French rugby 2020/2021

[Robespierre]

Yesterday evening's result:

Lyon 27 Bordeaux 10

Lyon climb to 8th and are level on points with Toulon ( both played 3 with 5 points)


Elsewhere, Clermont winger Damien Penaud will miss France's Autumn internationals due to a broken tibia.

[Robespierre]

Fabien Galthié and Raphaël Ibanez have announced the group of 31 players for the Autumn Tests:


LHP : Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon).

Hookers : Camille Chat (Racing), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse).

THP : Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier), Demba Bamba (Lyon), Georges-Henri Colombe (Racing 92).

2nd row: Bernard Le Roux (Racing), Paul Willemse (Montpellier), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Killian Géraci (Lyon).

Back row: François Cros (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Dylan Crétin (Lyon), Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Selevasio Tolofua (Toulouse), Cameron Woki (Bordeaux-Bègles).

Scrum half: Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (Toulon).

Outside half : Romain Ntamack (Toulouse), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux).

Centres : Virimi Vakatawa (Racing), Gaël Fickou (Stade Français), Arthur Vincent (Montpellier), Olivier Klemenczak (Racing 92).

Wingers : Vincent Rattez (Montpellier), Teddy Thomas (Racing), Arthur Retière (La Rochelle).

Fullbacks : Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)

The majority of the players were in the 6N squad earlier in the year and the only new boys are 22-year-old Racing prop Georges Henri Colombe (as colombe is French for "dove", this is hardly suitable for this young prop!), Racing centre Olivier Klemenzac, La Rochelle's winger Arthur Retière(Top try scorer in last season's Top14), Lyon 2nd row Killian Géraci and it's no surprise that the Toulouse 8 Selevasio Tolofua has been selected.
Ibanez says their objective is to win the Autumn Nations cup and to get back into the World top 3.
I wouldn't bet against that.

[JP14]

Not many arguments with that squad, can they still pull off the Six Nations? At home with a small crowd and an Irish side that isn't in form I'm expecting a win for Les Bleus however the odds are in favour with England.

[Robespierre]

Round 4 of the Top14 this weekend:

Friday 9th Oct
Bayonne v La Rochelle

Saturday 10th
Agen v SF
Castres v Brive (postponed due to cases of covid among the Castres players)
Toulon v Montpellier
Racing v Toulouse (will Racing field a full-strength side with the final v Exeter a week away?)

Sunday 11th
Pau v Lyon
Bordeaux v Clermont

[Robespierre]

The relationship between the FFR (Federation of French Rugby) and the LNR (National League Rugby) is becoming rather strained, and the LNR - that represents the clubs in the Top14 and ProD2, have taken the FFR - that represents the national team, to court!
The argument is about the release of club players for the international matches later this autumn.
The FFR want the 42 players selected by coach Fabien Galthié to be available from October 24th - December 5th, that's 7 weeks for 6 matches. However, the LNR insisit that their players be available for 5 weeks with a maximum of 4 matches per player.

We can understand the LNR's point of view as the top clubs are in the middle of a demanding run of games in the Top14, Champions' Cup and Challenge Cup, and the extra demand on the players would be excessive and risks of injury are greater.

The knives are drawn according to a Rugbyrama and it'll be interesting to hear the court's decision.

The FFR president, Bernard Laporte has other worries on his mind at the moment having recently been held in police custody for a couple of days due to alleged financial irregularities, and also the imminent election for President of the FFR, for which he wishes to continue! !
Also, Fabien Galthié has threatened to throw all of his toys out of his pram and resign as coach of the French XV if Laporte isn't re-elected, so that adds a bit of spice to this dilemma!

The court has rejected the LNR's demand regarding the reduced availability of players for the 6 Autumn Tests so the clubs are obliged to release their players to the French XV for all 6 Tests.

[Robespierre]

Round 4 of the Top14 this weekend:

Friday 9th Oct
Bayonne v La Rochelle

Saturday 10th
Agen v SF
Castres v Brive (postponed due to cases of covid among the Castres players)
Toulon v Montpellier
Racing v Toulouse (will Racing field a full-strength side with the final v Exeter a week away?)

Sunday 11th
Pau v Lyon
Bordeaux v Clermont

The Bordeaux v Clermont match has been postponed due to covid cases in the Bordeaux squad.

Team news:

Racing v Toulouse. A changed Racing team as expected, but there are still experienced players in the squad and at 8, the impressive former U20 Jordan Joseph. For Toulouse, Ntamack moves to centre with Ramos at 10 and Kolbe moves to fullback.

