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

[sturginho]

[Tichtheid]

I've just learned that my old club in France will not be fielding a team this season due to lack of players, the first time in over fifty years that they don't have a team representing the Plateau de Sault.

This is very sad.

They were finalists in last season's regional cup competition, too, in the 4e serie

[Marylandolorian]

I've just learned that my old club in France will not be fielding a team this season due to lack of players, the first time in over fifty years that they don't have a team representing the Plateau de Sault.

This is very sad.

They were finalists in last season's regional cup competition, too, in the 4e serie

That’s happen a lot in the small towns where the young people leave.
As for the plateau de Sault the article mentioned that it’s the new comers that are not interested in rugby

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2022/09/16/lus ... 547304.php

What were you doing over there?

[laurent]

I've just learned that my old club in France will not be fielding a team this season due to lack of players, the first time in over fifty years that they don't have a team representing the Plateau de Sault.

This is very sad.

They were finalists in last season's regional cup competition, too, in the 4e serie

Lowest level last year. A lot of clubs are struggling and they have reorganised the competition once again this year this is difficult for small clubs as we were supposed to go up to promotion d’honneur and end up in régionale 2. This is the new lowest level it looks like...
This is going to be rough I think for some teams.

[Torquemada 1420]

Jalibert still off his form. Not looking good for the AI. He seems a bit lost. Wonder if this has something to do with his relationship with Urios.

His mate Woki struggling to find his position at Racing. Played 8 this time but wasn't convincing.

Two key French players who are not doing to well right now.

Jalibert was a bit better but there is definitely something mental in his current form.

Woki in the backrow isn't working at Racing. Whether he no longer remembers how to be a flanker or Racing's style doesn't suit, I have no idea.

[Torquemada 1420]

I've just learned that my old club in France will not be fielding a team this season due to lack of players, the first time in over fifty years that they don't have a team representing the Plateau de Sault.

This is very sad.

They were finalists in last season's regional cup competition, too, in the 4e serie

That’s happen a lot in the small towns where the young people leave.
As for the plateau de Sault the article mentioned that it’s the new comers that are not interested in rugby

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2022/09/16/lus ... 547304.php

What were you doing over there?

It's a reflection of what we've seen in T14 since the dawn of professionalism. A combo of factors I think
1) At the top level, money has seen the demise of rugby in traditional heartlands and the rise of the large population centres. End for Dax, Narbonne, Colomiers etc Up the ladder go Montpellier, RCT....

2) Young French don't want to live in small towns or villages (or there is no rural work) and, on top of that, the move to an instant gratification society (fast food, video games...) is a double whammy. This is part of the reason so many Brits go and buy country properties in France for peanuts (there are lots of TV shows here on the subject). The Fre don't want to live there.

[Tichtheid]

I've just learned that my old club in France will not be fielding a team this season due to lack of players, the first time in over fifty years that they don't have a team representing the Plateau de Sault.

This is very sad.

They were finalists in last season's regional cup competition, too, in the 4e serie

Lowest level last year. A lot of clubs are struggling and they have reorganised the competition once again this year this is difficult for small clubs as we were supposed to go up to promotion d’honneur and end up in régionale 2. This is the new lowest level it looks like...
This is going to be rough I think for some teams.

I played with them 30 years ago, it wasn’t a high level then but it was fun.
Previously the players were farmers or worked in forestry and already that was changing, some of the players had office jobs in Carcasonne or Toulouse, one of the local flics played.
I think there just isn’t the work to keep players in rural locations, so this is reflected in the demise of these village teams, it’s a whole way of life that is changing.

[Tichtheid]

I've just learned that my old club in France will not be fielding a team this season due to lack of players, the first time in over fifty years that they don't have a team representing the Plateau de Sault.

This is very sad.

They were finalists in last season's regional cup competition, too, in the 4e serie

That’s happen a lot in the small towns where the young people leave.
As for the plateau de Sault the article mentioned that it’s the new comers that are not interested in rugby

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2022/09/16/lus ... 547304.php

What were you doing over there?

Thanks for posting, I didn’t see your post before I answered laurent.

I built agricultural fencing, mainly it was electric fencing on the mountains for summer grazing for the beef cattle, but there was fencing for bison, boar and sheep too.

