French rugby 2020/2021

[kpj tiger]

Tim Nanai-Williams to leave Clermont :

https://rugby365.com/countries/france/s ... departure/

Will be a good pickup for somebody

[Robespierre]

Tim Nanai-Williams to leave Clermont :

https://rugby365.com/countries/france/s ... departure/

Will be a good pickup for somebody

He's apparently very close to signing for Toulouse!

[Robespierre]

Toulon's Charles Ollivon, captain of the French XV, ruptured his knee ligaments in Saturday's Top14 match at Castres and will miss France's tour to Australia this summer and probable a couple of months of next season too.
My money would be on Toulouse's Julian Marchand to replace him as captain.

[JP14]

Who would you have in the 7 jersey in the meantime, Robespierre? Jelonch?

[ourla]

We now know the Top14 play-off matches, including a mouthwatering Paris derby!!!

Friday June 11th Racing v Stade Français at 21h00 (the winners will meet La Rochelle in the first semifinal on Friday 18th at 21h00))
Saturday June 12th Bordeaux v Clermont at 21h00 (the winners will play Toulouse in the second semifinal on Saturday 18th at 21h00))

The final is on Saturday 25th June at 21h00 in the Stade de France.

At the other end of the table we know two teams who will play for the right of playing in next season's Top14. Another derby, but in the Basque country! Bayonne who lost narrowly at home to Stade Français 9-12 and finished 13th in the Top14 (Pau secured a dramatic bonus point win at home to Montpellier to climb above Bayonne on points difference) must travel to near neighbours and bitter rivals Biarritz who were runners-up in yesterday's ProD2 final against Perpignan. The match is on Saturday 12th at 17h30. The stakes are enormous, a place in the Top14 for the winner and ProD2 for the loser, so Stade Aguilèra will be no place for the faint-hearted on that day as there is no love lost between these two clubs and no quarter will be given or expected!

Will try and catch some of these games. Should be some cracking rugby.

[Robespierre]

Who would you have in the 7 jersey in the meantime, Robespierre? Jelonch?

Jelonch would certainly be among Galthié’s preferred options. A back row of Jelonch at 7, Cros at 6 and Alldritt at 8 would be rather good!

[Robespierre]

The first Top14 play-off takes place this evening at the Paris La Défense Arena where Racing 92 will be at home to Parisien rivals Stade Français at 20h45 local time.

Here are the teams:

One notable absentee in the SF side is Veainu - and I don't know why. However, former Tiger Pablo Matera wears the 7 shirt, and maybe for the last time before he goes to Canterbury Crusaders.

Stade français : 15. Hamdaoui ; 14. Naivalu, 13. Waisea, 12. Danty, 11. Lapègue ; 10. Segonds, 9. Hall ; 7. Matera, 8. Macalou, 6. Burban ; 5. Azagoh, 4. Gabrillagues ; 3. P. Alo-Emile (cap.), 2. Latu, 1. Kakovin

Replacements : 16. Da Silva, 17. M. Alo-Emile, 18. Kremer, 19. Godener, 20. Coville, 21. Arrate, 22. De Giovanni, 23. Melikidze.

Racing 92 : 15. Beale ; 14. Thomas, 13. Vakatawa, 12. Fickou, 11. Taofifenua ; 10. Russell, 9. Machenaud (cap.) ; 7. Diallo, 8. Tanga, 6. Palu ; 5. Bird, 4. Le Roux ; 3. Gomes Sa, 2. Baubigny, 1. Ben Arous

Replacements : 16. Le Guen, 17. Kolingar, 18. Ryan, 19. Lauret, 20. Le Garrec, 21. Trinh-Duc, 22. Zebo, 23. Oz.

Racing's all-star three-quarters would be the envy of any side and logically, Racing will be favourites.
Gaël Fickou, who played for SF this season before suddenly being released in March to join Racing starts at 12 alongside Vakatawa at 13.

The winners will play La Rochelle in next Friday's first semi-final.

[Robespierre]

The first Top14 play-off takes place this evening at the Paris La Défense Arena where Racing 92 will be at home to Parisien rivals Stade Français at 20h45 local time.

Here are the teams:

One notable absentee in the SF side is Veainu - and I don't know why. However, former Tiger Pablo Matera wears the 7 shirt, and maybe for the last time before he goes to Canterbury Crusaders.

Stade français : 15. Hamdaoui ; 14. Naivalu, 13. Waisea, 12. Danty, 11. Lapègue ; 10. Segonds, 9. Hall ; 7. Matera, 8. Macalou, 6. Burban ; 5. Azagoh, 4. Gabrillagues ; 3. P. Alo-Emile (cap.), 2. Latu, 1. Kakovin

Replacements : 16. Da Silva, 17. M. Alo-Emile, 18. Kremer, 19. Godener, 20. Coville, 21. Arrate, 22. De Giovanni, 23. Melikidze.

Racing 92 : 15. Beale ; 14. Thomas, 13. Vakatawa, 12. Fickou, 11. Taofifenua ; 10. Russell, 9. Machenaud (cap.) ; 7. Diallo, 8. Tanga, 6. Palu ; 5. Bird, 4. Le Roux ; 3. Gomes Sa, 2. Baubigny, 1. Ben Arous

Replacements : 16. Le Guen, 17. Kolingar, 18. Ryan, 19. Lauret, 20. Le Garrec, 21. Trinh-Duc, 22. Zebo, 23. Oz.

