Build Up to the Crunch

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:57 pm

The first 6 Nation tournament after a world cup is usually a time of rebuilding, and certainly, the France-England game is intriguing with so many new players coming to the forefront.

The new French Head Coach, Fabien Galthie, has obtained the support of the clubs to gather 42 players with a view to build a strong squad over the years, leading to the next World Cup. The 42 players are now training in Nice.

Below are the players, youth and lack of experience is the name of the game!

FRONT ROW
Cyril BAILLE – 26 ans – 17 sélections – Stade Toulousain (LHP)
Demba BAMBA – 21 ans – 7 sélections – Lyon OU (THP)
Camille CHAT – 24 ans – 26 sélections – Racing 92 (Hooker)
Jean-Baptiste GROS – 20 ans – 0 sélection – RC Toulon (LHP)
Mohamed HAOUAS – 25 ans – 0 sélection – Montpellier Hérault Rugby (THP)
Wilfrid HOUNKPATIN – 28 ans – 0 sélection – Castres Olympique (THP)
Julien MARCHAND – 24 ans – 2 sélections – Stade Toulousain (Hooker)
Peato MAUVAKA – 23 ans – 1 sélection – Stade Toulousain (Hooker)
Jefferson POIROT – 27 ans – 33 sélections – Union Bordeaux-Bègles (LHP)

SECOND ROW
Cyril CAZEAUX – 24 ans – 0 sélection – Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Killian GERACI – 20 ans – 0 sélection – Lyon OU
Bernard LE ROUX – 30 ans – 37 sélections – Racing 92
Boris PALU – 23 ans – 0 sélection – Racing 92
Romain TAOFIFENUA – 29 ans – 14 sélections – RC Toulon
Paul WILLEMSE – 27 ans – 3 sélections – Montpellier Hérault Rugby

BACKROW
Grégory ALLDRITT – 22 ans – 11 sélections – Stade Rochelais (number
Dylan CRETIN – 22 ans – 0 sélection – Lyon OU (blindside)
François CROS – 25 ans – 2 sélections – Stade Toulousain (openside)
Alexandre FISCHER – 21 ans – 0 sélection – ASM Clermont Auvergne (openside)
Sekou MACALOU – 24 ans – 1 sélection – Stade Français Paris (openside)
Charles OLLIVON – 26 ans – 11 sélections – RC Toulon (openside, number
Selevasio TOLOFUA – 22 ans – 0 sélection – Stade Toulousain (number
Cameron WOKI – 21 ans – 0 sélection – Union Bordeaux-Bègles (openside)

SCRUM HALVES
Antoine DUPONT – 23 ans – 20 sélections – Stade Toulousain
Maxime LUCU – 26 ans – 0 sélection – Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Baptiste SERIN – 25 ans – 33 sélections – RC Toulon

FLY HAVES
Louis CARBONEL – 20 ans – 0 sélection – RC Toulon
Matthieu JALIBERT – 21 ans – 1 sélection – Union Bordeaux-Bègles (can play 15)
Romain NTAMACK – 20 ans – 12 sélections – Stade Toulousain (can play 12 and does so often for his club)

CENTERS
Gaël FICKOU – 25 ans – 51 sélections – Stade Français Paris (12)
Julien HERITEAU – 25 ans – 0 sélection – RC Toulon (13)
Virimi VAKATAWA – 27 ans – 21 sélections – Racing 92 (13)
Arthur VINCENT – 20 ans – 0 sélection – Montpellier Hérault Rugby (12)

WINGERS
Gervais CORDIN – 21 ans – 0 sélection – RC Toulon
Lester ETIEN – 24 ans – 0 sélection – Stade Français Paris
Gabriel NGANDEBE – 22 sélections – 0 sélection
Damian PENAUD – 23 ans – 16 sélections – ASM Clermont Ferrand
Vincent RATTEZ – 27 ans – 3 sélections – Stade Rochelais
Teddy THOMAS – 26 ans – 16 sélections – Racing 92

FULLBACKS
Anthony BOUTHIER – 27 ans – 0 sélection – Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Kylan HAMDAOUI – 25 ans – 0 sélection – Stade Français Paris
Thomas RAMOS – 24 ans – 9 sélections – Stade Toulousain

Jeff the Bear · Post by **Jeff the Bear** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:59 pm

Any talk of how Shaun Edwards is doing?