[Tichtheid]

There’s an article here that includes an interview with the president of USPS, I played alongside him in the red and white

https://rugbyamateur.fr/occitanie-forfa ... -se-meurt/

[laurent]

I've just learned that my old club in France will not be fielding a team this season due to lack of players, the first time in over fifty years that they don't have a team representing the Plateau de Sault.

This is very sad.

They were finalists in last season's regional cup competition, too, in the 4e serie

Lowest level last year. A lot of clubs are struggling and they have reorganised the competition once again this year this is difficult for small clubs as we were supposed to go up to promotion d’honneur and end up in régionale 2. This is the new lowest level it looks like...
This is going to be rough I think for some teams.

I played with them 30 years ago, it wasn’t a high level then but it was fun.
Previously the players were farmers or worked in forestry and already that was changing, some of the players had office jobs in Carcasonne or Toulouse, one of the local flics played.
I think there just isn’t the work to keep players in rural locations, so this is reflected in the demise of these village teams, it’s a whole way of life that is changing.

To be honest the game is in serious decline the numbers have been propped up by ladies rugby expansion and Baby rugby (basically kindergarden with a soft rugby ball).

in Paris area there are now only 50 approximately teams regional level. (Old Series and Honneur)

[Torquemada 1420]

Lowest level last year. A lot of clubs are struggling and they have reorganised the competition once again this year this is difficult for small clubs as we were supposed to go up to promotion d’honneur and end up in régionale 2. This is the new lowest level it looks like...
This is going to be rough I think for some teams.

I played with them 30 years ago, it wasn’t a high level then but it was fun.
Previously the players were farmers or worked in forestry and already that was changing, some of the players had office jobs in Carcasonne or Toulouse, one of the local flics played.
I think there just isn’t the work to keep players in rural locations, so this is reflected in the demise of these village teams, it’s a whole way of life that is changing.

To be honest the game is in serious decline the numbers have been propped up by ladies rugby expansion and Baby rugby (basically kindergarden with a soft rugby ball).

in Paris area there are now only 50 approximately teams regional level. (Old Series and Honneur)

Until WR makes the game simpler, more fun to play and more fun to watch, this trend will continue.

[Marylandolorian]

There’s an article here that includes an interview with the president of USPS, I played alongside him in the red and white

https://rugbyamateur.fr/occitanie-forfa ... -se-meurt/

Good article, he really pointed the problems with the small isolated clubs! as mentioned also by the guys above.
Same thing in the UK?

[Marylandolorian]

Jalibert was a bit better but there is definitely something mental in his current form.

Woki in the backrow isn't working at Racing. Whether he no longer remembers how to be a flanker or Racing's style doesn't suit, I have no idea.

Woki and Jalibert got too much attention in the press at the end of the season after the Urios coup de gueule and lately for Mermoz’s tweet, this might have destabilized them a bit temporarily.

Jalibert will be fine, he started training 3 weeks later than the others, then he got a nasty strep throat with high fever.

[laurent]

Laporte and his dodgy partners close to real jail time...


https://newho.prod.sudouest.fr/sport/ru ... 63690039-6

[Marylandolorian]

Laporte and his dodgy partners close to real jail time...


https://newho.prod.sudouest.fr/sport/ru ... 63690039-6

This is France, I’ll be very surprise if they get anything more than a fine, they should all be removed from the FFR and the fkng logo on the EDF Jersey also.

Les peines requises

Spoiler

Show

Bernard Laporte : 3 ans de prison dont deux années assorties du sursis, 50.000 euros d'amende et deux ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale, deux ans d'exercer toutes fonctions en lien avec le rugby, avec application immédiate.

Mohed Altrad : 3 années de prison dont deux années assorties du sursis, 200.000 euros d'amende, deux ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale. Interdiction d'exercer toute fonction en lien avec le rugby. «Des peines à la mesure de la gravité des faits», a expliqué le procureur.

Serge Simon : un an de prison dont six mois assortis de sursis, 10.000 euros d'amende. Un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

Claude Atcher : 2 ans de prison, une année avec sursis, amende de 50.000 euros, trois ans d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité commerciale, un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

Benoît Rover : un an d'emprisonnement, six mois avec sursis, trois ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale, un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

[Torquemada 1420]

Laporte and his dodgy partners close to real jail time...


https://newho.prod.sudouest.fr/sport/ru ... 63690039-6

This is France, I’ll be very surprise if they get anything more than a fine, they should all be removed from the FFR and the fkng logo on the EDF Jersey also.

