Le Taupe XIV et la mégalomanie d'un secretaire d'état ripoux

[TheFrog]

Yes, sprained ankle this weekend against the sharks.

I'm happier with Le Garrec in. No idea how Ntamack keeps a slot on form.

Me too and I hope he’ll do a good job under pressure like Lucu was doing

Le Garrec is pretty solid mentally. He has the third sport to grab for the World Cup and could push his way to become number 2.

[Torquemada 1420]

Yes, sprained ankle this weekend against the sharks.

I'm happier with Le Garrec in. No idea how Ntamack keeps a slot on form.

I quite like how Hastoy is performing. He could fit Galthie's plans.

One thing though: Ntamack sticks to the game plan and Galthie must like that.

Yes, that's true. But I feel that even at Toulouse, his form is affecting Dupont who seems to be increasingly taking more on himself and making mistakes as a result.

Did you see Galthie's comments on Jaminet? My bet is that means Jaminet will start the 6N.

Le Garrec is the best passer of a ball in France at the moment.

[Marylandolorian]

“ le barométries des bleus” good review

https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/rugby/xv-de- ... 30369.html

[Torquemada 1420]

“ le barométries des bleus” good review

https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/rugby/xv-de- ... 30369.html

Romain Ntamack: un peu discret dans le jeu offensif, il a su toutefois alterner et trouver deux touches importantes en 2e mi-temps. A pas mal défendu aussi. Pas encore étincelant.

Yup. Credited him for both kicks in the game as well as his defending which is better than Jalibert's.

However, "a bit discrete" in attack is a massive understatement. Again, he provided no threat with ball in hand and, IIRC correctly, only attacked the line twice
- one was largely sideways
- the other, near the end, he ran into a brickwall, got stripped, which ruined the attack which would have sealed the game and, worse, could have led to a counter/intercept try.

He aimlessly kicked the ball away twice when Toulouse had the advantage in the Munster half which is indicative of his lack of ambition and/or poor reading of the game.

It was another uninspiring effort. Worse, as per previous, I think it's putting pressure on Dupont to try and generate chances himself when things are not on.

[Marylandolorian]

^^^
Yep, I agree about Ntamak, but so far in the last 2 years, he hasn’t made a huge mistake that costed us a game, like Dulin - Lopez and others did in the past, he’s also a reliable defender.

Maybe next time
• BECOGNEE Alexandre • BOUDEHENT Paul • CAMARA Yacouba • CHALUREAU Bastien• CRETIN Dylan
• CROS François • JOLMES Thomas • PRISO Dany• BARASSI Pierre-Louis• BIELLE-BIARREY Louis
• COLY Léo • GAILLETON Emilien • HASTOY Antoine • LEBEL Matthis
Back with their clubs

[Torquemada 1420]

^^^
Yep, I agree about Ntamak, but so far in the last 2 years, he hasn’t made a huge mistake that costed us a game, like Dulin - Lopez and others did in the past, he’s also a reliable defender.

Maybe next time
• BECOGNEE Alexandre • BOUDEHENT Paul • CAMARA Yacouba • CHALUREAU Bastien• CRETIN Dylan
• CROS François • JOLMES Thomas • PRISO Dany• BARASSI Pierre-Louis• BIELLE-BIARREY Louis
• COLY Léo • GAILLETON Emilien • HASTOY Antoine • LEBEL Matthis
Back with their clubs

That's true but maybe time to have a mindset based on winning games rather than trying not to lose them with a RWC around the corner. No surprise Jolmes went back: he was anonymous at the weekend. Cros simply hasn't had enough game time. Cretin may be unlucky given Woki is out.

[laurent]

The stand in president solution has been rejected by the clubs (by a narrow margin).

Laporte days at the FFR may be counted (he got another indictment last week for fraud again).

[TheFrog]

Team for Italy according to training in Cap Breton:

Le XV de départ : 15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Moefana, 12. Fickou, 11. Dumortier ; 10. Ntamack, 9. Dupont ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Jelonch ; 5. Willemse, 4. Flament ; 3. Falatea, 2. Marchand, 1. Baille.