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:04 pm

French team likely to start the game

1. Poirot (27 y/o and 33 caps)
2. Chat (24 y/o and 26 caps)
3. Bamba (21 y/o and 7 caps)
4. Leroux (30 y/o and 37 caps)
5. Willemse (27 y/o and 3 caps)
6. Cros (25 y/o and 2 caps)
7. Ollivon (capt) (26 y/o and 11 caps)
8. Aldritt (22 y/o and 11 caps)
9. Dupont (23 y/o and 20 caps)
10. N'Tamack (20 y/o and 10 caps)
11. Thomas (26 y/o and 16 caps)
12. Fickou (25 y/o and 51 caps)
13. Vakatawa (27 y/o and 21 caps)
14. Penaud (23 y/o and 16 caps)
15. Ramos (24 y/o and 9 caps)

That's an average of 17.5 caps per player (Fickou weighs almost 20% of the total cap amount and he is only 25).

Average age: 24.67 y/o

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:05 pm

Jeff the Bear wrote:Any talk of how Shaun Edwards is doing?

I think we will have to wait for the game to find out. But apparently he fitted well with the coaching staff, and Galthie really expects a lot from him.

Training started on Monday.

Floppykid · Post by **Floppykid** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:07 pm

TheFrog wrote:French team likely to start the game

1. Poirot (27 y/o and 33 caps)
2. Chat (24 y/o and 26 caps)
3. Bamba (21 y/o and 7 caps)
4. Leroux (30 y/o and 37 caps)
5. Willemse (27 y/o and 3 caps)
6. Cros (25 y/o and 2 caps)
7. Ollivon (capt) (26 y/o and 11 caps)
8. Aldritt (22 y/o and 11 caps)
9. Dupont (23 y/o and 20 caps)
10. N'Tamack (20 y/o and 10 caps)
11. Thomas (26 y/o and 16 caps)
12. Fickou (25 y/o and 51 caps)
13. Vakatawa (27 y/o and 21 caps)
14. Penaud (23 y/o and 16 caps)
15. Ramos (24 y/o and 9 caps)

That's an average of 17.5 caps per player (Fickou weighs almost 20% of the total cap amount and he is only 25).

Average age: 24.67 y/o

That's a pretty special backline IF N'Tamack can be composed.

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:09 pm

Dupont showing Woki that he still has a lot of work to do if he wants to play international rugby.

Floppykid · Post by **Floppykid** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:11 pm

Dupont is probably the player I'm looking forward to watching most this tournament.
I wish France's second row was better though.

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:11 pm

Chat and Bamba on two different teams?

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:14 pm

Floppykid wrote:Dupont is probably the player I'm looking forward to watching most this tournament.
I wish France's second row was better though.

I fear weaknesses in the second row, and at 15.

We are also pretty thin on THP. Bamba is very young and inexperienced, and the two other guys are big unknown. One of them was playing third division rugby 18 months ago!

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:16 pm

Floppykid wrote:
TheFrog wrote:French team likely to start the game

1. Poirot (27 y/o and 33 caps)
2. Chat (24 y/o and 26 caps)
3. Bamba (21 y/o and 7 caps)
4. Leroux (30 y/o and 37 caps)
5. Willemse (27 y/o and 3 caps)
6. Cros (25 y/o and 2 caps)
7. Ollivon (capt) (26 y/o and 11 caps)
8. Aldritt (22 y/o and 11 caps)
9. Dupont (23 y/o and 20 caps)
10. N'Tamack (20 y/o and 10 caps)
11. Thomas (26 y/o and 16 caps)
12. Fickou (25 y/o and 51 caps)
13. Vakatawa (27 y/o and 21 caps)
14. Penaud (23 y/o and 16 caps)
15. Ramos (24 y/o and 9 caps)

That's an average of 17.5 caps per player (Fickou weighs almost 20% of the total cap amount and he is only 25).

Average age: 24.67 y/o
That's a pretty special backline IF N'Tamack can be composed.

Yes, that backline is capable to do great damages. Fickou and Vakatawa are on fire for their clubs, N'Tamack had a great game last weekend against Gloucester. Only Ramos is slightly less scary. In defense though, Farell is going to probe Thomas big time with kicks behind his back.

sockwithaticket · Post by **sockwithaticket** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:17 pm

Dupont has such a boyish face, yet weirdly large head.

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:18 pm

sockwithaticket wrote:Dupont has such a boyish face, yet weirdly large head.

