Planet Rugby Forum

Ros Bif · London, United Kingdom
John Maguire I'm sorry to say that's not the case. Players are back with their clubs now. They meet up again on Friday in Aix-en-Provence to prep Italy game (in Marseille). At least they won't be playing Top14 this weekend (as they have done in past 6Ns). What's misleading in PR's article is that FFR/Brunel doesn't really pick/drop players. They ask to borrow them and sign insurance/indemnities/$$s of compensation for the period they have them. Club owners can (and often do) say No. Brunel was riding a mini-popularity wave since he agreed to spread the load across Top 14 clubs, and restricted himself formally to not picking too many players from the same club (thereby appeasing Club owners but also not benefitting from any club combinations on which to build his team!). Now the 6Ns is a lost cause, he's finding it hard even to keep some of his important players. Hence, Lamerat, Iturria (and Lapandry) were called back by Clermont in exchange for Grosso (one of their weaker players) whether he liked it or not. Fickou gets picked because Toulouse was seen to be advantaged relative to other clubs (despite losing Dupont to injury for the whole season). RCT wanted Belleau and Bonneval back, so offered FTD and Basta in exchange. They also didn't want to lose two 2nd rows, so Brunel was allowed to pick either Romain Taofifenua or Swann Rebbadj, but not both. MontPol gets Picamoles back, in return for Galetier. R92 gets Thomas back in return for Chat and Le Roux. etc etc. Hardly the position of Schmidt, Gatland, EJ, Townsend or even O'Shea.

paddyor wrote:http://www.planetrugby.com/news/france- ... behaviour/
From the comments

Ros Bif · London, United Kingdom
John Maguire I'm sorry to say that's not the case. Players are back with their clubs now. They meet up again on Friday in Aix-en-Provence to prep Italy game (in Marseille). At least they won't be playing Top14 this weekend (as they have done in past 6Ns). What's misleading in PR's article is that FFR/Brunel doesn't really pick/drop players. They ask to borrow them and sign insurance/indemnities/$$s of compensation for the period they have them. Club owners can (and often do) say No. Brunel was riding a mini-popularity wave since he agreed to spread the load across Top 14 clubs, and restricted himself formally to not picking too many players from the same club (thereby appeasing Club owners but also not benefitting from any club combinations on which to build his team!). Now the 6Ns is a lost cause, he's finding it hard even to keep some of his important players. Hence, Lamerat, Iturria (and Lapandry) were called back by Clermont in exchange for Grosso (one of their weaker players) whether he liked it or not. Fickou gets picked because Toulouse was seen to be advantaged relative to other clubs (despite losing Dupont to injury for the whole season). RCT wanted Belleau and Bonneval back, so offered FTD and Basta in exchange. They also didn't want to lose two 2nd rows, so Brunel was allowed to pick either Romain Taofifenua or Swann Rebbadj, but not both. MontPol gets Picamoles back, in return for Galetier. R92 gets Thomas back in return for Chat and Le Roux. etc etc. Hardly the position of Schmidt, Gatland, EJ, Townsend or even O'Shea.

Any truth in this?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Yes and no. The shenanigans of selection is largely true. The context here not: there is some inconsistency on who has been punished. For example, all the players detained by the police have been dropped........ except Camara. But largely its about players not giving a sh*t and seeing how far they can push the new, weak coach.

Lorthern Nights wrote:

Toulon's Not Toulouse wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:

Toulon's Not Toulouse wrote:Shots fired. Thomas, Picamoles, Macalou, Lambey, Iturria, Lamerat, Belleau, Danty and Lapandry all out of the squad for the Italy game for taking the night out without permission from the staff.

I bet Brunel would not have done this if was Wales or England up next

You're deluded if you think Wales and England are more important than the Wooden Spoon decider. The Italy game is the one Brunel can't afford to lose.

Nah, its a good decision by Brunel.

If he has any hope of sorting France out a statement of intent like this is just the tonic, this years 6N is now a write off from their perspective, they have lost 2 games with 2 tough ones to come now is the time to stamp your authority.

Xupi wrote:

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Yes and no. The shenanigans of selection is largely true. The context here not: there is some inconsistency on who has been punished. For example, all the players detained by the police have been dropped........ except Camara. But largely its about players not giving a sh*t and seeing how far they can push the new, weak coach.

It seems Camara was mistaken by the Scottish police for Macalou. Camara was not at that party and staid at the hotel it seems.

dargotronV.1 wrote:From FFR twitter:

La FFR confirme que certains joueurs sont entendus par les autorités Écossaises. Nous sommes en attente de plus d'informations.

Owain Jones on twitter says the players involved are said to be Picamoles, Iturria, Ben Arous and Thomas, and were in an altercation with Scottish fans following which they were detained and prevented from flying.

Mog The Almighty wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:From FFR twitter:

La FFR confirme que certains joueurs sont entendus par les autorités Écossaises. Nous sommes en attente de plus d'informations.

Owain Jones on twitter says the players involved are said to be Picamoles, Iturria, Ben Arous and Thomas, and were in an altercation with Scottish fans following which they were detained and prevented from flying.

What sort of nutter starts on Picamoles? lol.