French Championhip from inside

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nikos
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French Championhip from inside

Post by nikos »

Before the beginning of the new season, I'll try to give you an overview of the different moves into the french teams.

First of all, i want to remind you that in spite of their impressive recruitment, Toulon is back in proD2. :roll:
The other team that left the top14 is Pau, who had been in the top level for 16 years.

Those 2 teams are replaced by Montauban and Albi (a great surprise in fact).



There are all the players moving this season :
Biarritz :
In : Dellape (ITA, Agen), Dridi (Toulon), R. Cabannes (Pau), Masi (ITA, Viadana), Padro (ITA, Rovigo), Hall (AFS, Cats).
Out : Dusautoir (Toulouse), Chouchan (Montpellier), Martin-Aramburu (ARG, Perpignan), Olibeau (Perpignan), Etchevarria (Montauban), Booyse (AFS, arrêt), Baget (Bayonne), Hegarty (Bayonne), Noon (ECO/Toulon), Bergos (Colomiers), Ormaechea (Limoges).

Stade Français :
In : Beauxis (Pau), Albouy (Castres), Jeanjean (Toulouse), Burban (PUC), Samo (AUS, Brumbies), Dallan (ITA, Trévise).
Out : Lemoine (URU, Montauban), Henn (ARG, Montauban), Penaud (Lyon, entraîneur), Sarraméa (Montpellier), Moni (arrêt), Jéchoux (Lyon), Williams (CAN, Albi), Brana (Auch), Grimaud (Auch).

Stade Toulousain : :lol:
In : Dusautoir (Biarritz), Albacete (ARG, Pau), Courrent (Sale), Perugini (ITA, Calvisano), Iosua (SAM).
Out : I. Maka (NZL, Japon), Battut (Auch), McCullen (IRL, London Irish), Jeanjean (Stade Français), Audy (Montauban), Fiorini (Mont-de-Marsan), McFarland (Lyon), Cartier (Bordeaux).

Perpignan :
In : Olibeau (Biarritz), Martin-Aramburu (ARG, Biarritz), Parks (GAL, Leeds).
Out : Giannantonio (ARG, Béziers), Robertson (NZL, Ricoh Tokyo), Pez (ITA, Bayonne), Porcu (Céret), Lopresti (ARG, Bayonne), Descons (Pau), Berberian (ARG, Bayonne), Planté (Narbonne), Sempéré (Racing-Métro).

Agen :
In : Faugeron (entraîneur, Brive), Van der Linden (entraîneur, Chalon-sur-Saône), Cabarry (Mont-de-Marsan), Tiatia (SAM, Pau), Meeuws (NZL, Castres), Mignardi (Auch), Soucaze (Pau), Som (Pau), Barrau (Castres), Tavana (SAM/Apia West), Van Niekerk (AFS/Cats), Guinazu (ARG/Toulon), Badenhorst (AFS/Stormers), W. Stoltz (AFS/Cats), Lassalle (Oloron), Durling (ANG), Socol (Ostreikov (RUS).
Out : Lanta (entraîneur, Lyon), Deylaud (entraîneur, arrêt), Sonnes (entraîneur, Narbonne), Crenca (Toulon), Califano (Gloucester), Blanco (Montauban), Dellape (ITA, Biarritz), Fèvre (Bourgoin), Persico (ITA, Calvisano), Costanzo (Pau), Rué (Toulon), Ratuva (FID, Massy), Larguet (Colomiers), Castellina (ARG/Lyon), Tilloles (Bayonne), Chazalet (Lyon), Parent (Nérac), Tandonnet (Mont-de-Marsan), Mathet (Lyon).

Bourgoin :
In : Fèvre (Agen), Rennie (ECO, Lyon), B. Williams (IRL, Leinster), Sourgens (Pau), Denos (Auch), Laloo (Tarbes), Vigneaux (Castres), Finau (TON, Bath), Prendergast (IRL, Munster).
Out : Papé (Castres), Péclier (Clermont), Venditti (arrêt, entraîneur Limoges), Bonet (Dax), Mazel (Dax), Charlon (arrêt), Montagnat (Lyon), Bontinck (Auch), Driollet (Grenoble), Pesteil (Brive), Baluc-Rittener (Narbonne).