Les peines requises

Spoiler

Show

Bernard Laporte : 3 ans de prison dont deux années assorties du sursis, 50.000 euros d'amende et deux ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale, deux ans d'exercer toutes fonctions en lien avec le rugby, avec application immédiate.

Mohed Altrad : 3 années de prison dont deux années assorties du sursis, 200.000 euros d'amende, deux ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale. Interdiction d'exercer toute fonction en lien avec le rugby. «Des peines à la mesure de la gravité des faits», a expliqué le procureur.

Serge Simon : un an de prison dont six mois assortis de sursis, 10.000 euros d'amende. Un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

Claude Atcher : 2 ans de prison, une année avec sursis, amende de 50.000 euros, trois ans d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité commerciale, un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

Benoît Rover : un an d'emprisonnement, six mois avec sursis, trois ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale, un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

I'm with you. These ***ts are slippier than teflon. And I so want them (especially Mackey) to go to jail for a very long time.

[laurent]

Laporte and his dodgy partners close to real jail time...


https://newho.prod.sudouest.fr/sport/ru ... 63690039-6

This is France, I’ll be very surprise if they get anything more than a fine, they should all be removed from the FFR and the fkng logo on the EDF Jersey also.

Les peines requises

Spoiler

Show

Bernard Laporte : 3 ans de prison dont deux années assorties du sursis, 50.000 euros d'amende et deux ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale, deux ans d'exercer toutes fonctions en lien avec le rugby, avec application immédiate.

Mohed Altrad : 3 années de prison dont deux années assorties du sursis, 200.000 euros d'amende, deux ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale. Interdiction d'exercer toute fonction en lien avec le rugby. «Des peines à la mesure de la gravité des faits», a expliqué le procureur.

Serge Simon : un an de prison dont six mois assortis de sursis, 10.000 euros d'amende. Un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

Claude Atcher : 2 ans de prison, une année avec sursis, amende de 50.000 euros, trois ans d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité commerciale, un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

Benoît Rover : un an d'emprisonnement, six mois avec sursis, trois ans d'interdiction de gérer une société commerciale, un an d'interdiction d'exercer toute activité en lien avec le rugby.

I'm with you. These ***ts are slippier than teflon. And I so want them (especially Mackey) to go to jail for a very long time.

They'll be found guilty and appeal. Worse is the bunch of idiots who voted them back in will probably vote for them next time around during the appeal.

Trouble is the other bunch are more of the same...

[TheFrog]

Flying to Amsterdam with Ange Capuozzo on the same flight. Looks like a - nice - kid. Smiled with a shy demeanor when I congratulated him on his good game and intercept try.

[Torquemada 1420]

Flying to Amsterdam with Ange Capuozzo on the same flight. Looks like a - nice - kid. Smiled with a shy demeanor when I congratulated him on his good game and intercept try.

Hookers and dope?

[sturginho]

Flying to Amsterdam with Ange Capuozzo on the same flight. Looks like a - nice - kid. Smiled with a shy demeanor when I congratulated him on his good game and intercept try.

Hookers and dope?

[Torquemada 1420]

Bourgarit throwing more pies than Mr Kipling in this one.

[laurent]

Massy won their first game


We won our first game with the last kick of the game


Clermont won thanks to Plisson

[sturginho]

[Torquemada 1420]

ASM v LOU: even by T14 standards, the lineout throwing in this one is a spackerfest.

[TheFrog]

ASM v LOU: even by T14 standards, the lineout throwing in this one is a spackerfest.

ASM is improving outing after outing. Iturria is now a real asset. Some of the kids are maturing nicely. Raka is in fine form. Pliszon, even if imperfect, seems to have found a new confidence. Defense can improve but this is promising.

[Tichtheid]

Oh dear Teddy just committed a howler to gift his old club a try

Racing have been the better side, just about

[Marylandolorian]

Oh dear Teddy just committed a howler to gift his old club a try

Racing have been the better side, just about

I was rooting for the racing this time, starting to dislike La Rochelle’s style of play.

Does Finn like to play in rainy weather? He had a very good game.

[Torquemada 1420]

Oh dear Teddy just committed a howler to gift his old club a try

Racing have been the better side, just about

I was rooting for the racing this time, starting to dislike La Rochelle’s style of play.

Does Finn like to play in rainy weather? He had a very good game.