The brain, man, the brain's size.

croyals · Post by **croyals** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:20 pm

Very, very nervous for this. Think France will be much better this cycle.

maxime · Post by **maxime** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:20 pm

TheFrog wrote:French team likely to start the game

1. Poirot (27 y/o and 33 caps)
2. Chat (24 y/o and 26 caps)
3. Bamba (21 y/o and 7 caps)
4. Leroux (30 y/o and 37 caps)
5. Willemse (27 y/o and 3 caps)
6. Cros (25 y/o and 2 caps)
7. Ollivon (capt) (26 y/o and 11 caps)
8. Aldritt (22 y/o and 11 caps)
9. Dupont (23 y/o and 20 caps)
10. N'Tamack (20 y/o and 10 caps)
11. Thomas (26 y/o and 16 caps)
12. Fickou (25 y/o and 51 caps)
13. Vakatawa (27 y/o and 21 caps)
14. Penaud (23 y/o and 16 caps)
15. Ramos (24 y/o and 9 caps)

That's an average of 17.5 caps per player (Fickou weighs almost 20% of the total cap amount and he is only 25).

Average age: 24.67 y/o

Have to disagree with you about Willemse. I don't believe he'll be part of the starting XV.
To me, Tao or even Palu are far better.
I think Galthié will associate the racing pair of locks.

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:20 pm

As usual, the questions will be about:

- French team lasting more than 60min at 100%

- Forwards in the set piece

- Discipline

From the pictures of training, it looks like Taofifenua could be a starter in the engine room. Interesting... He was one of our most promising lock, with great physicality, but he has never really delivered the goods. Him and Vahaamahina as a pair were the expected French lock pairing 5 years ago...

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:22 pm

maxime wrote:
TheFrog wrote:French team likely to start the game

1. Poirot (27 y/o and 33 caps)
2. Chat (24 y/o and 26 caps)
3. Bamba (21 y/o and 7 caps)
4. Leroux (30 y/o and 37 caps)
5. Willemse (27 y/o and 3 caps)
6. Cros (25 y/o and 2 caps)
7. Ollivon (capt) (26 y/o and 11 caps)
8. Aldritt (22 y/o and 11 caps)
9. Dupont (23 y/o and 20 caps)
10. N'Tamack (20 y/o and 10 caps)
11. Thomas (26 y/o and 16 caps)
12. Fickou (25 y/o and 51 caps)
13. Vakatawa (27 y/o and 21 caps)
14. Penaud (23 y/o and 16 caps)
15. Ramos (24 y/o and 9 caps)

That's an average of 17.5 caps per player (Fickou weighs almost 20% of the total cap amount and he is only 25).

Average age: 24.67 y/o
Have to disagree with you about Willemse. I don't believe he'll be part of the starting XV.
To me, Tao or even Palu are far better.
I think Galthié will associate the racing pair of locks.

From the pictures of the training session, it seems that you are right. Taofifenua seems to be the starting 5.

The man has never proven anything at International level, but neither did Willemse in fairness.

Interestingly, it seems that Bemba would not start at 3 either.

EDIT: early training may actually not reflect the final XV. I saw Ollivon wearing white.

Floppykid · Post by **Floppykid** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:27 pm

TheFrog wrote:As usual, the questions will be about:

- French team lasting more than 60min at 100%

- Forwards in the set piece

- Discipline

From the pictures of training, it looks like Taofifenua could be a starter in the engine room. Interesting... He was one of our most promising lock, with great physicality, but he has never really delivered the goods. Him and Vahaamahina as a pair were the expected French lock pairing 5 years ago...

You'd hope Edwards will go a long way towards discipline and stamina.

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:27 pm

Come and watch the new kid, Mathieu Jalibert. He could start at 10 ahead of N'Tamack. He had been called couple years ago by Brunel before he injured himself badly (cruciate ligaments)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b01MIA58CNU

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:30 pm

Floppykid wrote:
TheFrog wrote:As usual, the questions will be about:

- French team lasting more than 60min at 100%

- Forwards in the set piece

- Discipline

From the pictures of training, it looks like Taofifenua could be a starter in the engine room. Interesting... He was one of our most promising lock, with great physicality, but he has never really delivered the goods. Him and Vahaamahina as a pair were the expected French lock pairing 5 years ago...
You'd hope Edwards will go a long way towards discipline and stamina.

I don't think you can train stamina sufficiently during the short spell with the French squad. This is a long term job, and involves Top14 coaches plans as well as the actual intensity of the games played in Top14... which are well below international standards. Only the Champions' Cup gives the French players an opportunity to play some decent rugby.