Lebel, sent back home and Dumortier ahead

Is Atonio still struggling with injury?

And... Ramos ahead of Jalibert?

[TheFrog]

The stand in president solution has been rejected by the clubs (by a narrow margin).

Laporte days at the FFR may be counted (he got another indictment last week for fraud again).

Laporte is an embarrassment for French rugby. Time for him to go.

[laurent]

The stand in president solution has been rejected by the clubs (by a narrow margin).

Laporte days at the FFR may be counted (he got another indictment last week for fraud again).

Laporte is an embarrassment for French rugby. Time for him to go.

Looks like he intends to hang on.

[Torquemada 1420]

Team for Italy according to training in Cap Breton:

Le XV de départ : 15. Ramos ; 14. Penaud, 13. Moefana, 12. Fickou, 11. Dumortier ; 10. Ntamack, 9. Dupont ; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Jelonch ; 5. Willemse, 4. Flament ; 3. Falatea, 2. Marchand, 1. Baille.

Lebel, sent back home and Dumortier ahead

Is Atonio still struggling with injury?

And... Ramos ahead of Jalibert?

I will be surprised if Ramos starts ahead of Jaminet (assume that's what you meant!) based on Galthie's comments last week.
Would like to see Dumortier tested but that's the wrong wing?
Obviously, I would be really p*ssed off to see Ntamack start ahead of anyone. Basically, he's done f**k all for club or country since the AB game in 2021. His starting alone would end any chances of stopping Ire from getting a GS.

[laurent]

Laporte resigns.

Don't rejoice yet his gang is still there and apparently they will elect a new president (no elections as the bureau did not resign).

[Torquemada 1420]

Laporte resigns.

Don't rejoice yet his gang is still there and apparently they will elect a new president (no elections as the bureau did not resign).

One parasite down, several 000 more to go.

[laurent]

Laporte resigns.

Don't rejoice yet his gang is still there and apparently they will elect a new president (no elections as the bureau did not resign).

One parasite down, several 000 more to go.

The opposition and LNR representatives have resigned to force new election but I doubt this is enough.

[Torquemada 1420]

Fre refs

Probably 3 fwd passes in that USAP try for Faaselele.

[TheFrog]

Looks like Ramos will really start ahead of Jaminet.
Atonio is back.

Maybe Dumortier gets a chance to assert himself Head of Lebel who has never made me dream.


Hastoy is in great form. If Galthie wants a 10 who manages the game, he is his man on current form.


I'll be at Toulouse-Montpellier tomorrow.

[TheFrog]

So, was at the game and the first half was a bore. Toulouse lacked impact up front, had two half-backs who didn't control the game, ball was too slow, team going sideways when using the backs... and none of the teams seemed to be kicking well.

Then the second half started and the combination of Willis, Meafu and Cros coming on changed the face of the game. Suddenly they started to go forward and space appeared for the backs.

[sturginho]

So, was at the game and the first half was a bore. Toulouse lacked impact up front, had two half-backs who didn't control the game, ball was too slow, team going sideways when using the backs... and none of the teams seemed to be kicking well.

Then the second half started and the combination of Willis, Meafu and Cros coming on changed the face of the game. Suddenly they started to go forward and space appeared for the backs.

What a try Capuozzo scored in the corner!

[Torquemada 1420]

So, was at the game and the first half was a bore. Toulouse lacked impact up front, had two half-backs who didn't control the game, ball was too slow, team going sideways when using the backs... and none of the teams seemed to be kicking well.

Then the second half started and the combination of Willis, Meafu and Cros coming on changed the face of the game. Suddenly they started to go forward and space appeared for the backs.

Probably no surprise since Mallia isn't a FH. Any game involving MH usually ends up being a bore-fest. Ironic that against Irish, they actually showed they could entertain when they were forced to chase a 3 try deficit.

100% agreed on Hastoy. If Galthie wants 2 options at 10
- a game breaker
- a game manager
then it's Jalibert and Hastoy on form.

[TheFrog]

So, was at the game and the first half was a bore. Toulouse lacked impact up front, had two half-backs who didn't control the game, ball was too slow, team going sideways when using the backs... and none of the teams seemed to be kicking well.

