Top 14 day2

[gaston le gaff]

This weekends fixtures difficult start at home for us v Clermont, other big game Toulouse v Bordeaux, and see how Pau shape up at home to Toulon

Du 27 au 28 Août 2016 [TABLE="class: classic-table matchs-table hr-link-table"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="class: sorting-desc"] Date[/TH]
[TH="class: text-right, colspan: 2"]Domicile[/TH]
[TH="class: text-center, colspan: 3"]Score[/TH]
[TH="colspan: 2"]Extérieur[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: before"]
[TD="class: cell-date"] 27/08[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-a"] SP[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-a"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-before-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-score"] 14h45[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-after-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-b"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-b"] RCT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: before"]
[TD="class: cell-date"] 27/08[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-a"] FCG[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-a"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-before-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-score"] 18h30[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-after-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-b"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-b"] ASR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: before"]
[TD="class: cell-date"] 27/08[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-a"] R92[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-a"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-before-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-score"] 18h30[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-after-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-b"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-b"] LOU[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: before"]
[TD="class: cell-date"] 27/08[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-a"] ABRP[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-a"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-before-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-score"] 18h30[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-after-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-b"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-b"] CO[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: before"]
[TD="class: cell-date"] 27/08[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-a"] CABCL[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-a"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-before-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-score"] 18h30[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-after-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-b"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-b"] SFP[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: before"]
[TD="class: cell-date"] 27/08[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-a"] ST[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-a"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-before-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-score"] 20h45[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-after-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-b"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-b"] UBB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: before"]
[TD="class: cell-date"] 28/08[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-a"] MHR[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-a"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-before-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-score"] 16h15[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-after-score"][/TD]
[TD="class: cell-logo-b"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: cell-team-b"] ASM[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[Tony Manx]

You getting the top six out of the way early this season?!!

If LaRoc can get a draw with them, anything less than a bonus point win for Montypellier looking a bit careless!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Against Clermont i think a 4 pts win will do nicely, 13 home wins is a minimum of 42 pts + a few bonus pts home and away and 2/3 aways wins evaluate to a top 6 finish.
Win the game first and formost, then the last 20 mins the bonus pt if possible.

 

[JJFlash]

Pau v RCT could be very interesting if Steffon Armitage is in the starting XV.
However, RCT are on the back of an unexpected defeat and heads are likely to roll if they do not beat Pau.

Elsewhere, I can only see home wins.

 

[Tony Manx]

Think LaRoch have a chance at Grenoble......

 

[JJFlash]

Think LaRoch have a chance at Grenoble......

Of course they have a chance. I'm hoping that Grenoble get their act together for their first home match.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Grenoble could well be the whipping boys this season!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JJFlash]

I sincerely hope not, although if they do, it'll add impetus to those who would like to see a reduction of the number of teams to 12.

 

[Tony Manx]

Hope you are right my old friend as it will take 50% of the pressure off Bayonne!!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Takes 100% off as only one goes down and the 13th plays off with the Pro D2 final i think.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Gastons predicktions for DAY 2 TOP 14...........Bayonne, Brive, Racing, Pau, Toulouse, all home wins, Pau will try their level best and i think they will just about sneak it v Toulon, Grenoble will struggle and theres a strong chance La Rochelle could well win at Grenoble.
Montpellier have a difficult task on their hands with Clermont if we get our act together we should just about squeeze through, but very tough game for us. So maybe just one away win for La Rochelle.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Teams for tomorrows game......


[h=1]TOP 14 - Montpellier : Le XV de départ pour affronter Clermont[/h]
[h=2]TOP 14 - 4 changements ont été effectués dans la composition de Montpellier pour affronter Clermont ce dimanche à 16h15 à l'Altrad Stadium. Devant, le deuxième ligne Paul Willemse a été titularisé par Jake White, tout comme les troisièmes lignes Fulgence Ouedraogo et Pierre Spies. Chez les trois-quarts, Dimitri Catrakilis fait son retour à l'ouverture.[/h] Le XV de départ : Mogg ; Fall, Dumoulin, Steyn, Nadolo ; Catrakilis (o), White (m) ; Spies, Qera, Ouedraogo ; Willemse, Mikautadze ; Kubriashvili, B. Du Plessis, Nariashvili.
Remplaçants : Van Wyk, Watremez, Tchale Watchou, Rensburg, Paillaugue, Botica, Martin, J. Du Plessis.



[h=1]TOP 14 - La compo de Clermont face à Montpellier[/h]








[h=2]TOP 14 - Arrivé cet été en provenance de Montpellier, Sitaleki Timani sera titulaire pour son premier match avec Clermont dimanche face au... MHR. Le jeune Sanga formera la charnière avec Lopez. Cancoriet débutera en troisième ligne.[/h] Le XV de départ : Spedding ; Planté, Stanley, Fofana, Nakaitaci ; (o) Lopez, (m) Sanga ; Cancoriet, Chouly, Bardy ; Vahaamahina, Timani ; Zirakashvili, Ulugia, Chaume.
Remplaçants : Behegaray, Falgoux, Iturria, Yato, Parra, Fernandez, Rougerie, Ric.