For the World Cup, Galthie focused a lot on stamina, mobility and pace. The result were explosive players but a suddenly much lighter pack which was humiliated in the set piece during the tournament.

The lack of an international standard 3 and 5 is a great handicap for France.

DragsterDriver · Post by **DragsterDriver** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:24 pm

Think we’re about to have a golden era of French rugby

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:04 pm

DragsterDriver wrote:Think we’re about to have a golden era of French rugby

Much will depend on the clubs, and how they cooperate with the Union.

The format of the Top14 is still not favorable to the development of top level athletes. And never mind how skillful the kids are, if the athletic strength isn't there, they won't be able to compete.

But there have been progresses, and the new generation of kids coming through the ranks are interesting. For the first time in years, we have number 10s who are quality material rising. The disappointment is really in the second row where, surprisingly, we are short of powerful enforcers and scrum engines.

Floppykid · Post by **Floppykid** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:07 pm

DragsterDriver wrote:Think we’re about to have a golden era of French rugby

Hopefully, or rather just the end of a pretty mediocre period.

Anonymous 1 · Post by **Anonymous 1** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:16 pm

TheFrog wrote:Build Up to the Crunch

Le crunch in English

Inch high hogs eye · Post by **Inch high hogs eye** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:20 pm

sockwithaticket wrote:Dupont has such a boyish face, yet weirdly large head.

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:22 pm

Inch high hogs eye wrote:
sockwithaticket wrote:Dupont has such a boyish face, yet weirdly large head.

Caley_Red · Post by **Caley_Red** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:14 am

Can't believe Fickou is only 25- seems to have been around for ages!

I have to say, this is the most excited I have been to see a French team in the 6N in the best part of ten years, I think this opener has all the hallmarks of a classic!

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:05 am

Caley_Red wrote:Can't believe Fickou is only 25- seems to have been around for ages!

I have to say, this is the most excited I have been to see a French team in the 6N in the best part of ten years, I think this opener has all the hallmarks of a classic!

Fickou started playing international rugby aged 18.

paddywack · Post by **paddywack** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:00 am

TheFrog wrote:French team likely to start the game

1. Poirot (27 y/o and 33 caps)
2. Chat (24 y/o and 26 caps)
3. Bamba (21 y/o and 7 caps)
4. Leroux (30 y/o and 37 caps)
5. Willemse (27 y/o and 3 caps)
6. Cros (25 y/o and 2 caps)
7. Ollivon (capt) (26 y/o and 11 caps)
8. Aldritt (22 y/o and 11 caps)
9. Dupont (23 y/o and 20 caps)
10. N'Tamack (20 y/o and 10 caps)
11. Thomas (26 y/o and 16 caps)
12. Fickou (25 y/o and 51 caps)
13. Vakatawa (27 y/o and 21 caps)
14. Penaud (23 y/o and 16 caps)
15. Ramos (24 y/o and 9 caps)

That's an average of 17.5 caps per player (Fickou weighs almost 20% of the total cap amount and he is only 25).

Average age: 24.67 y/o

I really fancy France to do well in 6N this year. Players like Aldritt, Penaud, Fickou, NTamack can really set the competition alight.

TheFrog · Post by **TheFrog** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:43 pm

As stated above, much will depend about our pack ability to assert itself at the set piece and in the mauls, and our capacity to run for a full 80min at high intensity.

handyman · Post by **handyman** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:47 pm

DragsterDriver wrote:Think we’re about to have a golden era of French rugby

Meaning they can get to 1 in the world or more like 4-5? What is golden for France?

TheEleventhEarlofMar · Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:04 pm

I’d say the French go into this match as favourites.

sockwithaticket · Post by **sockwithaticket** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:10 pm

paddywack wrote:
TheFrog wrote:French team likely to start the game

1. Poirot (27 y/o and 33 caps)
2. Chat (24 y/o and 26 caps)
3. Bamba (21 y/o and 7 caps)
4. Leroux (30 y/o and 37 caps)
5. Willemse (27 y/o and 3 caps)
6. Cros (25 y/o and 2 caps)
7. Ollivon (capt) (26 y/o and 11 caps)
8. Aldritt (22 y/o and 11 caps)
9. Dupont (23 y/o and 20 caps)
10. N'Tamack (20 y/o and 10 caps)
11. Thomas (26 y/o and 16 caps)
12. Fickou (25 y/o and 51 caps)
13. Vakatawa (27 y/o and 21 caps)
14. Penaud (23 y/o and 16 caps)
15. Ramos (24 y/o and 9 caps)

That's an average of 17.5 caps per player (Fickou weighs almost 20% of the total cap amount and he is only 25).

