth in our rugby, we're dying on our feet....
 
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Tigs Man said:
Would be nice if Clermont have a few players Cited this weekend.
Click to expand...
:p

​FrenchFan yeah I suppose we can add a South African to our list of French Scrum Halves...it might happen in fact so may as well start listing him there.

And yes Toulouse's backrow is absolutely ri-di-cu-lous when fully healthy. Camara is going to be one heck of a flanker in years to come, but as aerial and athletic as he is he'll need to put on some MASS.
 
Big Ewis said:
:p

​FrenchFan yeah I suppose we can add a South African to our list of French Scrum Halves...it might happen in fact so may as well start listing him there.

And yes Toulouse's backrow is absolutely ri-di-cu-lous when fully healthy. Camara is going to be one heck of a flanker in years to come, but as aerial and athletic as he is he'll need to put on some MASS.
Click to expand...

yep i think Kockott should be called for the Aussie tour if he is qualified by then (i dont know the exact date of his eligibility but i think it should be end of the current season)
He is another excellent NET IMPORT of Intl standard. As a good safie he doesn't mind the physical stuff. Will challenge the existing (already impressive) line-up for the SH position. Holy **** even Parra could be under pressure. Kockott is an excellent kicker. He was THE man of the season for Castres and their ***le last season. He's still the man for them.
 
well much talk has happened, on this forum as elsewhere, about just how good he's become, at very least in the past 2 years. It's pretty funny, French depth. A national side where a guy like Parra isn't the systematic 9 and a guy like Pélissié doesn't seem close to seeing the blue jersey...and yet, what struggles when they wear blue !...Doussain was a huge example last Feb. in the 6N.

The only justification I see in selecting Kockott, from a pseudo-moral pov, is that we need to reap some benefit from having our nation invaded by foreigners. We might as well downright poach some.
I still hope we don't take him, but if it happens, let him be the paradigm and result of the Top 14 wealth. We've got the hugest league in the world, all happening within our own borders, fk it, let's borrow some of that overwhelming richness. It does bother me a lot he's played pro in SA before...

And no Kockott in Australia in June, for sure. He's eligible for France starting July/August. So if he were to wear blue imminently, it would be during our EOYT in Nov. when we host Fiji, Australia and Argentina. Which we should all win...
 
Big Ewis said:
well much talk has happened, on this forum as elsewhere, about just how good he's become, at very least in the past 2 years. It's pretty funny, French depth. A national side where a guy like Parra isn't the systematic 9 and a guy like Pélissié doesn't seem close to seeing the blue jersey...and yet, what struggles when they wear blue !...Doussain was a huge example last Feb. in the 6N.

The only justification I see in selecting Kockott, from a pseudo-moral pov, is that we need to reap some benefit from having our nation invaded by foreigners. We might as well downright poach some.
I still hope we don't take him, but if it happens, let him be the paradigm and result of the Top 14 wealth. We've got the hugest league in the world, all happening within our own borders, fk it, let's borrow some of that overwhelming richness. It does bother me a lot he's played pro in SA before...

And no Kockott in Australia in June, for sure. He's eligible for France starting July/August. So if he were to wear blue imminently, it would be during our EOYT in Nov. when we host Fiji, Australia and Argentina. Which we should all win...
Click to expand...

yeah I agree. Lets pick him. We're not poaching him as such. We're doing him a big favour, because had he stayed in SA he would have possibly remained anonymous and its not sure he would have been picked for his country. Before Castres he was a nobody. But he should be picked on merit. I'm all for Net Import to be picked once they're elligible. Im all for meritocracy.
And Toulouse might get that big kiwi guy in La Rochelle in Top 14, now that's poaching ;)
 
Poaching does not come into the question the guy has the last wod and if he wants to play for France all well and good he will say YES !!!!!!!!!! The Rosbifs will call it poaching but we should use termology "like extending our grand resources n'est pas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
QUICK NOT FOR fRENCH FAN
I think you miss understood me on my comment about Doussain, i was not critizing or saying he is not strong enough mentally or physically him i was saying that PSA does not manage him well as Noves does, with Noves he does not start every match and he looks after his welfare both physical and mental, the guy is young and when i say break him i am talking over a long period. PSA does not look after his players in the same way, if he did they would play for him and not for themselves which is the case at the moment.
 
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gaston le gaff said:
Poaching does not come into the question the guy has the last wod and if he wants to play for France all well and good he will say YES !!!!!!!!!! The Rosbifs will call it poaching but we should use termology "like extending our grand resources n'est pas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
QUICK NOT FOR fRENCH FAN
I think you miss understood me on my comment about Doussain, i was not critizing or saying he is not strong enough mentally or physically him i was saying that PSA does not manage him well as Noves does, with Noves he does not start every match and he looks after his welfare both physical and mental, the guy is young and when i say break him i am talking over a long period. PSA does not look after his players in the same way, if he did they would play for him and not for themselves which is the case at the moment.
Click to expand...

Non non, i didn't misundersand your comment Gaston. In fact we're saying the same. I too believe that the poor coaching which has been the hallmark of the national side does tend to WEAR players out. So you end up with the Doussain & Trinh duc situation where these 2 players consistently perform well at club level in a high pressure environnement but are either mismanaged like Trinh Duc and/or poorly coached as in Doussain's case. Both these players are well coached in club but messed up in the national side, and the finger can only be pointed out at the national coach.
This is why i was also refering to that interview by Alain Penaud where he says (quote) the national side is a "graveyard for outhalves" which it surely has been for a long time. The national side with its shabby professionalism in an era of ultra pro is MESSING UP some of its players. This is not new. I take the view that clubs coaches of Noves stature are crucial in PROTECTING their talent AGAINST the Federation arrseholes. So when I make the point that the likes of Tolofua Galan Fickou are wasted on the national side, i think it makes sense.
Oui i think the players are not buying into PSA's coaching any longer. They have started playing for themselves all right.
 
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Tigs Man said:
Just I time for them to get cited.

Kayser was a ex-Tiger he'll feed us info on Clermont.

but seriously it wouldn' be fun ending Clermonts record with them missing they 1XV players. :)
Click to expand...

well he wont. His allegiance is to Clermont now, so the info will be going Clermont's way, they expect no less from him :p
 

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