French rugby 2020/2021

[Scott1]

Great player,teak tough! Alongside McCaw and Read part of the greatest back row that ever played the game IMO.

[Robespierre]

Here are the sides for the Top14 final later today.
Fot Toulouse, Ramos is selected at outside half for the injured Ntamack, Kolbe at fullback and their are two Argentinian internationals in the backs, Chocobares at centre and Mallia on the wing. One surprise is the selection of Tolofua at 8 with Kaino on the bench. The Arnold twins are in the second row which should ensure line out possession.

Le XV de départ du Stade toulousain :
15. Kolbe; 14. Mallia, 13. Chocobares, 12. Ahki, 11. Lebel ; 10. Ramos, 9. Dupont ; 7. Cros, 8. Tolofua, 6. Elstadt ; 5. Ri. Arnold, 4. Ro. Arnold ; 3. Faumuina, 2. J. Marchand (cap.), 1. Baille.

Remplaçants : 16. Mauvaka, 17. Neti, 18. Tekori, 19. Flament, 20. Kaino, 21. Balès, 22. Médard, 23. Aldegheri

For la Rochelle, the only regular player missing is hooker Bougarit (careful with the pronunciation!!), but that is a fearsome looking side that may just have the edge.

Le XV de la Rochelle :
15. Dulin ; 14. Leyds, 13. Rhule, 12. Doumayrou, 11. Retière ; 10. West, 9. Kerr-Barlow ; 7. Gourdon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Liebenberg ; 5. Skelton, 4. Sazy (cap.) ; 3. Atonio, 2. Bosch, 1. Wardi.

Remplaçants : 16. Lagrange, 17. Priso, 18. Lavault, 19. Vito, 20. Le Bail, 21. Plisson, 22. Favre, 23. Joly.

Prediction time: my heart says Toulouse, but my head says La Rochelle. Can't wait for ko at 20h45 local time.

[kk20gb30]

Frederic Michalak added to French coaching backroom staff for the series in Australia:

https://rugby365.com/countries/australi ... -a-legend/

[ourla]

Drop goal from the halfway line from Kolbe - 12-0 at HT in the Finale

[ourla]

Shame it's chucking down

[Robespierre]

Drop goal from the halfway line from Kolbe - 12-0 at HT in the Finale

When Cheslin Kolbe gets his hands on the ball, 99% of the time he runs, but not this time!!!

[Robespierre]

Toulouse win their 21st Brennus Shield 18-8, although La Rochelle had the consolation of scoring the only try.

Unfortunately, La Rochelle were a shadow of the team that had graced this season's Top14, but this was their first final and surely their time will come.

Worth noting too was Toulouse won the Top14/European Cup double. It's only the 3rd time that a French club has achieved this - Toulouse in 1996 against Cardiff ( the first European final and I don't think any English clubs were competing?) and Toulon in 2014 against Saracens.

[Big Dai]

Remy time!

[kk20gb30]

Surprised by the manner of the victory ,but worthy champions and euro final result confirmed.
Both clubs going to be forces to be reckoned with next season at home and abroad.

[Robespierre]

Surprised by the manner of the victory ,but worthy champions and euro final result confirmed.
Both clubs going to be forces to be reckoned with next season at home and abroad.

True, we've become used to a more fluent attacking game from Toulouse, which is why they had scored more tries than any other team in this season's Top14. However, they were up against the side that had conceded the fewest tries of the season and I thought they adapted their game according to the opposition and the weather magnificently. Apart from a few knock-ons due to the slippery ball, they made few errors. Their tight scrum was sometimes under pressure but they didn't buckle; there were no missed touches from what I can remember, and crucially, they turned over La Rochelle's ball on several occasions.
Indeed they are worthy champions and I wonder if Tigers'll be in their pool come the draw for the Champions' Cup!

[Robespierre]

Here are the dates for the three-match Test series for France in Australia.
There'll be a potentially punishing schedule of three Tests in ten days, two of which are mid-week, so there'll surely be playing opportunities for all of the squad, many of whom will be new to Test rugby.

Wednesday July 7th - Sydney ko 12h French time
Tuesday July 13th - Melbourne ko 12h
Saturday July 17th - Brisbane ko 12h

Australia will probably be favourites to win the series, but France may well surprise them.


Edit: due to the Delta variant of covid, the first Test will not now be in Sydney and could be played in either Newcastle (NSW) or Brisbane.

[Robespierre]

The first Australia v France Test due to be played next Wednesday 7th July has indeed been moved from Sydney to Brisbane.
I understand the kick off will be at 11h00 UK time.

[Robespierre]

Anthony Jelonch has been named captain for the three-match series in Australia.

[kk20gb30]

Genuinely looking forward to this series,believe it will be very close and evenly contested..

[Robespierre]

Genuinely looking forward to this series,believe it will be very close and evenly contested..

Me too! Although they're missing a lot of first choice players, I think back to the side containing several inexperienced players that went to Twickenham last Autumn and very nearly, and indeed should have, beaten England!