Racing 92 : 15. Spring ; 14. Thomas, 13. Klemenczak, 12. Trinh-Duc ; 11. D. Taofifenua ; 10. Gibert, 9. Machenaud (cap.) ; 7. Diallo, 8. Joseph, 6. Tanga ; 5. Palu, 4. Ryan ; 3. Gomes Sa, 2. Baubigny, 1. Gogichashvili.

Bench : 16. Chat, 17. Kolingar, 18. Bird, 19. Sanconnie, 20. Le Garrec, 21. Chavancy, 22. Costossèque, 23. Kharaishvili.

Toulouse : 15. Kolbe ; 14. Marty, 13. Holmes, 12. Ntamack, 11. Lebel ; 10. Ramos, 9. Dupont ; 7. Cros, 8. Miquel, 6. Tolofua ; 5. Meafou, 4. Ri. Arnold ; 3. Aldegheri, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Baille.

Bench: 16. G. Marchand, 17. Ainu’u, 18. Tekori, 19. Madaule, 20. Youyoutte, 21. Balès, 22. Ahki, 23. Tafili

Alex Lozowski is on the bench for Montpellier at Toulon for whom Eben Etzebeth returns.
Pablo Matera captains Stade Français at Agen.

[Robespierre]

Here are the results from this weekend's Top round 4:

Bayonne 19 La Rochelle 36
Agen 3 S Français 20
Castres v Brive postponed
Racing 24 Toulouse 30
Toulon 25 Montpellier 21
Bordeaux v Clermont postponed
Pau 29 Lyon 29

The match between Racing and Toulouse lived up to expectations with plenty of flowing rugby with Toulouse scoring three tries to Racing's two. Neither side was at full strength, particularly Racing, for whom Russell, Zebo, Imhoff, Vakatawa and others were rested in preparation for next Saturday's final against Exeter.

The table:
Played Points
1 Toulouse 4 13
2 Pau 4 10
3 La Rochelle 3 9
4 Toulon 4 9
5 Racing 3 9
6 Brive 3 9
7 Clermont 3 9
8 Bayonne 4 8
9 Stade Français 3 8
10 Lyon 4 7
11 Castres 2 4
12 Bordeaux 2 4
13 Montpellier 3 2
14 Agen 4 1

Next weekend's fixtures:

Brive v Toulouse
La Rochelle v Castres
Montpellier v Agen
Pau v Bordeaux
Racing v Toulon (postponed)
Lyon v Bayonne
Clermont v Stade Français.

[Robespierre]

The dispute between the FFR (French Rugby Federation) and the LNR (representing the clubs) is far from over and is still simmering.
The FFR are insisting that the players selected be available for all the 6 matches this autumn.
However, the LNR say that they'll only agree to 5, so for the friendly/warm-up match on October 24th against Wales, Fabien Galthié may have to select players from ProD2 and U 20s.

Vive la Révolution!

[Robespierre]

A compromise has been reached between the FFR and the LNR concerning the 6 autumn Tests.

1. The players will play no more than three Tests each.
2. The squad is to be reduced from 42 to 31 players.
3. Each Wednesday three players will be able to go back to their clubs.

These are the matches:

Saturday Oct 24th - France v Wales at Stade de France ko 9pm (a warm-up match)
Saturday Oct 31st - France v Ireland at SdF ko 9pm (6 nations)
Saturday Nov 15th - France v Fiji in Saint-Etienne ko 4.15pm (Autumn Nations Cup)
Sunday Nov 22nd - Scotland v France at Murrayfield ko 3.15pm (Autumn Nations Cup)
Saturday Nov 28th - France v Italy at SdF ko 9.10pm (Autumn Nations Cup)
Saturday Dec 5th/Sunday Dec 6th - France v tbc -Autumn Nations Cup - finals)

[tigerburnie]

Do you think the games will go ahead in Paris with the current covid lockdowns?

[sam16111986]

1. The players will play no more than three Tests each.

Accidentally a great opportunity for France to blood a lot of players and try new combinations. Results might not be there but could actually do them a favour long term.

[Robespierre]

Do you think the games will go ahead in Paris with the current covid lockdowns?

Yes, the government has authorised the matches to be played.

[Robespierre]

1. The players will play no more than three Tests each.

Accidentally a great opportunity for France to blood a lot of players and try new combinations. Results might not be there but could actually do them a favour long term.

I’m sure we’ll see some young players getting their first taste of Test rugby!

[JP14]

I'm glad an agreement could be found.

[Robespierre]

Drive-in spectators!

For the Top14 match Montpellier v Agen at 3h15 on Saturday afternoon there'll be a limit of 1000 spectators in the stands and there'll also be "drive-in" spectators!!
A giant screen is to be set up in the club car park and spectators in their cars will be able to buy sandwiches and soft drinks with an at-seat-service.