Average age: 24.67 y/o
I really fancy France to do well in 6N this year. Players like Aldritt, Penaud, Fickou, NTamack can really set the competition alight.

France have rarely lacked talent. Quality coaching, discipline and fitness have been their issues.

Laurent · Post by **Laurent** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:16 pm

Ramos is out of the group

Première ligne
Cyril BAILLE – 26 ans – 17 sélections – Stade Toulousain
Demba BAMBA – 21 ans – 7 sélections – Lyon OU
Camille CHAT – 24 ans – 26 sélections – Racing 92
Mohamed HAOUAS – 25 ans – 0 sélection – Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Julien MARCHAND – 24 ans – 2 sélections – Stade Toulousain
Jefferson POIROT – 27 ans – 33 sélections – Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Deuxième ligne
Bernard LE ROUX – 30 ans – 37 sélections – Racing 92
Boris PALU – 23 ans – 0 sélection – Racing 92
Romain TAOFIFENUA – 29 ans – 14 sélections – RC Toulon
Paul WILLEMSE – 27 ans – 3 sélections – Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Troisième ligne
Grégory ALLDRITT – 22 ans – 11 sélections – Stade Rochelais
Dylan CRETIN – 22 ans – 0 sélection – Lyon OU
François CROS – 25 ans – 2 sélections – Stade Toulousain
Alexandre FISCHER – 21 ans – 0 sélection – ASM Clermont Auvergne
Sekou MACALOU – 24 ans – 1 sélection – Stade Français Paris
Charles OLLIVON – 26 ans – 11 sélections – RC Toulon
Demi de mêlée
Antoine DUPONT – 23 ans – 20 sélections – Stade Toulousain
Baptiste SERIN – 25 ans – 33 sélections – RC Toulon
Demi d’ouverture
Matthieu JALIBERT – 21 ans – 1 sélection – Union Bordeaux-Bègles
Romain NTAMACK – 20 ans – 12 sélections – Stade Toulousain
Centre
Gaël FICKOU – 25 ans – 51 sélections – Stade Français Paris
Virimi VAKATAWA – 27 ans – 21 sélections – Racing 92
Arthur VINCENT – 20 ans – 0 sélection – Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Ailier
Gabriel NGANDEBE – 22 sélections – 0 sélection – Montpellier Hérault Rugby
Damian PENAUD – 23 ans – 16 sélections – ASM Clermont Ferrand
Vincent RATTEZ – 27 ans – 3 sélections – Stade Rochelais
Teddy THOMAS – 26 ans – 16 sélections – Racing 92
Arrière
Anthony BOUTHIER – 27 ans – 0 sélection – Montpellier Hérault Rugby

Great news Cretin is in the group so many shit puns coming

Yer Man · Post by **Yer Man** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:16 pm

TheFrog wrote:
Inch high hogs eye wrote:

That's a mask.

Please tell me that's a mask...

Yer Man · Post by **Yer Man** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:17 pm

Laurent wrote:Great news Cretin is in the group so many shit puns coming

Condom.

There was only ever one Condom

eldanielfire · Post by **eldanielfire** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:17 pm

I'm not so sure France will have a golden era. I think they will return to 2000's level and beat anyone on their day and be more consistent.

Laurent · Post by **Laurent** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:19 pm

Yer Man wrote:
Laurent wrote:Great news Cretin is in the group so many shit puns coming
Condom.

There was only ever one Condom

Cretin has same meaning in it's original language as in the English one

Woddy · Post by **Woddy** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:23 pm

TheFrog wrote:

Dupont showing Woki that he still has a lot of work to do if he wants to play international rugby.

Very impressed that despite his well-documented back and knee issues and taking up the game at an advanced age, Tiger Woods is embracing a new challenge and experience in France...

La soule · Post by **La soule** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 2:40 pm

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/xv-de-fr ... tory.shtml

According to this; Haouas to start with Baille, Tao in with Leroux, Bouthier at FB and Ntamak to start.

Fischer on the bench with Ratier who will cover Wing + FB.

The Sun God · Post by **The Sun God** » Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:48 pm

Yer Man wrote:
TheFrog wrote:
Inch high hogs eye wrote:

That's a mask.

Please tell me that's a mask...

nope...that's a real person. Don't think they play Rugby though..!!