Stacul at FB?

He was very average at the WC though, maybe Villegas could play FB?

Goulding out

not yet

It was pathetic that he was included in the first place. Well done to Goulding for leaving out the embarrassing Queensland Cup imports.

Whats pathetic about playing well within the rules?

Did you condemn Tony Smith when he selected Maurie Fa'savalu?

Quote ="Catalancs"pretty sure i read something about scotland a vs france federale in edinburgh. this friday actually (holiday in france).'" www.totalrl.com/index.php?showtopic=171286

Quote ="Catalancs"pretty sure i read something about scotland a vs france federale in edinburgh. this friday actually (holiday in france).'" www.totalrl.com/index.php?showtopic=171286

We won't win a match, so why use some squad-level etranger to lower the score deficit when we could invest in youth.

Goulding has obviously been reading these posts, as it looks like he's picking TO/Catalan players and sending a message out to Greseque - "play with the best or don't get into the national squad".

Pick the strongest squad available. Omitting James Wynne or Jared Taylor (Greseque I am indifferent frankly) is not doing so and IMO is completely silly and counter-productive.

thanks, good work

On Friday (1 May) evening McCormack will be at Meggetland in Edinburgh, home of Boroughmuir RUFC to watch two Scottish sides in action. At 6pm Scotland will be taking on an England Masters side and then at 7.30pm a Scotland A side, coached by Edinburgh Eagles boss Angus McNab, will be taking on France Federale. Admission is £4 for adults, £2 for concessions and U16’s go free.

Yes, that was equally embarrassing if not more so because there were more English alternatives. I hated looking at the team line ups in the World Cup and having to wait until number 4 to see a genuine Frenchman. Apart from anything else Taylor was absolutely pathetic and was probably France's worst player. Goulding is obviously trying to restore some national pride, and credit to him for doing that. France would never have got anywhere relying on hacks like Wynne and Taylor.

Don't worry, I have assured Bobby that I can do the job for the team. I have no doubts I can have the same positive effects on the national team that I've had on the Dragons. If you think I looked great in Red and Yeller, wait till you've seen me in Blue and White.

You lose your credibility here.

Taylor and Wynne were not even NRL standard players, let alone anywhere near international standard. They have 8 NRL appearances between them, and Wynne will be 33 this year. This is a national team, not an LER club side. I could understand if they were some of the world's best players, but do you honestly think that France should have persevered with filling their national team with Australians who could not even get a club game in their own country, and that this would have helped to develop the international game and the French team? You're absolutely deluded if so. IMO of course.

I won't be as vehement as Wes, but I agree - these are passible players that are being drafted into the French squad, they are maybe a little better than the current alternatives, but maybe an international is what the compettition needs.
If you compare Taylor and Wynn with Greenshields and Murphy you see two players who are LER level and two who are SL level. The SL players pick themselves, Taylor and Wynn have to convince us that they are a better choice than investing in youth - something I am not at all certain of.

You mean he had some elsewhere?

i did

Unbelievable, are you suggesting that the French national team should consist of Queensland Cup standard Australian players rather than Frenchmen?

Why on earth would this make you arrive at that statement?

FWIW I think the French squad should comprise of the best players availible to them. I agree with your point that Taylor had a poor world cup but I dont see anyone else better and I also think that James Wynne would have brought something to the squad.

If that constitutes the team "consisting of QLD cup players" then I'm guilty.

I agree, but the important thing he would bring is international experience. Much as it's good to have more of that, other players have have it too and you can only have so many players in the squad.

I don't think we ought to get too hung up on blooding inexperienced youngsters in these international games - besides as far as I can see there aren't all that many knocking around anyway, in particular at the Dragons.

The Dragons and later Toulouse should be the incubators of the best young talent in France, and the French national side should play its best 17 available regardless of age or, within the rules, place of birth. Simple

Even with that view, I still think the best 17 would be predominantly dragons with a couple TO players. To prove that you are a better player, playing in the LER, would be exceptional.

Please forgive my interruption of your digressions chaps, but who will/should be picked as the French full back?

Should = Jared Taylor.

Will = Thomas Bosc or Constant Villegas.