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

[TheFrog]

In summary, Torque, where I get frustrated with your hate of a few players (Jelonch, Ntamack, now Moefana) is that you do not take into account one thing: Ireland's strength is their ability to collectively work to perfection. Even if they do not have outstanding players in each position, they work with intensity like a clockwork.

This is something that France can only do by patches when all the team is at top fitness.

To me, this is our problem. Then, suddenly, Ntamack and Moefana won't be talked so much about, even if there are better players in the world.

[Torquemada 1420]

RCT v ST is a dismal game. ST clueless against 14 and Elstadt super retarded to get a red for retaliation when RCT would be down to 13.

[Torquemada 1420]

In summary, Torque, where I get frustrated with your hate of a few players (Jelonch, Ntamack, now Moefana) is that you do not take into account one thing: Ireland's strength is their ability to collectively work to perfection. Even if they do not have outstanding players in each position, they work with intensity like a clockwork.

This is something that France can only do by patches when all the team is at top fitness.

To me, this is our problem. Then, suddenly, Ntamack and Moefana won't be talked so much about, even if there are better players in the world.

Hate is strong but in Ntamack's case, it's not just the player's own awfulness but that he's selected because daddy was famous and he plays for Toulouse. I'd hoped under Galthie/Edwards that this peculiar French disease of nepotism and favouritism was at an end. Jelonch is just over rated but maybe if he can play like he did against Ire for more than 1 game in 20, then there is an intl in there.

Moeafana I warned from the start was never an intl. Was prepared to give him some leeway because he was first played out of position on the wing but he's actually been worse in his preferred slot.

Maybe only Ire can play in that collective intensity consistently but
a) It's pretty 1D stuff
b) There is always a strategy to beat it (just as in a kinda reverse, LaR beat Leinster). In this case keeping the ball and playing rugby in the right areas. Sadly, I think Galthie is also wedded to 1 strategy and everyone, even the Eyeties, are adapting to playing against it. It won't beat SA if they can stay at 15 and we've seen it's nowhere near good enough to beat Ire.

[Torquemada 1420]

What is massively concerning and depressing is T14.

The JIFF rules have done a great job at cutting down mercs and allowing/forcing younger Fre qualified players to get game time e.g. Carbonneau & Auradou both played yesterday. Whether they become good enough is one thing but having a wider base of selection has to be good.

So, at intl level, Galthie has possibly the biggest player base to pick from in intl rugby.

HOWEVER, in respect of T14
- the quality of rugby is dire. Attritional, conservative dross, week in and week out. This is going to harm skill sets in time. And maybe it already has based on this season's Euro performances.
- the no. of games is clearly a huge factor in this and it's killing the players. Serious injury lists are huge as per Frog's above and even those not inured are looking knackered e.g. Alldritt.
- not sure how long people will pay to watch it. Already mentioned I'd dropped my T14 subscription and now pick games and even then (RCT v ST for example), most of these are disappointment.

[laurent]

Many Proud

3 Off our U15 in Regional selection :)



(Corbeil Mennecy)

[laurent]

and for some laughs.



and more magic

[TheFrog]

C'est qui?

And for Torque: yes, Top14 is a terrible mess. A bore with only rarely a top game. They need to cut seriously on the number of games.

[laurent]

C'est qui?

And for Torque: yes, Top14 is a terrible mess. A bore with only rarely a top game. They need to cut seriously on the number of games.

So unremarkable

Pecresse the permanently Broomstick inserted in the Ass Ile de France Region President (and french LR presidency candidate )

[TheFrog]

C'est qui?

And for Torque: yes, Top14 is a terrible mess. A bore with only rarely a top game. They need to cut seriously on the number of games.

So unremarkable

Pecresse the permanently Broomstick inserted in the Ass Ile de France Region President (and french LR presidency candidate )

So sad...

[TheFrog]

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... te/1382389

[Torquemada 1420]

Many Proud

3 Off our U15 in Regional selection :)



(Corbeil Mennecy)

4 from Sarcelles

[Torquemada 1420]

Not surprising that some players are completely burned.