Then the second half started and the combination of Willis, Meafu and Cros coming on changed the face of the game. Suddenly they started to go forward and space appeared for the backs.

What a try Capuozzo scored in the corner!

Yes, brilliant finish!
I am a fan. Capuozzo is a great player and i like that he looks like a normal human being and not one of this bodybuilder who crowd rugby squads.

[laurent]

Likely starting team

[Marylandolorian]

I won’t enter the discussion of who should start in 10 or 15, but my only surprise is Villiere, whatever he did in the past, he played only 65 minutes this season, it might have been a good opportunity to see Dumortier,

[Torquemada 1420]

I won’t enter the discussion of who should start in 10 or 15, but my only surprise is Villiere, whatever he did in the past, he played only 65 minutes this season, it might have been a good opportunity to see Dumortier,

I don't care about Ramos v Jaminet for the Italy game. The continued selection of Ntamack is starting to look like Eddie Jones style management. If he's not being dropped now after 18 months of invisible to bad, he's never being dropped which means we are stuck with him for the RWC and with him goes France's chances of winning. Sorry to say but this is getting like Skrela in 2011 where at least France got lucky because Japan broke him in the opening game. What chances France get lucky twice?

Agree on bringing Villiere back this early. Really risky and unnecessary. Dumortier is on form and can cover FB too. Chance wasted.
I don't rate Moefana.

[Marylandolorian]

I won’t enter the discussion of who should start in 10 or 15, but my only surprise is Villiere, whatever he did in the past, he played only 65 minutes this season, it might have been a good opportunity to see Dumortier,

I don't care about Ramos v Jaminet for the Italy game. The continued selection of Ntamack is starting to look like Eddie Jones style management. If he's not being dropped now after 18 months of invisible to bad, he's never being dropped which means we are stuck with him for the RWC and with him goes France's chances of winning. Sorry to say but this is getting like Skrela in 2011 where at least France got lucky because Japan broke him in the opening game. What chances France get lucky twice?

Agree on bringing Villiere back this early. Really risky and unnecessary. Dumortier is on form and can cover FB too. Chance wasted.
I don't rate Moefana.

Looks like Dumortier might have his first shot after all, Villiere has an ankle injury, this doesn’t rejoice me because he’s very important in this group but I thought it was a good timing to see Dumortier.
I like Moefana, he needs to be more extrovert.

NTK vs MJ , you know what I think, Jalibert is my favorite. Now with all these talks in the medias etc, I’m worry that he’s going to shoot himself in the foot by overplaying.

[laurent]

I won’t enter the discussion of who should start in 10 or 15, but my only surprise is Villiere, whatever he did in the past, he played only 65 minutes this season, it might have been a good opportunity to see Dumortier,

I don't care about Ramos v Jaminet for the Italy game. The continued selection of Ntamack is starting to look like Eddie Jones style management. If he's not being dropped now after 18 months of invisible to bad, he's never being dropped which means we are stuck with him for the RWC and with him goes France's chances of winning. Sorry to say but this is getting like Skrela in 2011 where at least France got lucky because Japan broke him in the opening game. What chances France get lucky twice?

Agree on bringing Villiere back this early. Really risky and unnecessary. Dumortier is on form and can cover FB too. Chance wasted.
I don't rate Moefana.

Villiere got injured during the training (called in too soon )...

Dumortier is in, I am hoping for fireworks

[TheFrog]

I think Moefana will impress. He finally gets to play in his position. He doesn't have Danty's arms to scavenge the ball and that may affect our tactics. But he is a punchy center who knows how to keep the ball alive in contact.

[Torquemada 1420]

Villiere got injured during the training (called in too soon )...

FFS. What did we say only earlier about it being too soon. I thought the moronic days of this were over but seems we still want to have another Castaignede .

[Torquemada 1420]

I think Moefana will impress. He finally gets to play in his position. He doesn't have Danty's arms to scavenge the ball and that may affect our tactics. But he is a punchy center who knows how to keep the ball alive in contact.