Castres :
In : Papé (Bourgoin), Moffat (ECO, Borders), Laussucq (Pau), Terrain (Pau), Manta (ROU, Pau), Vosloo (AFS, Cats), Canavosio (ITA, Calvisano), Tabacco (Pau), Carballo (ARG, Toulon), S. Kefu (AUS, Reds), Walder (ANG, Newcastle), Nel (AFS, Bulls), Mola (entraîneur), Ross (ECO, Leeds), Wisnieski (Aix).
Out : Spanghero (Harlequins), Volley (ANG, Harlequins), Vigneaux (Bourgoin), Albouy (Stade Français), Barrau (Agen), Bernad (Bayonne), Taussac (Narbonne), Meeuws (NZL, Agen), Raffault (Lyon), Santoni (Albi), Boulogne (Albi), Delaigue (Toulon), Ropati (SAM, Calvisano), Bérot (entraîneur, Mont-de-Marsan), Froment (Pau).

Clermont :
In : Cotter (NZL, entraîneur, Canterbury), Péclier (Bourgoin), Troncon (ITA, Trévise), McIntyre (NZL, Highlanders), Delasau (FID, Highlanders), Baikeinuku (FID, Secom), Brock (AUS, Force).
Out : Paulse (AFS), S. Jones (GAL, Llanelli), J-B Dambielle (Lyon), MacMullen (AUS), Senillosa (ARG).

Brive :
In : Lane (AUS, entraîneur), Donnelly (AUS, Waratahs), Gerber (AFS, Western Stormers), Forgues (Pau), Petre (ROU, Tarbes), Fanolua (SAM, Gloucester), Le Roux (Worcester), Lafond (Montauban), Ligairy (FID, Japon), Domingo (Aurillac), Leaiaetoa (SAM, Pau), Ratuvou (FID), Pesteil (Bourgoin), Harbut (ANG, Northampton).
Out : Faugeron (entraîneur, Agen), X. Sadourny (Lyon), Mallier (Lyon), Chinarro (Gaillac), Leite (Lyon), D. Rodriguez (ARG, Lyon), Marienval (Lyon), Laurent (Lyon), Minassian (Racing-Métro).

Narbonne :
In : Chadebech (entraîneur), Sonnes (entraîneur, Agen), Taussac (Castres), Michaux (Aix), Noutary (Bayonne), Eksteen (AFS, Stormers), Uys (AFS, Impala Leopards), Palefau (USA), Baluc-Rittener (Bourgoin), Planté (Perpignan).
Out : Delpoux (entraîneur, Calvisano), Beltran (entraîneur), Bortolami (ITA, Gloucester), Viard (Montauban), Bédès (Pau), Desbrosse (Lyon), F. Martinez (Nîmes), Barthez (Colomiers), Patey (Gaillac).

Montpellier :
In : Hyardet (entraîneur), Chouchan (Biarritz), Sarraméa (Stade Français), F. Todeschini (ARG, Béziers), J. Todeschini (ARG/Rosario), Tissot (entraîneur, Nîmes), Uva (POR).
Out : Codling (ANG), Daniell (arrêt), Benazech (Nîmes), Arlettaz (entraîneur, Argelès), Nouchy (Béziers), Magrakvelidze (Montpellier).

Bayonne :
In : Bernad (Castres), Rudzki (ANG, Pau), Deen (AFS, Fukuoka), Pez (ITA, Perpignan), Baget (Biarritz), Faragou (entraîneur, Montauban), Hegarty (Biarritz), Audrin (Béziers), N'Gog (Lyon), Berberian (ARG, Perpignan), Lopresti (ITA, Perpignan), Tilloles (Agen), Magrakvelidze (Montpellier).
Out : Roque (Dax), Cléda (Tarbes), Combes (Pau), Lafaiali'i (SAM, Japon), Fifita (TON, Fukuoka), Sudre (Tarbes), Doucet (manager, Toulon), Astarloa (arrêt), Noutary (Narbonne), Siro (Lyon), Lamour (Saint-Médard-en-Jalles), Hill.