XV EDF Le temps de jeu des arrières cette saison

Ethan Dumortier : 1338 minutes jouées
Yoram Moefana *: 1302 minutes jouées
Damian Penaud : 1265 minutes jouées
Antoine Dupont* : 1261 minutes jouées
Thomas Ramos : 1177 minutes jouées
Romain Ntamack *:1039 minutes jouées
Gaël Fickou : 967 minutes jouées
Nolann Le Garrec : 941 minutes jouées
Matthieu Jalibert : 925 minutes jouées
Baptiste Couilloud : 684 minutes jouées


XV de France. Le temps de jeu des avants cette saison

Grégory Alldritt* : 1354 minutes jouées
Anthony Jelonch*: 1304 minutes jouées.for these *it’s not only the time but the intensity that they are playing.
Charles Ollivon*: 1156 minutes jouées
Gaëtan Barlot : 1091 minutes jouées
Sekou Macalou : 1017 minutes jouées
Julien Marchand* : 964 minutes jouées
Uini Atonio : 946 minutes jouées
Reda Wardi : 851 minutes jouées
Romain Taofifenua : 823 minutes jouées
Paul Willemse : 792 minutes jouées
Thibaud Flament : 737 minutes jouées
Sipili Falatea : 649 minutes jouées
Cyril Baille : 530 minutes jouées
Thomas Lavault : 412 minutes jouées
François Cros : 100 minutes jouées

Le temps de jeu des n°8 du Tournoi des 6 Nations 2023

Grégory Alldritt (FRA) : 1354 minutes jouées
Matt Fagerson (ECO) : 1163 minutes jouées
Lorenzo Cannone (ITA) : 1084 minutes jouées
Toby Faletau (GAL) : 1078 minutes jouées
Alex Dombrandt (ANG) : 1008 minutes jouées
Caelan Doris (IRL) : 923 minutes jouées

There we go. That's why Alldritt is f**ked. Also shows why Faletau has looked well off the pace. Fagerson is sh*t and so hard to tell.

Good work on getting those nos.

[laurent]

Many Proud

3 Off our U15 in Regional selection :)



(Corbeil Mennecy)

4 from Sarcelles

Considering that in December we had 0

The next step is not to get all of them to be stolen by Chilly and Massy...

[Torquemada 1420]

Many Proud

3 Off our U15 in Regional selection :)



(Corbeil Mennecy)

4 from Sarcelles

Considering that in December we had 0

The next step is not to get all of them to be stolen by Chilly and Massy...

Always the way!

[laurent]

Pour ceux à qui les punks français ont apporter quelques choses

François hadji Lazaro est mort la nuit dernière

[TheFrog]

Pour ceux à qui les punks français ont apporter quelques choses

François hadji Lazaro est mort la nuit dernière

Il était devenu musulman? D'où lui vient le title Hadj?

[laurent]

Ça a toujours été son nom.

[Torquemada 1420]

Right, another 70 mins of Ntamack laudanum coming up.

[laurent]

Let’s mute torq for the game

[TheFrog]

Let’s mute torq for the game

[TheFrog]

Fickou was immense. Best game this season.

Our forwards need to work hard for England. Our maul was a big worry.

[Torquemada 1420]

Jelonch gone for the RWC possibly.

Haouas is a complete f**kwit and should never be selected again.

Ntamack was worse than useless today: even his tackling was crap as he waved Jones to the tryline just as he did Keenan for Ireland's first too. If he can't even be bothered to tackle, his adv over Jalibert is none. Basically gave the ball to Scotland after Haouas went off which is exactly what Scotland would have wanted. Again, Jalibert has to come on to put the game to bed.

[Torquemada 1420]

Fickou was immense. Best game this season.

Our forwards need to work hard for England. Our maul was a big worry.

They are knackered. Thank T14 for that. Look at how ineffective even Marchand was today. And still Galthie thinks hoofing the ball away and putting in 200 tackles a game is going to win a RWC?

[TheFrog]

Jelonch ACL done. Shite news.

Cros back in. Who is the 6/8 player to stand in for Jelonch?

[sturginho]

Jelonch gone for the RWC possibly.

Haouas is a complete f**kwit and should never be selected again.

Ntamack was worse than useless today: even his tackling was crap as he waved Jones to the tryline just as he did Keenan for Ireland's first too. If he can't even be bothered to tackle, his adv over Jalibert is none. Basically gave the ball to Scotland after Haouas went off which is exactly what Scotland would have wanted. Again, Jalibert has to come on to put the game to bed.

I saw that Rugbypass had Ntamack in their team of the week and immediately thought of you

[Slick]

Fickou was immense. Best game this season.

Our forwards need to work hard for England. Our maul was a big worry.