All good assuming Ntamack ever passes the ball to his backs

[Marylandolorian]

Denis Charvet, s’est confié sur le duel entre Romain Ntamack et Matthieu Jalibert :

« C’est dur de choisir. Ce sont deux styles différents. J’adore celui de Jalibert. Il ne rentre pas dans la case du demi d’ouverture classique. C’est un diamant, j’ai rarement vu aussi doué à ce poste. Sur le talent pur, il est au-dessus de Ntamack. Mais Romain est plus fort dans l’alternance. Le rugby moderne demande une grande maîtrise, de la sobriété et de la précision dans la gestion. Tout ce qui fait la force de Romain. Quand il est en forme, c’est le numéro un dans ce qui fait la spécificité du poste d’ouvreur aujourd’hui […] Il est devant par rapport à la stratégie, au projet de jeu, propres à Fabien Galthié. Un autre sélectionneur aurait peut-être fait le choix inverse ».

My thoughts also

[Torquemada 1420]

Denis Charvet, s’est confié sur le duel entre Romain Ntamack et Matthieu Jalibert :

« C’est dur de choisir. Ce sont deux styles différents. J’adore celui de Jalibert. Il ne rentre pas dans la case du demi d’ouverture classique. C’est un diamant, j’ai rarement vu aussi doué à ce poste. Sur le talent pur, il est au-dessus de Ntamack. Mais Romain est plus fort dans l’alternance. Le rugby moderne demande une grande maîtrise, de la sobriété et de la précision dans la gestion. Tout ce qui fait la force de Romain. Quand il est en forme, c’est le numéro un dans ce qui fait la spécificité du poste d’ouvreur aujourd’hui […] Il est devant par rapport à la stratégie, au projet de jeu, propres à Fabien Galthié. Un autre sélectionneur aurait peut-être fait le choix inverse ».

My thoughts also

Charvet is talking through his arse. Whilst those attributes are true if you want a modern, structured game, Ntamack offers none of this. In fact, the only thing he offers, Charvet ignores i.e. tackling.

[Marylandolorian]

.
While the XV of France is finishing preparing the Six Nations Tournament against Italy on Sunday, Bernard Laporte, resigning president of the FFR, visited les Bleus this Thursday at their hotel in Capbreton..

L'Équipe

Berny to the 51%

[Torquemada 1420]

.
While the XV of France is finishing preparing the Six Nations Tournament against Italy on Sunday, Bernard Laporte, resigning president of the FFR, visited les Bleus this Thursday at their hotel in Capbreton..

L'Équipe

Berny to the 51%

Guy Moquet.

[Torquemada 1420]

Mary, what do you know of this kid Mael Moustin? Looks some damned unit size wise but bloody quick too.

[Torquemada 1420]

Dismal, dismal, dismal performance.

There can't be anyone on the planet now outside of Chateau Ntamack who thinks Ntamack is anything but a journeyman minus, club FH. Once again, he starves a backline of ball. Utterly pointless picking someone like Dumortier for him never to see the ball. Moefana is no intl and now the lack of Vakatawa or Danty is stark: when your FH kicks away all good possession or slows it all down, you need a serious crash merchant to generate some direction. Again, Jalibert has to dig France out of the pile of excrement Ntamack piled on the most of.

Ramos was terrible and had one of those meltdown games I keep reminding all of. If Villiere ever gets fit long enough, I wonder if the answer is to play Dumortier there: assuming Ntamack is gone too.

Fickou's poor season continues to match that of pretty much everyone involved with Racing.

Without Villiere's defence, Penaud starts to look a luxury with his weak defending and when Moefana and Ramos are worse, even Italy had a field day.

Discipline was pathetic. 17+ pens against Italy FFS.

Play like that with those players in Dublin and it will be a 25 point plus hammering.

[TheFrog]

My view on the game is this:

First 20min, France kept ball in hand and attacked, with Ntamack actually spreading the ball to his backs. However they were doing this in a sloppy manner, rushing passes, attacking the gain line isolated etc... it was all very sloppy but we were just trampling on the Italians and it was looking like we would put 50pts on them because they were clueless.

At the same time, we started giving away silly penalties and that looked like unsettling the team. We granted the Italians easy possession and easy ground that they duly and extremely efficiently converted into points.