Montauban :
In : Lemoine (URU, Stade Français), Henn (ARG, Stade Français), Blanco (Agen), Traversa (Toulon), Etcheverria (Biarritz), Sa (SAM, Métro-Racing), Brignoni (URU, L'Aquila), Mitu (ROU, Tarbes), Viard (Narbonne), Audy (Toulouse), Frost (IRL, Ulster), Cassin (Pau), Immelman (AFS, Natal Sharks).
Out : Lafond (Brive), Ashvetia (Racing-Métro), Banquet, Wende (Sarlat), Derenalagi, Artiguste (Blagnac), F. Ntamack (Colomiers), Sisombath (Tarbes), Martinez (Gaillac), Theron (Limoges), Roques (Limoges), Bourcet (Limoges), Derenalagi (Grenoble).

Albi :
In : Ribes (Aurillac), Guffroy (Lyon), Delpuech (Pau), Santoni (Castres), Boulogne (Castres), M. Williams (Stade Français), Hough (AFS, Golden Cats), Pulu (TON, Coventry), Farani (NZL, Natal Sharks), Delvin (Munster), Fa'Atomu (SAM/Wellington).
Out : Farenc (Rodez), Vancheri (arrêt), Accorsi (Bordeaux), Hermine (arrêt).
"Il y a des gens que j'aime et que je traite de cons, mais il n'y a pas de cons auxquels je dis que je les aime."
Frédéric Dard
nikos
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Post by nikos »

ROUND 1 PREVIEW :
Biarritz / Montferrand
Perpignan / Castres
Agen / Bourgoin
Paris / Montpellier
Montauban / Narbonne
Brive / Toulouse
Albi / Bayonne


It's very difficult to talk about this first round because all the pre-season game dod not give lots of informations concerning each team real level....
But the games between Biarritz & Montferrand and Perpignan & Castres should be very interesting.

What could I add ??? :roll:
Biarritz will miss several injured players (Lievremont, Bobo, August,...) when they will recieve Clermont, and the top try scorer Rupeni Caucaunibuca did not arrive yet in Agen. Actually, nobody knows where he is....
Wait and see.
Last edited by nikos on Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Il y a des gens que j'aime et que je traite de cons, mais il n'y a pas de cons auxquels je dis que je les aime."
Frédéric Dard
Bill W
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Post by Bill W »

very many thanks for that Nikos.

I am sure you will have a fun season!
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Post by Rizzo »

thank you for sharing the information, nikos - wishing you some good rugby this season
Don't waste your time away thinking about yesterday's blues
Demelza - another Mother
nikos
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Post by nikos »

ROUND 1 :

FIXTURES :
Biarritz-Clermont: 29-24
Stade Français-Montpellier: 52-20
Albi-Bayonne: 24-12
Agen-Bourgoin: 18-6
Montauban-Narbonne: 41-20
Perpignan-Castres: 20-16
Brive-Toulouse: 9-24

STANDINGS :
1. Stade Français, 5 (32)
2. Montauban, 5 (21)
3. Toulouse, 4 (15)
4. Albi, 4 (12)
5. Agen, 4 (12)
6. Biarritz, 4 (5)
7. Perpignan, 4 (4)
8. Castres, 1 (-4)
9. Clermont-Auvergne, 1 (-5)
10. Bayonne, 0 (-12)
11. Bourgoin-Jallieu, 0 (-12)
12. Brive, 0 (-15)
13. Narbonne, 0 (-21)
14. Montpellier, 0 (-32)


The 2006/2007 TOP14 began friday in Biarritz with the champion recieving Clermont, who did not succeed to qualify for the H-Cup. But the game was tightened. Biarrits had not the same health than in june, and Clermont tried lots of interesting things, leaded by their new Australian fly half Brock James. Two try on both sides but the decision was made while Tony Marsh was sin binned. During those ten minutes, Biarritz scored 10 points and really won the game.

Everybody in France is talking about the new parisian pink shirt (absolutely awful in my mind, but some say this is because I am a Toulouse fan). But talking about it is forgetting that they scored more than fifty points and seven tries against a strong team... All the players seemed to be ready to play very interesting rugby. The first appearance in Paris of the young Lionel Beauxis (I told you a lot about him last year) was a succes.

The first surprise of the season came from Albi. They had not played in the first division for 16 years, but won the first home game of the season. This is amazing for those players, because most of them are not professional rugbymen and have another job during the week. But during 80 minutes, we did not see the difference.