They are knackered. Thank T14 for that. Look at how ineffective even Marchand was today. And still Galthie thinks hoofing the ball away and putting in 200 tackles a game is going to win a RWC?

Was quite surprised how tired your forwards looked early on. Jamie Richie was getting very annoyed at the ref allowing France to slow the game down.

[Torquemada 1420]

Fickou was immense. Best game this season.

Our forwards need to work hard for England. Our maul was a big worry.

They are knackered. Thank T14 for that. Look at how ineffective even Marchand was today. And still Galthie thinks hoofing the ball away and putting in 200 tackles a game is going to win a RWC?

Was quite surprised how tired your forwards looked early on. Jamie Richie was getting very annoyed at the ref allowing France to slow the game down.

See Marylandolorian's earlier post on the mental number of minutes some of them have already played. Alldritt is spent for a very simple reason.

[Torquemada 1420]

Bernol has gone to town on this saying a serious injury was inevitable with the stupid amount of game time in T14.

[Torquemada 1420]

These reviews are right on the spot. Sadly, I think Moefana isn’t going to improve.

Romain Ntamack – 5,5 :
Le + : Décisif sur les deux premier essais des Bleus. D’abord à la conclusion (5e), puis à la passe pour Dumortier (10e). Il avait très bien débuté son match. Mais n’a pas forcément eu les éclairs qu’on peut lui connaitre.
Le – : Il s’est éteint au fil du match, chose qui lui arrive de plus en plus souvent au niveau international.
En bref : Il y a eu du bon et du moins bon mais on aimerait revoir le Romain Ntamack du début d’année 2022.

Yoram Moefana – 4,5 :
Le + : Ses deux plaquages cassés.
Le – : Trois plaquages manqués qui font tache et aucun mètre gagné ballon en mains.
En bref : Le moins bon des arrières bleus cet après-midi !

And on Ntamack
a) Before he finished off the 1st try, he blew the overlap to the right by taking play back the wrong way so good job there was a score to cover up that blunder.
b) The drop goal.
c) His supposed forte, tackling: he waved Jones to the tryline in Garbajosa fashion just as he did to Keenan in the Ireland game. He also went half-hearted, too high for another Scotland try. In an ultimate of ironies. Jalibert put in a decent tackle to prevent Scotland breaking out from their far right near the end.
d) And I know this is from PR echoing my own repeated thoughts

The 10 berth battle has raged for four seasons now without conclusion and it’s clear that France are missing Jonathan Danty to the point of pain, but today a new question emerged; tactics under pressure.

Is Dupont so overloaded with work that perhaps he’s not thinking as clearly as he once did? It is yet again an illustration of the game management workload placed on Antoine Dupont and the lack of match management that comes from Ntamack.

Sorry Frog but I told you Moefana wasn't intl standard and even less so when playing outside Ntamack. Penaud and Dumortier are able to cause some trouble off sh*t, static ball. Fickou is there for his defence. Ramos has the luxury at FB of having acres to run into because he sees the ball more often from opposition than his own backline. Moefana is a luxury you can afford when on the front foot and playing with ball in hand.......... which doesn't happen when you play at home and only have 30% of the possession.

Only good thing to come out of this game is Falatea should be the starter now and both Lard-Arse and Criminal binned for good.

[Torquemada 1420]

Bernol has gone to town on this saying a serious injury was inevitable with the stupid amount of game time in T14.

I think it was the same article in RR where Giroud said that if the WC was next year, he’ll be very worried about Antoine, I guess this is valid for most of the EDF guys.

As for Ntamak, Galthié won’t change his mind.

No. He won't. Any more than Jones or Borthwich would over Farrell.

Galthie has no game plan beyond the bit he is not responsible for i.e. Edwards' fantastic defence. So Galthie simply wants France to play with no ball and hope oppos are all Finn Russell.

[TheFrog]

It's a shame none of you guys ever made it to a national manager career.

I agree with you (or the papers) on a few things though:

Our boys are spent. They don't have half the energy needed to beat a team like Ireland. Even Dupont looked short of his best form. Some of kicking was surprisingly average, though he still puts in a ton of work compared to any other player.

My view is that France took the lessons away from the Irish game and elected not to play from it's own half. Ultimately they prevailed which is not going to convince Galthie that more attacking rugby from everywhere on the pitch is the way to go.

I thought Scotland outkicked us. They were much better at pining us in our 22s and their superior maul helped them set up quality position. Thankfully, they are not as clinical as Ireland and we survived.