Racing's all-star three-quarters would be the envy of any side and logically, Racing will be favourites.
Gaël Fickou, who played for SF this season before suddenly being released in March to join Racing starts at 12 alongside Vakatawa at 13.

The winners will play La Rochelle in next Friday's first semi-final.

And Racing were comfortable winners 38-21, due to a dominant first half that they won 28-0.

[JP14]

Finn Russell ‘s performance for Racing

[Scott1]

Finn Russell ‘s performance for Racing

When he’s on it he’s different class!

[Robespierre]

The first Top14 play-off takes place this evening at the Paris La Défense Arena where Racing 92 will be at home to Parisien rivals Stade Français at 20h45 local time.

Here are the teams:

One notable absentee in the SF side is Veainu - and I don't know why. However, former Tiger Pablo Matera wears the 7 shirt, and maybe for the last time before he goes to Canterbury Crusaders.

Stade français : 15. Hamdaoui ; 14. Naivalu, 13. Waisea, 12. Danty, 11. Lapègue ; 10. Segonds, 9. Hall ; 7. Matera, 8. Macalou, 6. Burban ; 5. Azagoh, 4. Gabrillagues ; 3. P. Alo-Emile (cap.), 2. Latu, 1. Kakovin

Replacements : 16. Da Silva, 17. M. Alo-Emile, 18. Kremer, 19. Godener, 20. Coville, 21. Arrate, 22. De Giovanni, 23. Melikidze.

Racing 92 : 15. Beale ; 14. Thomas, 13. Vakatawa, 12. Fickou, 11. Taofifenua ; 10. Russell, 9. Machenaud (cap.) ; 7. Diallo, 8. Tanga, 6. Palu ; 5. Bird, 4. Le Roux ; 3. Gomes Sa, 2. Baubigny, 1. Ben Arous

Replacements : 16. Le Guen, 17. Kolingar, 18. Ryan, 19. Lauret, 20. Le Garrec, 21. Trinh-Duc, 22. Zebo, 23. Oz.

Racing's all-star three-quarters would be the envy of any side and logically, Racing will be favourites.
Gaël Fickou, who played for SF this season before suddenly being released in March to join Racing starts at 12 alongside Vakatawa at 13.

The winners will play La Rochelle in next Friday's first semi-final.

And Racing were comfortable winners 38-21, due to a dominant first half that they won 28-0.

In the second play-off Bordeaux beat Clermont 25-16 and will meet Toulouse in next Saturday's semifinal in Lille, a repeat of the Champions'Cup semifinal.

Elsewhere, Biarritz will play in the Top14 next season! They beat Bayonne on penalties after extra time after the two teams drew 6-6 after normal time.

[Robespierre]

We now know the composition of next season's Top14. Agen and Bayonne are relegated to ProD2 while Perpignan and Biarritz are promoted from ProD2:

Toulouse, La Rochelle, Racing92, Bordeaux/Bègles, Clermont, Stade Français, Castres, Toulon, Lyon, Brive, Montpellier, Pau, Perpignan and Biarritz Olympique.

The usual suspects will doubtless be in the end of season playoffs and the likes of Brive, Pau, Perpignan and Biarritz to try and avoid the drop.

Here's some info on the promoted clubs:

USA Perignan (Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais)

The club have been champions of France 9 times (the last in 2009).
Heineken Cup runners-up in 2003 (against Toulouse).
Some former players of note: Jo Maso, Raphaël Ibanez, Dan Carter (only 5 matches before injury), Didier Camberabéro and former Tigers David Mélé, Jerome Schuster, Maxime Mermoz, Tim Stimpson and Perry Freshwater who's the current forwards coach

Biarritz Olympique

Champions of France 5 times (recently in 2002, 2005, 2006)
Heineken Cup runners-up 2006 (against Munster) and 2010 (against Toulouse)
Some former players of note: Serge Betsen, Serge Blanco, Imanol Harinordoquy, Thierry Dusautoir, Dimitri Yachvili and former Tigers Julien Dupuy and Ayoola Erinle.

[ourla]

Still dominated by the South + Paris

[Robespierre]

Still dominated by the South + Paris

True, although Vannes came within a gnat's cock of being promoted and will probably be among the promotion candidates next season.

[Robespierre]

The first semi-final takes place this evening in Lille, between Racing92 and La Rochelle.

I reckon Racing will win, although not by many. La Rochelle are missing French international hooker Pierre Bougarit and both first choice centres,French international Geoffrey Doumayrou (hamstring injury) and Fijian international Levani "Demolition man" Botia who copped a four-week suspension for a dangerous high tackle in the Champions' Cup final. The Racing backs, however look a class above and should see them through to next Saturday's final against either Bordeaux or Toulouse.

Here are the teams :

Racing 92 : 15. Beale; 14. Thomas, 13. Vakatawa, 12. Fickou, 11.Dupichot; 10. Russell, 9. Machenaud (cap.); 7. Diallo, 8. Claassen, 6. Palu; 5.Bird, 4. Le Roux; 3. Gomes Sa, 2. Baubigny, 1. Kolingar.

Remplaçants : 16. Le Guen, 17. Gogichashvili, 18. Ryan, 19. Lauret, 20. Iribaren, 21. Trinh-Duc, 22. Zebo, 23. Colombe.

Stade rochelais : 15. Dulin ; 14. Leyds, 13. Rhule, 12. Favre, 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. Sweetnam, 23. Joly.


La Rochelle are in their first Top14 final having soundly beaten Racing 19-6! On a rainy night in Lille they strangled Racing who never managed to get into the game. On this sort of form, the wise money may well be on La Rochelle to win the title!