French Top 14 2014/2015

[VGE]

Next week is the first round


VENDREDI 15 AOÛT 2014
Bayonne Toulon

SAMEDI 16 AOÛT 2014
Clermont Grenoble
Brive La Rochelle
Castres Stade Français
Union Bordeaux-Bègles Lyon OU
Toulouse Oyonnax
Montpellier Racing-Métro 92


Toulon seems stronger than ever. What else? See you in 2016.

I can imagine that final ranking:

1/Toulon
2/Montpellier
3/ASM
4/Toulouse
5/Racing
6/Castres

Oh, sorry, that was the 2014 ranking.


So:

1/ASM (I don't believe it but I want to believe)
2/Toulon
3/Racing
4/Toulouse
5/Montpellier
6/Bordeaux
7/Castres
8/Lyon
9/Stade Français
10/Brive
11/Oyonnax
12/Bayonne (only if they beat Toulon next Friday)
13/Grenoble (even if they beat ASM next Saturday)
14/La Rochelle



Just can't wait Munster/ASM



Au revoir.

[Tricky Dicky]

The Top 14 is monotonous, dreary cr@p for the most part. Slow, arm-wrestle rugby played on sub-standard surfaces with a minimum of phase-play. Bar Toulon, none of the French teams will do well in Europe next season in my opinion. Clermont and Toulouse look to be in decline, and Castres and Montpellier, while good teams, will prioritise the Top 14 and probably won't be able to prosper on two fronts. I pity the players. Fulgence Ouedraogo only got a two-week break ffs! Pro 12 standard can be poor sometimes, but at least most of the teams, especially the Irish ones, up their game considerably for European competition

I won't be watching much, but in its present guise the Top 14 is great for the Irish national team. Long may this dross continue

[VGE]

The Top 14 is monotonous, dreary cr@p for the most part. Slow, arm-wrestle rugby played on sub-standard surfaces with a minimum of phase-play. Bar Toulon, none of the French teams will do well in Europe next season in my opinion. Clermont and Toulouse look to be in decline, and Castres and Montpellier, while good teams, will prioritise the Top 14 and probably won't be able to prosper on two fronts. I pity the players. Fulgence Ouedraogo only got a two-week break ffs! Pro 12 standard can be poor sometimes, but at least most of the teams, especially the Irish ones, up their game considerably for European competition

I won't be watching much, but in its present guise the Top 14 is great for the Irish national team. Long may this dross continue

I think (and I'm afraid) that you're absolutely right.
But I want to believe lol


Au revoir.

[ceemec]

The Top 14 is monotonous, dreary cr@p for the most part.

While the T14 has a lot of arm wrestling in their games, as a leauge, it was the most absorbing, closely fought and interesting league in Europe by an absolute mile. The regular season went down to the wire. The writing was on the wall elsewhere miles in advance.

[Tricky Dicky]

The Top 14 is monotonous, dreary cr@p for the most part.

While the T14 has a lot of arm wrestling in their games, as a leauge, it was the most absorbing, closely fought and interesting league in Europe by an absolute mile. The regular season went down to the wire. The writing was on the wall elsewhere miles in advance.

It's very true that the mid-table positions are hotly contested, but apart from watching Clermont score loads of tries against minnows, I don't see any exciting actual play. It may be tense to see who's going to win a match, but there's too much emphasis on scrum, and not enough ball-in-hand attacking

[Peg Leg]

The Top 14 is monotonous, dreary cr@p for the most part.

While the T14 has a lot of arm wrestling in their games, as a leauge, it was the most absorbing, closely fought and interesting league in Europe by an absolute mile. The regular season went down to the wire. The writing was on the wall elsewhere miles in advance.

It's very true that the mid-table positions are hotly contested, but apart from watching Clermont score loads of tries against minnows, I don't see any exciting actual play. It may be tense to see who's going to win a match, but there's too much emphasis on scrum, and not enough ball-in-hand attacking

You might like league.

[Tricky Dicky]

You might like league.[/quote]

I don't especially like league, actually. Too few line-outs and too monotonous. I don't really have a feel for the tactics anyway. I'd only watch highlights if the likes of Tom Briscoe score great solo tries. I like good technically sound rugby union, of the sort coached by Joe Schmidt. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have a strong scrum, and I'm a big fan of the maul, when it's done well. I just don't like it when a team's only tactic seems to be to try to win penalties from scrums, instead of giving the ball to the backline. Too many Joe Tekoris, and not enough Olivier Magnes dominating the French game for me

[Dave Cahill]

The Top 14 is monotonous, dreary cr@p for the most part.

While the T14 has a lot of arm wrestling in their games, as a leauge, it was the most absorbing, closely fought and interesting league in Europe by an absolute mile. The regular season went down to the wire. The writing was on the wall elsewhere miles in advance.

That still doesn't change the fact that the actual rugby is not very good.

[Cianostays]

To be fair, Bordeaux are a pretty decent side to watch. They tend to play a lot of running, off loading rugby. Sadly, they may be in the minority.

[VGE]

To be fair, Bordeaux are a pretty decent side to watch. They tend to play a lot of running, off loading rugby. Sadly, they may be in the minority.

That's why I hope them to qualify.

Au revoir.

[Morf]

To be fair, Bordeaux are a pretty decent side to watch. They tend to play a lot of running, off loading rugby. Sadly, they may be in the minority.

That's why I hope them to qualify.

Au revoir.

Talebula will certainly be worth keeping an eye on.

[VGE]

Crisis? What crisis? I live 450 kms to Clermont and work often more further, but I'm a season ticket holder again! The boy is back in town.


Au revoir.

[Rémy63]

To be fair, Bordeaux are a pretty decent side to watch. They tend to play a lot of running, off loading rugby. Sadly, they may be in the minority.

Clermont, Bordeaux, Montpellier and promoted La Rochelle are all side that are very pretty to watch.

Toulouse and Toulon gameplans are too poor. Stade Français is also pretty to watch but I don't like some of their players (in terms of mentality - Parisse, Fillol, Pape, Arias).

All the others are only concentrated on destroy the gameplan of the opponent.

[VGE]

Bayonne 15 Toulon 29

It will be a looooooong long year.


Au revoir.

[Toulon fan]

Crisis? What crisis? I live 450 kms to Clermont and work often more further, but I'm a season ticket holder again! The boy is back in town.


Au revoir.

Aww...

Bayonne 15 Toulon 29

It will be a looooooong long year.


Au revoir.

You got to beliebe!

[Cianostays]

Ah that's low. Funny. Very, very funny but low

[johng]

Why is there a photo of James O'connor there? Did he get off the bench last night?

[Toulon fan]

Why is there a photo of James O'connor there? Did he get off the bench last night?

By now the puppet's just here to sing a song or two under the shower. Training sessions based on "baby, baby, baaaabbbbyyyyy uuuhhh uuuuuuhhh babyyyyy". His throat will be ready for Bakkies Botha return.

[simonokeeffe]

Why is there a photo of James O'connor there? Did he get off the bench last night?

By now the puppet's just here to sing a song or two under the shower. Training sessions based on "baby, baby, baaaabbbbyyyyy uuuhhh uuuuuuhhh babyyyyy". His throat will be ready for Bakkies Botha return.

[Xanthippe]

What the actual fcuk!!!

Clermont v Grenoble game - wonder how Jackman will feel about that finish. You can't win the title if you're so afraid of missing out on the losing bonus point that you're not prepared to go for the win. That could have been a HUGE result for Grenoble and a fantastic way to kick start a season.

I'm off for the shopping now sad and disappointed by Top 14 rugby - ah well, what's new!