What is interesting is that, when we decided to go for the last try, we got it. I am wondering whether taking the 3pts when we did was the right call, given how efficient we had been at scoring our first two tries.

It is true that getting turnovers is increasingly difficult and we have to find an adjustment. Attacking everything doesn't work, kicking possession away if it is only to reset the game 40m from your line doesn't work either. And with a pack unable to get some serious go forward, we have to worry about the big games. What made us so successful was our ability to go over the gain line by a mix of sheer power and overloading an area close to the ruck before using space. It worked at time against Scotland but against bigger packs we are no longer that efficient.

That being said, we lost 1 game against the world best team, this is not the end of the world.

I remain doubtful whether having Jalibert start for Ntamack would make a huge difference. We would maybe play more creative but risky rugby. Would that be sufficient to beat Ireland? I don't think so if we don't get the forwards and kicking dominance we need.

Who would you pick instead of Moefana, in the absence of Danty? I don't know how much choice we have at center.

Maybe the major change you can make is to bring back Jaminet and his kicking power.

Will Atonio be back for England?

[Torquemada 1420]

My bits in RED

It's a shame none of you guys ever made it to a national manager career.

I agree with you (or the papers) on a few things though:

Our boys are spent. They don't have half the energy needed to beat a team like Ireland. Even Dupont looked short of his best form. Some of kicking was surprisingly average, though he still puts in a ton of work compared to any other player.
Yes he is tired but as has been pointed out elsewhere, Ntamack's zero game management is heaping pressure on him too.

My view is that France took the lessons away from the Irish game and elected not to play from it's own half. Ultimately they prevailed which is not going to convince Galthie that more attacking rugby from everywhere on the pitch is the way to go.
Yes. Galthie has made it clear he has no game plan with ball in hand.

I thought Scotland outkicked us. They were much better at pining us in our 22s and their superior maul helped them set up quality position. Thankfully, they are not as clinical as Ireland and we survived.
Even with Flake's f**k ups, Ntamack offered nothing by way of comparison. IF your only game plan is hoof the ball, better get a FH who can do it right.

What is interesting is that, when we decided to go for the last try, we got it. I am wondering whether taking the 3pts when we did was the right call, given how efficient we had been at scoring our first two tries.
What is interesting is for 35 mins of the 2nd half, France offered no attacking threat.......... until Ntamack f**ked off and Jalibert came on. This is nothing new.

It is true that getting turnovers is increasingly difficult and we have to find an adjustment. Attacking everything doesn't work, kicking possession away if it is only to reset the game 40m from your line doesn't work either. And with a pack unable to get some serious go forward, we have to worry about the big games. What made us so successful was our ability to go over the gain line by a mix of sheer power and overloading an area close to the ruck before using space. It worked at time against Scotland but against bigger packs we are no longer that efficient.
There are reasons for this that I already pointed out
a) If your players are knackered, they will become less effective at all things. Dupont, Marchand and Alldritt have stopped turning over ball. Danty and Villiere are out.
b) If you then decide to knacker your players even further with a game "plan" that means they put in 200 tackles every game, then you are a friggin' idiot.
c) Guess what? Opponents adapt to teams with game plans that succeeded for them. Galthie has changed nothing since his tenure started. The decline is obvious and inevitable as Fra struggles to beat weak teams like Aus, Ita and Sco.


That being said, we lost 1 game against the world best team, this is not the end of the world.
See above. The decline is blatant.

I remain doubtful whether having Jalibert start for Ntamack would make a huge difference. We would maybe play more creative but risky rugby. Would that be sufficient to beat Ireland? I don't think so if we don't get the forwards and kicking dominance we need.
Hello Fabien. Is that you? Errrrrrr....... except EVERY time Jalibert has come on, he's bailed France and Ntamack's arses out.

Anyway, losing to the No1 ranked team is not what is most concerning: it's struggling to beat the likes of Aus, Ita and Sco.


Who would you pick instead of Moefana, in the absence of Danty? I don't know how much choice we have at center.
The problem, as EVERYONE including oppos have noticed, is with Ntamack doing f**k all, your only choice is a crash ball 12. The fix is obvious.

Maybe the major change you can make is to bring back Jaminet and his kicking power.
I'd turf out both Jaminet and Ramos from the starting 15, move Dumortier to FB, Villiere to his natural wing and Jalibert in at 10.