Agen played a serious first home game. In spite of all the new players and the new coachs, we really saw a good team on the field. They have never been in danger during the game. A good start, but last season it was away games that were difficult... We will see in a few weeks.

Montauban succeeded showing in only 80 minutes that they will be very dangerous this season. Not only they won, but they also scored 4 brilliant tries ans got the offensive bonus point. I really believe that Narbonne's season will be veeeeeeeery long.

Perpignan and Castres, who are in the same H-Cup pool, began the season together. A good game on both sides. And it is already four points taken by Perpignan agianst a direct opponment for the semi-final qualification.

And finally, Toulouse played a serious game against a young Brive team. But the last year finalist will have to improve their level because their month of september will be terrible (Biarritz, Perpignan and Paris in row...)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROUND 2 PREVIEW :
Montpellier - Agen
Castres - Stade Français
Bourgoin-Jallieu - Brive
Toulouse - Albi
Bayonne - Montauban
Narbonne - Biarritz
Clermont-Auvergne - Perpignan


Montpellier has to forget the game they lost in Paris and Agen will want to show they can win away games.

A first hard travel for Paris in Castres. They are used to win there, but this is always a difficult game.

Bourgoin was a nightmare playing at home. But they lost two home games last year. Will this give ideas to Brive ?

Albi has to calm down after the excitation of this week end victory. They will meet the Stade Toulousain in Toulouse... always very hard.

Bayonne was very self confident before the beginning of the season, playing the two new elite teams in row for the two first rounds. They have to take care not losing both games, because Montauban is ready.

The champion Biarritz will travel to Narbonne, being totally quiet, sure of their own power.

A good clash between Clermont and Perpignan. Both played a good first game and tell they want to qualify for the semi final. Who is true ?
"Il y a des gens que j'aime et que je traite de cons, mais il n'y a pas de cons auxquels je dis que je les aime."
Frédéric Dard
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Post by Bill W »

So they all went "with the head" (home advantage) then - apart from Brive. Alas they are not the force they once were.

Clermont and Perpignan should be good!!
nikos
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Post by nikos »

ROUND 2 :

FIXTURES :
Castres-Stade Français : 16-26
Montpellier-Agen : 26-7
Toulouse-Albi : 23-0
Bourgoin - Brive : 42-17
Narbonne - Biarritz : 25-18
Clermont - Perpignan : 25-12
Bayonne - Montauban : 9-20

STANDINGS :
1. Stade Français, 9 (42)
2. Toulouse, 9 (38 )
3. Montauban, 9 (32)
4. Bourgoin-Jallieu, 5 (13)
5. Clermont-Auvergne, 5 (8 )
6. Biarritz, 5 (-2)
7. Agen, 4 (-7)
8. Perpignan, 4 (-9)
9. Albi, 4 (-11)
10. Montpellier, 4 (-13)
11. Narbonne, 4 (-14)
12. Castres, 1 (-14)
13. Bayonne, 0 (-23)
14. Brive, 0 (-40)


Stade Français was really impressive in Castres. Even if they had lots of problems with their line out (due to Patric Tabacco, the former Parisian), they did never doubt and scored two tries during key-moments. Castres begins the season with two defeats in row. This will be difficult for them to reach the semi-finals (that is their wish for this season). Note the injury of David Skrela, perfectly replaced by Lionel Beauxis.

Each year, Agen tell us they will win in Montpellier. And each year, they lose heavily. Montpellier's forward did perfectly the job and the new Italian international back David Bortolussi scored the kicked points. Agen can see what they miss to satisfact their european ambitions.

Toulouse and Albi made both lots of changes from the starting teams of the first game. The opportunity to see back on the field an always amazing Gareth Thomas and the powerfull William Servat (who won't play hooker any more but back row, to preserve his neck). But Toulouse had to wait the 78th minute to score the fourth try, due to tens of handlings errors.

Bourgoin wanted to show everybody that Pierre Rajon will be a terrible place for the visitors, my mind is that they succeeded. 5 tries for the home side, the attendance was really happy.

Huge surprise in Narbonne. In spite of the 40 points Montauban scored to them last week, Narbonne succeeded defeating the french champion and european finalist Biarritz who was saved by the referee who gave them a penalty kick at the last second which enable the to get the defensive bonnus point.

