French rugby 2018/2019

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Robespierre
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French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Robespierre »

After 4 rounds, this is how the teams stand. Clermont are the early pacesetters having scored a whopping 176 points in their 4 victories. But look where big-spenders Montpellier and Toulon are having only won one match each.

1 Clermont 18 points
2 Stade Français 14
3 Castres 14
4 Toulouse 14
5 Lyon 12
6 Racing 10
7 La Rochelle 9
8 Pau 9
9 Agen 8
10 Bordeaux 8
11 Montpellier 7
12 Toulon 4
13 Grenoble 2
14 Perpignan 1

One match of interest this weekend is with the bottom two clubs, Grenoble v Perpignan, and I expect a bonus point win for Grenoble.
Racing v last season's champions Castres is a match that promises to be good.
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AusTiger
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by AusTiger »

Toulon, spend far too much to be 3rd last. It's a a rugby legend retirement village over there.
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by JP14 »

Good to see Clermont back at the top.
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
Robespierre
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Robespierre »

JP14 wrote: Fri Sep 21, 2018 4:02 pm Good to see Clermont back at the top.
And they should cement their position at the top away to Bordeaux this weekend.
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sam16111986
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by sam16111986 »

AusTiger wrote: Fri Sep 21, 2018 2:22 pm Toulon, spend far too much to be 3rd last. It's a a rugby legend retirement village over there.
Not quite the retirement village it used to be. Messam, Fekitoa and Savea are hardly past their best.

It was a brave appointment in the summer. Collazo had La Rochelle playing a very distinct style of rugby that wasn't close to how Toulon were playing (particularly up front) last season. Big change for the players and a mucher bigger requirement for their fitness which hasn't been a Toulon strong point previously. I'm not much of a fan because of their president but that backline playing like La Rochelle did last season would be a great watch for a neutral.
Robespierre
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Robespierre »

One or two surprises at the weekend.
Clermont's winning run came to an end in Bordeaux 19-23.
Stade Français won in Pau.
Toulouse (fielding a side with plenty of young players) were thumped 66-15 at Montpellier.
Elsewhere, Racing comfortably beat champions Castres 27-11 and Grenoble beat bottom of the table Perpignan 31-22.

So the table is:
Clermont 19 points
Stade Français 18
Racing 14
Toulouse 14
Castres 14
La Rochelle 13
Lyon 12
Montpellier 12
Bordeaux 12
Pau 9
Toulon 8
Agen 8
Grenoble 6
Perpignan 1

The eye-catching fixtures next weekend are:
Toulouse v Castres
SF v Racing
Clermont v Toulon

In ProD2, the early pacesetters are Mont de Marsan and Bayonne.
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Robespierre
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Robespierre »

After being out for nearly a year with cruciate ligament problems, Carl Fearns is likely to be included in Lyon's XX111 this weekend against Grenoble.
Hadn't he "signed" for Gloucester a couple of years ago to have a crack at getting into the England squad, but after a phone call from Eddie Jones, accepted a lucrative offer from Lyon? Can't say I'd blame him. Probably a wise decision.
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Robespierre
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Robespierre »

Here's the Top14 table after the 7th round of matches.

Clermont lost narrowly at La Rochelle but remain at the top. After avoiding relegation last season by the skin of their teeth, Stade Français are happily back on form and inflicted a rare home defeat at champions Castres yesterday. Toulon went down 17-29 at Montpellier and are firmly in the bottom four. An impressive Lyon side won away at Racing.

1 ASM Clermont 25 points
2 Stade Français 23
3 Lyon 21
4 Montpellier 20
5 Castres Olympique 19
6 Stade Toulousain 19
7 Racing 92 18
8 Union Bordeaux-Bègles 17
9 Stade Rochelais 17
10 Section Paloise 17
11 Grenoble 10
12 Rugby Club Toulonnais 9
13 SU Agen 9
14 Perpignan 3
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ourla
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by ourla »

Robespierre, some questions:

Has there ever been any discussions around ring fencing the 14?

How are attendences holding up out there?

What's the cap these days? And are all teams using the full cap?
Robespierre
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Robespierre »

ourla wrote: Mon Oct 08, 2018 10:19 am Robespierre, some questions:

Has there ever been any discussions around ring fencing the 14?
None that I am aware of. ProD2 has famous clubs that are trying to get back into the Top14 - Mont de Marsan, Bayonne, Brive, Biarritz and Beziers, for example, and there'd be rioting on the streets if promotion from ProD2 were to be stopped.

How are attendences holding up out there?
Last season's average attendance in the Top14 was 13,500 which was a slight reduction on the previous season, but I've no figures for this season yet.

What's the cap these days? And are all teams using the full cap?
The salary cap is supposed to be 11.3m Euros for this season and there have been questions asked if the clubs are adhering to it. Montpellier, in particular are under the scrutiny of the authorites, and it's probably justified as there is a high number of top class players from NZ and SA in Montpellier. In fact, not just Montpellier. I can't be sure but every club will have southern hemisphere players benefiting from the high salaries on offer.
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ourla
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by ourla »

Seems like France has greater depth in the club game than England.

On the flip side hard to see how sustainable the club game is with that cap and attendance - although obviously that is just first glance.
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Cagey Tiger »

ourla wrote: Mon Oct 08, 2018 9:49 pm Seems like France has greater depth in the club game than England.

On the flip side hard to see how sustainable the club game is with that cap and attendance - although obviously that is just first glance.
Greater depth? The national squad is suffering due to the high number of foreign players in the Top14, partly as a consequence of the high salary cap.

Sustainable? A fair few owners with very large wallets and egos to match.
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by ourla »

Cagey Tiger wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2018 5:30 pm Greater depth? The national squad is suffering due to the high number of foreign players in the Top14, partly as a consequence of the high salary cap.
I was talking the club structure not the national squad.
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Cagey Tiger »

ourla wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:10 pm
Cagey Tiger wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2018 5:30 pm Greater depth? The national squad is suffering due to the high number of foreign players in the Top14, partly as a consequence of the high salary cap.
I was talking the club structure not the national squad.
So was I, indirectly. There may be more money around, leading to greater strength and depth in Pro D2 compared with the Championship, but it is generally to the detriment of home grown players.
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Re: French rugby 2018/2019

Post by Robespierre »

Cagey Tiger wrote: Wed Oct 10, 2018 3:16 pm
ourla wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:10 pm
Cagey Tiger wrote: Tue Oct 09, 2018 5:30 pm Greater depth? The national squad is suffering due to the high number of foreign players in the Top14, partly as a consequence of the high salary cap.
I was talking the club structure not the national squad.
So was I, indirectly. There may be more money around, leading to greater strength and depth in Pro D2 compared with the Championship, but it is generally to the detriment of home grown players.
Without doubt, ProD2 is at a higher level than the Championship. As far as the national team is concerned, it suffers from the excessively high number of foreigners in clubs. Take Montpellier for example where the percentage of French players in the match day squad must be about 30%(I’ll have a look at their team for this weekend ‘s match and come back to you).
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