Will Atonio be back for England?
Sadly yes because Galthie is as stupid and arrogant as Jones.

[TheFrog]

How many attacks did France play from a set piece in Scotland 22s? As you are making comparisons, let's compare apples with apples.

France made the decision to kick for the points before these final penalties, and that decision, btw, was made by the captain.

France has traditionally left the management of the game to the scrum-half. It is in our culture. But suddenly it is Ntamack's fault...


N'Tamack isn't playing at his best, I agree, but the hate here is over the top in my opinion.


As for Galthie, he is a visionary:

https://www.lerugbynistere.fr/videos/vi ... 231027.php

[sturginho]

ATTN Les Francais:

https://www.onrugby.it/2023/03/01/sei-n ... -e-scozia/

Martin PAGE-RELO (Stade Toulousain, esordiente)

Who is this? forum.rugby.it has an entire thread dedicated to scouting potential poaches and I don't think I've ever seen his name come up...

[TheFrog]

ATTN Les Francais:

https://www.onrugby.it/2023/03/01/sei-n ... -e-scozia/

Martin PAGE-RELO (Stade Toulousain, esordiente)

Who is this? forum.rugby.it has an entire thread dedicated to scouting potential poaches and I don't think I've ever seen his name come up...

Toulouse will be pissed. They lost 6 players last week to injuries and now Page-Relo is called by Italy.

He is a decent Top14 player but hasn't particularly impressed ms the few times i saw him play. But it is hard to shine when you are behind Dupont.

[TheFrog]

Another thought for the Frenchies: i wonder to which extent teams are keeping their game plans secret for the world cup. Not sure any team is actually showing their true potential.

[Torquemada 1420]

Another thought for the Frenchies: i wonder to which extent teams are keeping their game plans secret for the world cup. Not sure any team is actually showing their true potential.

Not one I believe. Rugby these days is so over coached, if you haven't already baked in all your critical stuff by the time of a major comp. then it's likely to fail. It all has to be rehearsed at proper test level. It's only spoofers who are failing like Eddie Jones who claim to be keeping all their plans secret.

[Torquemada 1420]

How many attacks did France play from a set piece in Scotland 22s? As you are making comparisons, let's compare apples with apples.

France made the decision to kick for the points before these final penalties, and that decision, btw, was made by the captain.

France has traditionally left the management of the game to the scrum-half. It is in our culture. But suddenly it is Ntamack's fault...


N'Tamack isn't playing at his best, I agree, but the hate here is over the top in my opinion.


As for Galthie, he is a visionary:

https://www.lerugbynistere.fr/videos/vi ... 231027.php

On your first point, if your argument is that the failings primarily lie with Dupont, world player of the year, come out and say so. I'm happy to entertain that debate but I suspect you'll be fighting that corner alone.

Pffft. If it was that simple to execute a move to score a try when it had become desperately needed, why not play like that beforehand and put the game to bed?

Ntamack isn't even in the top 5 FHs in France on current form. Does this anger me? Yes. Because it's so typically French to select based on club bias and or nepotism. If his name was not Ntamack or he played for Brive, you reckon he'd have even got a cap?

[TheFrog]

On my first point i am not blaming Dupont for anything. I am just saying that never in the second half before these final 10 minutes did we opt to kick for touch when we had a penalty in a position that would have allowed us to go for the line, but instead we chose to take the 3pts. And I am highlighting that, therefore, it is unfair to credit the last try on Jalibert and say thsf Ntamack didn't create any when N'tamack was never in a position to receive the ball from a lineout 5m from the line in the second half.

I am not blaming a particular player for the less impressive French performances, I believe the issue is that of a collective that is tired and less sharp. Sure you could marginally improve things by finding a better fly-half or inside center. But that won't suddenly change France.

Earlier in the game, the focus was on securing victory, getting points at each opportunity and playing safer. In the last 10 minutes, the focus was suddenly on trying to make the most form the Scottish gift of possession and try to get the 4th try that we did not seek earlier. Different moments, different focuses.

It is the first time that France has a stable pair of half-backs who play in the same club. We have been complaining about the continuous swapping of half back pairs. Now we want Nfamack out before the world cup.

And yes, I believe Ntamack would have played even if his name was Dupont. Or any other average French name. Clue: does his brother play for France? Does Roumat play for France? Does Retiere play for France? And so on...

[TheFrog]

One reason Ireland are unstoppable and Scotland do so well. And btw, not Ntamack's fault either.