 

[Tony Manx]

25-6 BO trash Narbonne! Brennau in three years......

 

[gaston le gaff]

on the sauce again Tony with your wild predicktions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but it would be good to see them back in the Elite, Classement does not look good this morning MHR bottom with 0 pts, feels like a song competition we all know.!!!!!!!

 

[FrenchFan]

La Rochelle 100 m try from 7:33

 

[gaston le gaff]

Mini disaster in Montpellier, although Clermont never a team easy to beat, the 1st half we were rubbish, much noise in the changing rooms at half time and we came out better in the 2nd half but the result still stays the same, one tiny point and Bordeaux next week, Far too hot and humid to play rugby, both teams suffered, but Clermont were the better side on the day. I should think training this week will be heads down, no noise and hard work, and you never know Jimmy Nagusa may well turn up ex^pected tomorrow from his extended holsidays due back July 20th, buses obviously running late from Fidji.!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

on the sauce again Tony with your wild predicktions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but it would be good to see them back in the Elite, Classement does not look good this morning MHR bottom with 0 pts, feels like a song competition we all know.!!!!!!!

Seem to remember BO started like that the season they got relegated......mind you they lost the next eight or so as well!!! Think your squad and management is a shade better!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

for the moment we are not bottom nearly, but just survive on goal average, i have a Press training day tomorrow so will be interesting on how attentive and quiet the squad could be, just faint sounds of the 3 coaches breathing hot air and fire, obvioulsy not in my direction.

 

[Deleted member 53362]

Quick question has last season finished yet?

 

[gaston le gaff]

difficult to say as they are so long, one just rolls into the next so extrelmely difficult to find the beginning or the end, so to answer your question not sure.

 

[JJFlash]

Few would have said that Montpellier would be equal bottom after 2 games.
After next weekend, they could be alone at the bottom if they lose at UBB and Grenoble beat LOU and Pau will be looking for their first win at home to Bayonne.
As for Toulouse, the trip to Racing will be tough, although I'm pleased to see that Toby Flood should be available for selection, hopefully at 10, which for me is his best position.
After an encouraging start to last season his confidence must have taken a big knock after a poor game in Ulster and he never cemented his place in the side after that. I have often wondered if he corresponds to exactly what J-B Elissalde expects of him and I've also questioned J-BE's competence as a backs coach. Very good player as he was, I remain unconvinced of his capabilities as coach.

 

[FrenchFan]

Quick question has last season finished yet?

Nope. It's just one continuous season. The Show must go on.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Few would have said that Montpellier would be equal bottom after 2 games.
After next weekend, they could be alone at the bottom if they lose at UBB and Grenoble beat LOU and Pau will be looking for their first win at home to Bayonne.

Botttom after 2 days is not really a problem, Toulon last season lost their first 2 games and still made the final, bottom after 20days is something to be concerned about, not now. Even if we lose v Bordeaux we will still not be bottom as Grenoble will not win at Lyon, unfortunately for them they are probably the weakest team in this seasons TOP 14, and in my eyes are the first relegation team!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Just watched the Top 14 Round up programme on Sky and they had Montypellier at the bottom with no points.......!!

Mind you that is probably right when you see that their hooker gave a forward pass for their second try which was not picked up!!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Just watched the Top 14 Round up programme on Sky and they had Montypellier at the bottom with no points.......!!

Mind you that is probably right when you see that their hooker gave a forward pass for their second try which was not picked up!!

Sky obviously don't understand the defensive bonus point, the forward pass is only forward when the ref agrees it's forward, mind you i would have given myself if i was reffing. Far too many mistakes from us it was super hot and humid but that was also the same for Clermont, it will come, the second half much better,which we won 17-10 it does not change the result or anything, but we are on our way it just may take time, don't worry at the end we will be in the TOP 6.!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Sky obviously don't understand the defensive bonus point, the forward pass is only forward when the ref agrees it's forward, mind you i would have given myself if i was reffing. Far too many mistakes from us it was super hot and humid but that was also the same for Clermont, it will come, the second half much better,which we won 17-10 it does not change the result or anything, but we are on our way it just may take time, don't worry at the end we will be in the TOP 6.!!!!!!!!!!

I have few doubts on that!!

 

[JJFlash]

I feel sure that MHR will be in the top 6 at the end of yet another long season, along with ASM, RCT, ST, Racing and ....... maybe UBB or ASR.
Thoughts?

 

[gaston le gaff]

Toulon, Racing, Clermont Toulouse, Montpellier +1 as you may or may not know, the deciding factors are nearly always after Christmas, Jan, Feb when some of the smaller teams (smaller bugets, limited squads etc.) have injury problems fatigue etc setting in, we had the same problem last season by playing the same players week in week out at the end of the season, why we lost the semi to Toulon. Jake recognises this and it will not happen again. There are several teams that could fill that 6th place but i think it will be between Bordeaux and Castres, La Rochelle will consolidate their place but not contenders for the TOP 6

 

[FrenchFan]

The turning point in the season is def the January-Feb window and the 6N. I can tell you it has been well earmarked as the danger zone by the staff here. We lost our 1st place to the 6N last season.