quite agree with that marv but my criticism of Greseque still holds - he did ok when he eventually came on and did indeed spark some enthousiasm into the team tho' the the Scots at that time were struggling with fitness levels.He has been a decent player but I would have preferred a younger option like William Barthau or Tony Gigot for example.
Bousquet was impressive and with Ferriol now out of the international scene the future looks good with him a Simon plus of course the inimitable Jamel Fakir who was outstanding (and my MOM) yesterday.Dane Chisholm looked impressive and surprisingly quick when let loose.Pelissier livened things up when he eventually came on for Kane who looked a little sluggish IMO though did ok when he came back on towards the end.
A decent performance by the lads with the expected result but a less than happy looking Goulding leaving the ground alone looking forward to going home rather than spending any time with the french lads it seems whereas Steve Mack was with his players and the different approach by the two coaches was quite embarassing .....

Sat outside a lovely little cafe in Beziers... with wifi so some thoughts on yesterday. Whoever got Chisholm to play for France pulled off a real coup. Did someone scratch the Scottish number 11's car pre-game? He was in a stinking mood from kick-off... great stuff


When the French went in so early I really feared for the Scots but they were really up for it and it was only when their legs gave up on them at around 55 minutes when France started cruising. I'd like to see an expanded European Cup in the future with Italy, The Knights and Lebanon joining this year's teams.
We enjoyed the game but the atmosphere was a bit flat despite the best efforts of the bald bloke with the microphone. Really like the look of the new stand although there still isn't enough space to move around once you go looking for a toilet or a beer.

I totally agree with your criticism of MG mate, he was awful in the England Knights game. I think he has been quite poor in a France shirt for a while now. Just think that the way he was used yesterday is possibly the best way to get something out of him at international level. Dont think likes of Gigot or Barthau have the nous that Max does.
Every time i see Bosquet I see more to get exited about, his body shape has changed since being at FCLtoo. He really excites meKane was lucky to not sit down for ten after throwing a few punches early on, Pelissier did well once again coming off the bench and I really feel this is where he is best.
I don't know mate, I think you need to give Bobbie credit where its due. He doesn't seem to be able to win ATM For me Bobbie and his staff worked the game well, used the bench well and looked to have some good combos in the halves finally. The game was over and any memeber of the squad deserves their own time? ATEOTD steve mc is on tour with his boys, he can hardly avoid them?

Chisholm did ok and it was a tos-up betwen him and Jamel for the MOM - he (Chisholm) is a really nice guy and I asked him after where he was playing next season - he said he had no idea and was waiting for offers.....

The Scots no.11 was Josh Barlow (his brother was no.10) was brutal at times and was close a few times to doing serious damage to some french lads ....... Sam isn't exactly a pusycat either.....

I felt there was a lot of spite in the game, maybe spilling over from previous years, hopefully.

Thanks sanjunien.

Totally agreed with you, I've the same feeling. Just don't make Chisholm and Bousquet as stars already, look what happened to Tony Gigot with Alitalia European Cup.
I don't even know where he is playing for now! Just see the Avignonnais at the France training wednesday next to me

i'm not having a go at Bobby - he's a legend for me having played for the Saints but I just feel the present french squad are underperforming - BG said before the game that last week was the best week he has had with the french squad and the spirit was very good which showed in the performance.I agree the lads don't need the bonding thingy with the coach especially on home soil especially at the moment when the team bonding looks really good but I just go by body language and the past few months the body language betwen Larrat & BG has seemed a little strained. Maybe i'm misreading the situation ?
I would love to see BG remain but I don't think his heart is in the france for the long term.There seems to be a lot of pressure from Guasch (the same problem for TR) where the coach doesn't really feel in total control IMO.I hope i'm wrong.
Speaking of TR,he was at the game yesterday and was the first in to see his lads after the game to check on their fitness etc.
Training at the Catalans starts in mid-november for all the squad except those (the majority) who are playing in the internationals who restart on the 5th december.
The two pre-season friendlies are 14th january v Wakey then 21st january v Harlequins,or London Broncos or whatever they are called nowadays ?

He's not the man of the situation and he will never be.
He should speak a quite fluent French no? How can you be performant when some players don't understand him at trainings... That's really shocking imo.
Trent speaks a superb French and the team did a great season.

quite agree about Bousquet - Robinson will play him wisely just as he has done with Eloi last season

as for Chisholm,he's now 21 and just waiting for someone to take a chance on him - he has a lot to learn of course and it will depend on his coach on how he progresses I suppose as well as his attitude which seems to be very positive

no idea about Tony Gigot,I thought he was still with UTC ?