After the second half, and the likely bollocking in the changing rooms, we decided not to contest in the rucks, and kick possession away to keep the Italians in their camp. However we kept on giving away stupid penalties and again gifted the Italians with possession, territory and ultimately points. However, we had couple scoring opportunities with Penaud that came close and finally the Jalibert try.

In the first half, it looked like the Italians couldn't cope with our physicality, in the second half we were like subdued puppies.

I am very concerned about our discipline and our defense on mauls, which will be killers in Ireland. We struggled with the offside rule too... this means that the boy will have to be hyper focused on discipline in Ireland and this will likely mean that they will be less aggressive. I just hope they are not less aggressive to the point they were against Italy.


Now, as an optimistic note, I know that the boys went through intense physical preparation during the last 2 weeks to peak against Ireland. Like in previous occurrences (autumn internationals or 6N), they feel that weight in their legs during the first game. And they can raise their standard couple notches for the big game. So I hope we'll see this again. But they discipline is a major worry. Ireland are so good, so razor accurate, we can't afford to be shaky at any moment to win.

[TheFrog]

And, Torque, I think you need to watch both Fickou and Ntamack matches.

The issue was not there.

[Torquemada 1420]

And, Torque, I think you need to watch both Fickou and Ntamack matches.

The issue was not there.

Fickou was okay in defence (given what was going on around him) but he's offering no threat in attack like before. At his best, even off Ntamack's service, he had the strength and pace to find a few gaps which, alongside Vakatawa/Danty's power meant Fra could get go fwd even with pedestrian, occasional, standing way too deep ball.

You put a nail in the coffin with

Ntamack actually spreading the ball to his backs. However they were doing this in a sloppy manner, rushing passes, attacking the gain line isolated etc

i.e. for the first time in almost 2 years Ntamack tried to bring the backs in but it was unstructured rubbish which offered little threat. Unlike when Jalibert is at the helm. It should be no surprise that when you try to change to doing something you never do, it doesn't work out well when it's at the highest level.

The issue in that period of the game was there because had the execution been better, the game was over regardless of the dross that ensued.

[Torquemada 1420]

72 mètres parcourus ballon en main

Ballon en main, le XV de France a été trop stérile. Heureusement, il a pu compter sur Grégory Aldritt pour avancer. Il est le français qui a parcouru le plus de mètres, avec un total de 72 mètres parcourus ballon en main. Un bilan honorable mais qui semble dérisoire par rapport à Ange Capuozzo et ses 122 (!) mètres.

When your no8 covers more metres than either your FH and FB, especially when those 2 are standing so deep with acres to advance into, you know you are in the sh*t offensively.

[Torquemada 1420]

Bernol spot on
https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/02/06/6-n ... 979552.php

[TheFrog]

And, Torque, I think you need to watch both Fickou and Ntamack matches.

The issue was not there.

Fickou was okay in defence (given what was going on around him) but he's offering no threat in attack like before. At his best, even off Ntamack's service, he had the strength and pace to find a few gaps which, alongside Vakatawa/Danty's power meant Fra could get go fwd even with pedestrian, occasional, standing way too deep ball.

You put a nail in the coffin with

Ntamack actually spreading the ball to his backs. However they were doing this in a sloppy manner, rushing passes, attacking the gain line isolated etc

i.e. for the first time in almost 2 years Ntamack tried to bring the backs in but it was unstructured rubbish which offered little threat. Unlike when Jalibert is at the helm. It should be no surprise that when you try to change to doing something you never do, it doesn't work out well when it's at the highest level.

The issue in that period of the game was there because had the execution been better, the game was over regardless of the dross that ensued.

Jalibert plays for 15min. Hard to assess him. He is the best attacking FH, I won't deny that. Is he better than Ntamack at managing a whole game under pressure? I am not sure. But I confess I don't watch Bordeauz.

Ntamack created two tries, didn't miss a tackle, made a crucial intercept, and varied the game.

Then players running isolated were not Ntamack's making. Often they were forwards isolating themselves, feeding off a pass directly from the ruck.