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
Top 14 & Rugby Pro D2
Top 14 Day 4
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="Big Ewis" data-source="post: 670987" data-attributes="member: 57076"><p>there are issues in your post throughout. Firstly, let's not confuse things: the Top 14 is what has changed, it has become stronger, but it isn't just because the Top 14 has risen its overall level that Toulouse are finding trouble being dominant. You can't just attribute a team's downfall exclusively to its hostile environment. Toulouse have much more than just other Top 14 sides being good to worry about. The very problem is internal, I repeat, it is not 'peripheral'. Their attacking has been stale, uninspired. Their troops have looked barely motivated at all, think the Connacht game. They've been outplayed in every fact of the game on the highest stage where they usually come through (think Munster). They've even lost at home to Racing, and what an ugly show for Novès in the corridor with Fritz. They have the highest, maybe second highest salary cap in all of Top 14 Rugby, let's ponder on what that equates to for a second money wise, and have great players all over the XV's, with good depth. They sometimes look dismantled, all over the place.</p><p></p><p>Then, as you say Toulouse don't want to give their players to France anymore because their season is at stake, that's a position of weakness. Nobody was complaining or sounding out the alarm when Toulouse were still winning, Novès ball was still working, all the while providing France some players just 3 and 4 years ago. It means Toulouse have not adapted to modern French Rugby, and elite modern French Rugby particularly, as Clermont in particular has. It means they've failed so badly internally to keep up with the rest, being head barely above water level, that they can't afford to even be the eternal French stronghold they've always been and are meant to be. They're counted on to provide some good players, Toulouse provides good players, that's just an age-old, immutable rule of French Rugby.</p><p></p><p>Then, as if it wasn't clear the first time, Clermont have been an example of what a contemporary, present-day strong French club should be like in terms of being strong on both fronts, local and European, establishing a strong and efficient rotation system, and still providing a high number of players for country. Whether they choked, lost an H Cup final (which Toulouse gladly would've settled for in 2013 or 2014, seeing what happened to them both years...) or whatever is perfectly irrelevant to the fact they've produced both strong seasons on both fronts AND managed to provide France with players without whining every - single - weekend.</p><p></p><p>Also: Toulouse players don't want to play for France ? PSA and his clique are pathetic, but you look at how guys like Nyanga, Tolofua, Maestri, Huget, Dusautoir have played as of 2014 for France and wonder just how biased that remark is.</p><p></p><p>And you tell me Clermont are chokers, I'm not talking about anything but these last 2, 3 years. Toulouse would've been delighted to have Clermont's home streak, make an H Cup Final and be generally of Clermont's mettle. Nobody even remembers what Toulouse has done the past two years in either H Cup or Top 14 playoffs, ppl only remember Castres, Clermont and Toulon.</p><p></p><p>Le mal est profond. I do think Toulouse can bounce back, although I'm positive they'll win nothing this year. They just don't have what it takes, collectively.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Big Ewis, post: 670987, member: 57076"] there are issues in your post throughout. Firstly, let's not confuse things: the Top 14 is what has changed, it has become stronger, but it isn't just because the Top 14 has risen its overall level that Toulouse are finding trouble being dominant. You can't just attribute a team's downfall exclusively to its hostile environment. Toulouse have much more than just other Top 14 sides being good to worry about. The very problem is internal, I repeat, it is not 'peripheral'. Their attacking has been stale, uninspired. Their troops have looked barely motivated at all, think the Connacht game. They've been outplayed in every fact of the game on the highest stage where they usually come through (think Munster). They've even lost at home to Racing, and what an ugly show for Novès in the corridor with Fritz. They have the highest, maybe second highest salary cap in all of Top 14 Rugby, let's ponder on what that equates to for a second money wise, and have great players all over the XV's, with good depth. They sometimes look dismantled, all over the place. Then, as you say Toulouse don't want to give their players to France anymore because their season is at stake, that's a position of weakness. Nobody was complaining or sounding out the alarm when Toulouse were still winning, Novès ball was still working, all the while providing France some players just 3 and 4 years ago. It means Toulouse have not adapted to modern French Rugby, and elite modern French Rugby particularly, as Clermont in particular has. It means they've failed so badly internally to keep up with the rest, being head barely above water level, that they can't afford to even be the eternal French stronghold they've always been and are meant to be. They're counted on to provide some good players, Toulouse provides good players, that's just an age-old, immutable rule of French Rugby. Then, as if it wasn't clear the first time, Clermont have been an example of what a contemporary, present-day strong French club should be like in terms of being strong on both fronts, local and European, establishing a strong and efficient rotation system, and still providing a high number of players for country. Whether they choked, lost an H Cup final (which Toulouse gladly would've settled for in 2013 or 2014, seeing what happened to them both years...) or whatever is perfectly irrelevant to the fact they've produced both strong seasons on both fronts AND managed to provide France with players without whining every - single - weekend. Also: Toulouse players don't want to play for France ? PSA and his clique are pathetic, but you look at how guys like Nyanga, Tolofua, Maestri, Huget, Dusautoir have played as of 2014 for France and wonder just how biased that remark is. And you tell me Clermont are chokers, I'm not talking about anything but these last 2, 3 years. Toulouse would've been delighted to have Clermont's home streak, make an H Cup Final and be generally of Clermont's mettle. Nobody even remembers what Toulouse has done the past two years in either H Cup or Top 14 playoffs, ppl only remember Castres, Clermont and Toulon. Le mal est profond. I do think Toulouse can bounce back, although I'm positive they'll win nothing this year. They just don't have what it takes, collectively. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
Top 14 & Rugby Pro D2
Top 14 Day 4
Top