Total reverse of last week. Russell had one of his random good games whereas he was catastrophic at Toulouse. Thomas was superb defensively last week (!!!) and starved of ball this, he has a clown moment trying to be clever.

Woki continues to look lost.

[Torquemada 1420]

ASM v LOU: even by T14 standards, the lineout throwing in this one is a spackerfest.

ASM is improving outing after outing. Iturria is now a real asset. Some of the kids are maturing nicely. Raka is in fine form. Pliszon, even if imperfect, seems to have found a new confidence. Defense can improve but this is promising.

Iturria is almost back to the player he was 3 years ago. Plisson to the one of 10 years ago: looks like he matured 8 years too late.

LOU looked like 15 players who had never met one another though so not being tempted to read too much into this game.

[TheFrog]

ASM v LOU: even by T14 standards, the lineout throwing in this one is a spackerfest.

ASM is improving outing after outing. Iturria is now a real asset. Some of the kids are maturing nicely. Raka is in fine form. Pliszon, even if imperfect, seems to have found a new confidence. Defense can improve but this is promising.

Iturria is almost back to the player he was 3 years ago. Plisson to the one of 10 years ago: looks like he matured 8 years too late.

LOU looked like 15 players who had never met one another though so not being tempted to read too much into this game.

LOU were useless, this is true. But I watched the Toulon game, where Clermont had a total collapse during 20min, leaking 3 tries, before coming back to die within 1pt (and should really have won the game), I watched the La Rochelle game which was a high intensity war and now that game and I see real improvement from last year. Not yet European Cup material but coming back to a decent Top14 play off level.

Belleau is a good addition to the team. Less convinced about Hériteau for the moment. I also have doubt about Simone whose defense is suspect at times.

We'll see.


I watched Toulouse steal a win in Montpellier. Carbonel have a poor day in front of the posts and Marchand's arms in the ruck were the difference. Good performance for the Toulouse subs.

[TheFrog]

Ramos makes a fine 10.

And the Toulouse kids are doing extremely well. Insane depth.

[Torquemada 1420]

Ramos makes a fine 10.

And the Toulouse kids are doing extremely well. Insane depth.

He's probably a better 10 than a 15. But let's not get too excited: this was an exceptional performance by him against no resistance.

[TheFrog]

Ramos makes a fine 10.

And the Toulouse kids are doing extremely well. Insane depth.

He's probably a better 10 than a 15. But let's not get too excited: this was an exceptional performance by him against no resistance.

No resistance? Clermont were in it for a long time and were punished for couple mistakes. I actually thought Clermont were bot that bad until the 60th min, then the benches were the real difference. Plus Toulouse ability to strike and punish opponents for any mistake.

I had never realized Ramos had so much pace though.

Clermont played 4 wingers in the backs and at one point Toulouse had 3 fullback.

The good thing was that many youth players played that game.

[TheFrog]

Ah... and Jelonch at lock was a good option. Woki would better wake up soon.

[Torquemada 1420]

Ah... and Jelonch at lock was a good option. Woki would better wake up soon.

That made me laugh too. He looked like Le Roux in there i.e. much better as a lock than a backrow.

Woki is playing badly but the other way around: he now looks like a lock playing in the backrow.

[TheFrog]

Just watched Bayonne beat La Rochelle (replay of the game)

Impressed with Bayonne defense. They stood up to the physical bullies. Lots of handling mistakes but Lopez was in a great day, and he carried his team to victory.

Thomas was atrocious. Not ready to wear the blue jersey again.

[TheFrog]

Ah... and Jelonch at lock was a good option. Woki would better wake up soon.

That made me laugh too. He looked like Le Roux in there i.e. much better as a lock than a backrow.

Woki is playing badly but the other way around: he now looks like a lock playing in the backrow.

Yeah, you are right. Jelonch would be a good alternative to Leroux, with a brain and a pair of hands.

[TheFrog]

I'm listening to Le French Rugby Podcast on Podbean, check it out! https://www.podbean.com/pa/dir-22han-126a2c

[TheFrog]

Good podcast that.
I really like Johny Beattie. Smart lad and seems nice too.

[TheFrog]

Watching Toulouse at Brive...

Slow pace, it's scrum, mauls, rucks and a few rare flashy move. Brive have most of the possession but... 2 mistakes and Toulouse scored twice.

It reminds me of the game against Clermont where Clermont were very much in the game but Toulouse scored 3 tries on 3 Clermont mistakes.