I don't think the language is a major barrier because most of the french boys speak enough english to understand and ther is always Cologni to help out nowadays
I haven't heard any criticism of Bobby from any of the french squad i'm in contact with - I believe any problems are with Bobby & Guasch which puts Larrat & FFR13 in the middle
In reality it odesn't really matter who the coach of france is because he will always have the problem of Guasch to contend with and you can understand M Guaschs' wories considering the majority of the squad comes from the Catalans

Confirmation, he still plays for UTC

Chisholm will maybe play for Limoux and will join the Catalans before the super league, but he will miss the preseason ... Weird

seems a strange one - he would do well at Catalans but where would he fit it ? as for Limoux this would not surprise me

speaking to Andrew Henderson he says brother Kevin will play at Montpellier - is he there already ?

Some really interesting posts there lads, great read.
One disappointing thing for me has been the lack of awareness outside of Perpignan. Last night and this morning we were in Beziers and we didn't meet a single person who knew the game had taken place. A few thought we were talking about today's union derby between Beziers and Narbonne. I've just had a drink in an Irish bar here in Narbonne and neither of the barmen knew what I was on about when I explained I'd come up for the international.

Agreed, they should be looking to the future and with Eloi or Kane on the bench its hard to justify two players like that on the bench
I think reading between the lines, that is the case. Bobbie certainly wants to coach in the UK.

Tony Gigot was always rubbish mate!

I agree with you here to a point, I would say the same team underperfomerd under their last coach too, time will tell if history repeats itself after Bobbie. I think Bobbie's a legend and he has done some good things in this job, It just seems the world is so quick to jump on him regarding his coaching credentials and a lot of people expect big things from the French. Even though this group of French players, for the most part are not stars at their club and some (the most experienced players) have not had a proper off season since the inception of the Dragons into Superleague in 2006.

I think the present crop of french players available is stronger than a couple of years ago and a coach will always be judged on his results - BGs big problem was the shock defeat in Albi against the welsh where they expected to just turn up to win and qualify for the Four Nations - this turned out to be a bitter blow for the FFR as well as BG and one that will always haunt him

it's easy to criticise any coach but a lot of things have happened within the politics of the french game which has made life more difficult for Bobbie - call it a cultural thing if you like but any non-french coach will always find it difficult when working with the FFR & Guasch

regarding Tony Gigot - to say he is rubbish would be unfair IMO
he is one of those players of which there are many including the likes of Shad Royston,Jamie Rooney,Liam Finn etc who are too good for Championship level RL but not up to SL standard - they are stuck somewhere in the middle - Tony did well for TO13 last season,even when asked to play FB in one game but the step up to SL & Catalans is just too much for him
It's good to see he is still in the reckoning along with William Barthau who was unlucky to be subjected to the St Helens game in 2010 when OE was sent off - this shattered his confidence and was unconsolable after that game - I hope he will come back a better player with the confidence TR has shown in him.

I'm not sure about the squad being stronger, its very much a muchness IMO but your probably right about Bobbies failure to quaify. Its impossible to say though, I feel Bobbie would have got greif even if France had managed to qualify for the 4N. I just feel he's never been given the respect for the things he's acheived as France coach. I suppose its the same for any coach of a different nationality coaching a national side too that mate. Bertie Vogts was labelled a disaster for Scottish Football when they were in an awful state and Sven went down like a lead balloon in the end. In RL Tony Smith has proved himself an exellent club coach but didn't do a great job for England and to a degree was judged by his nationality.
I know mate, It was a little bit tounge in cheek. He's certainly not a player i rate highly though. His skill with the ball and size means he should have been so much more, he just seems to lack the heart and needs too much direction to be a quality half. Barthau still has time i guess but i havent seen that much of him to comment properly.

Ireland on saturday. www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/344 ... ad-to-face

Ireland on saturday. www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/344 ... ad-to-face

Julien Bousquet is out due to suffering ankle injury at yesterdays training in Toulouse & is replaced by Romaric Bemba

another solid lump of meat and deservedly getting a run out

nice kid too

Gets the call up but doesn't make the final 17. I feel for the guy as like you said Sanj, he deserves another go in the side.

Same starting 13 as last week. On the bench are Pellisier, Simon, Cardace & Sadaoui

2min gone Ireland lead 4-0

Do you watch the game or listen it to the radio?