Perpignan did not show enough good things to be able to bring back any point from clermont, contrary to Clermont who made the same game than last year but with the victory.

The other surprise of the week-end came from Biarritz where Bayonne recieved Montauban. The promoted club is top ranked with 9 points, like Stade Français and Stade Toulousain and it is not unmerited .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROUND 3 PREVIEW :
Albi - Bourgoin-Jallieu
Biarritz - Bayonne
Perpignan - Narbonne
Stade Français - Clermont-Auvergne
Montpellier - Castres
Agen - Brive
Montauban - Toulouse


This round will be played on wednesday, so it is hard to say if the team will play to win or to preserve themselves for round 4 next sunday.
But we will have a look to the two derbys between Biarritz and Bayonne on one side, and Perpignan and Narbonne on the other side.
We will also watch the game between the 3rd and the 2nd : Montauban-Toulouse.
"Il y a des gens que j'aime et que je traite de cons, mais il n'y a pas de cons auxquels je dis que je les aime."
Frédéric Dard
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Post by wessexile »

Bienvenue, Nikos.
Ca va? Recouvrer, je l'espere!

Complimenter pour votre perspicacite grand, comme de habitude, de rugby en France, est merci encore.
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Post by wessexile »

Is stade Pierre Rajon a large stadium, and would you expect Bourgoin to play their European home tie against us there?
nikos
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Post by nikos »

Hi wessexile, thank you for the words in french :oops:

Concerning Bourgoin and Stade Pierre Rajon, it is really a small one (only 8 000 places), but I don't think they will play against you somewhere else :( , they're only talking about moving Munster's game.
"Il y a des gens que j'aime et que je traite de cons, mais il n'y a pas de cons auxquels je dis que je les aime."
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Post by Bill W »

Sounds like it is all warming up for a very exiting season nikos!

Salud!
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Post by The Countess of Welford »

Hi Nikos. What a suprise to see Narbonne beating Biarritz. Why was that? Did Biarritz retreat into their shell, as so often happens?

Am off to see Bayonne v Biarritz in December,should be a good one! :D
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Post by nikos »

The Countess of Welford wrote:Hi Nikos. What a suprise to see Narbonne beating Biarritz. Why was that? Did Biarritz retreat into their shell, as so often happens?
Yes, that was a game "off" for Biarritz...
But Narbonne is a very strong home side, last year they defeated Paris and Toulouse in Narbonne :D
"Il y a des gens que j'aime et que je traite de cons, mais il n'y a pas de cons auxquels je dis que je les aime."
Frédéric Dard
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Post by nikos »

ROUND 3 :

FIXTURES :
Albi - Bourgoin 21-18
Biarritz - Bayonne 54-0
Perpignan - Narbonne 45-6
Stade Français - Clermont 45-13
Montpellier - Castres 20-17
Agen - Brive 22-16
Montauban - Toulouse 19-24


STANDINGS :
1. Stade Français, 14 (74)
2. Toulouse, 13 (43)
3. Biarritz, 10 (52)
4. Montauban, 10 (27)
5. Perpignan, 9 (30)
6. Agen, 8 (-1)
7. Albi, 8 (-8 )
8. Montpellier, 8 (-10)
9. Bourgoin-Jallieu, 6 (10)
10. Clermont-Auvergne, 5 (-24)
11. Narbonne, 4 (-53)
12. Castres, 2 (-17)
13. Brive, 1 (-46)
14. Bayonne, 0 (-77)


Sorry but I just have a few time this week (with 3 rounds in 8 days...), to give you the results without any commentary...
Just note the huge surprise of Albi defeating Bourgoin 21-19 (half time : 18-0) !!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROUND 4 PREVIEW :
Bourgoin-Jallieu - Montauban
Narbonne - Stade Français
Clermont-Auvergne - Montpellier
Brive - Albi
Castres - Agen
Toulouse - Biarritz
Bayonne - Perpignan


The Top14 goes on today (Sunday) with the revenge of last final between Toulouse and Biarritz.
"Il y a des gens que j'aime et que je traite de cons, mais il n'y a pas de cons auxquels je dis que je les aime."
Frédéric Dard
Bill W
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Post by Bill W »

Albi result indeed a shock.

Overall top three hardly a suprise

Will Perpignan manage to beat Bayonne away?
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