The Fall of France

[rowan]

I just think French rugby has suffered the same fate as many international soccer teams in the modern era in that the emphasis is mostly on the powerful clubs, which are filled with foreign players, while the test team is little more than an after-thought. It's kind of good for rugby, in fact, as we see teams like Georgia and the Maghrebs emerging with largely French-based national teams; just as we've seen African nations excelling at soccer with mostly European-based players, but unfortunately it is Les Bleus who are paying the price. Mind you, we are talking about France, after all. Don't be too surprised if they pop up in the World Cup final next year...

[rowan]

Seems the FFR read my previous post:


Bernard Laporte, FFR president, just declares he wants to reduce the number of outsider players in Top 14 and Pro D2, as it is done in Fédérale : https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... -14/858707

In Fédérale, the regulations are link with licences.
Licence A : french players, or outsiders with 7 years of french licence
Licence B : EU members
Licence C : non EU members

In Féd 1 : maximum 5 B and 1 C per game sheet --> to be reduced by one for next season, and another one for 2019, so only 4 outsiders
In Féd 2 and 3 : only 4 outsiders per game sheet, to be reduced to 3 and 2

This could impact many nations with strong links to France. Especially Georgia and Pacific Islanders, if such regulations applied to Top 14 and Pro D2. Fortunately EU members players could still come to develop.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... -14/858707

[rowan]

Whether or not this move will restore Les Bleus to their former glories remains to be seen, but I suspected the real losers could be Georgia, who have so many of their national team players based in France. Will they now flock to Britain or Italy? The Pacific Islanders will probably do the same - or else return Down Under and try to get Super Rugby contracts. If Andrew Forrest's Indo-Pacific league gets off the ground, that could be a godsend to them, while they themselves will provide a welcome player resource. Of course, there is no guarantee the French will replace them with Frenchmen. They might simply look more toward fellow EU members. I believe most of the Spanish team is already playing there. & a lot of North Africans will already qualify through dual citizenship, for example.

[rowan]

10th in the rankings. All time low, and behind Fiji!. Although I think they're beginning to show signs of recovery and there wasn't much disgrace in losing at the death to this very good Irish team, who are ranked 3rd in the world.

[rowan]

Repose en paix, Jacques Fort https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/fort-anc ... l#fr-fb-sh

[rowan]

French team members detained by Scottish police after a fight broke out in a bar after the Murrayfield encounter: https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... nce/875172

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/6-nation ... tory.shtml

[Stones of granite]

https://www.scotsman.com/news/french-ru ... -1-4687534

The players were quizzed before their Jet2 charter flight to Paris was due to leave Edinburgh this morning at 11am, but police have confirmed that no crime was committed. Reports in France this morning claimed there had been an incident at the Tigerlily Bar on Edinburgh’s George Street after the Six Nations loss to Scotland at BT Murrayfield.

It is understood that the French players questioned were spoken to by police as potential witnesses.

Tigerlily Events Manager Jo McKinnell confirmed that the French players had been in the bar on Sunday night but said there had been no incidents.

[rowan]

Yes, French radio reported it was a sexual assault allegation as well.

[rowan]

France head coach Jacques Brunel has dropped all the players involved in an alleged incident in Edinburgh on Sunday night from his Six Nations squad.

Louis Picamoles, Anthony Belleau, Jonathan Danty, Remi Lamerat, and Felix Lambey were all questioned by police in Scotland, who determined that no crime had been committed after their enquiries following up reports of a brawl at a city centre bar in Edinburgh.

All five, along with Alexandre Lapandry, Arthur Iturria and winger Teddy Thomas, who has been France’s star man having scored three tries so far, have been omitted from the squad to face Italy in Marseille on February 23.

The FFR said in a statement on Tuesday:

“Jacques Brunel has decided to exclude from that list the players who went out after the defeat in Scotland.”

“By this inappropriate behaviour, they have disrespected their status as an international player and the duties that go with it.”

http://rugbylad.ie/france-drop-players- ... ons-squad/

[Stones of granite]

It’s only right that they should be properly punished for not committing any crimes.

[rowan]

I can only assume they were under strict orders not to go out, in which case they deserve to be dropped for the next game. & what a break for Italy! If they can't back themselves to roll over a weakened French team that has just slipped to 10th in the rankings behind Fiji, they might as well just step aside and let Georgia take their place tomorrow!

[Which Tyler]

It’s only right that they should be properly punished for not committing any crimes.

Doesn't mention any crimes at all, just the absolutely standard curfew.

“Jacques Brunel has decided to exclude from that list the players who went out after the defeat in Scotland.”

“By this inappropriate behaviour, they have disrespected their status as an international player and the duties that go with it.”

[Stones of granite]

It’s only right that they should be properly punished for not committing any crimes.

Doesn't mention any crimes at all, just the absolutely standard curfew.

“Jacques Brunel has decided to exclude from that list the players who went out after the defeat in Scotland.”

“By this inappropriate behaviour, they have disrespected their status as an international player and the duties that go with it.”

It is now inappropriate behaviour to go out for a few drinks after a Rugby game?

Joyless bastards. If that’s professional Rugby, you can shove it.

[Which Tyler]

It’s only right that they should be properly punished for not committing any crimes.

Doesn't mention any crimes at all, just the absolutely standard curfew.

“Jacques Brunel has decided to exclude from that list the players who went out after the defeat in Scotland.”

“By this inappropriate behaviour, they have disrespected their status as an international player and the duties that go with it.”

It is now inappropriate behaviour to go out for a few drinks after a Rugby game?

Joyless bastards. If that’s professional Rugby, you can shove it.

Welcome to... what? 2001 or so

[Stones of granite]

Doesn't mention any crimes at all, just the absolutely standard curfew.

“Jacques Brunel has decided to exclude from that list the players who went out after the defeat in Scotland.”

“By this inappropriate behaviour, they have disrespected their status as an international player and the duties that go with it.”

It is now inappropriate behaviour to go out for a few drinks after a Rugby game?

Joyless bastards. If that’s professional Rugby, you can shove it.

Welcome to... what? 2001 or so

1991 more like

I never claimed to be "with it"

[rowan]

French Rugby chiefs have launched an investigation that could recommend sanctions for a number of players who were involved in “inappropriate behaviour” in Edinburgh over the weekend.

Eight players who went out in Edinburgh after the defeat were omitted from the squad for the next game against Italy.


“The President of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte has decided to conduct an internal investigation to shed light on the course of the evening,” said the FFR in a statement.

The eight players axed from the squad for the match against Italy on February 23 in Marseille were Teddy Thomas, Louis Picamoles, Arthur Iturria, Anthony Belleau, Jonathan Danty, Sekou Macalou, Remi Lamerat and Felix Lambey.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/escalati ... h-incident

[rowan]

Looks to be live. Hopefully posting it on this thread will prove prophetic...

Stopped right at the kick-off. I guess that was a rugby-tease...

Apparently the French ran riot in the U20 fixture, 72-13 or something . . .

[WaspInWales]

Dreadful from Barnes. That was never grounded.

[WaspInWales]

I'm not sure the penalty try was the right call either...but it got Barnes off the hook I suppose.

[rowan]

You guys are my eyes this evening. I have no feed. 5-7 according to the tracker.

[WaspInWales]

The tracker is correct.

[WaspInWales]

8-7

[francoisfou]

Are Italy sponsored by Emmanuel Macron as the President's name is emblazoned on their jerseys?

[Sandydragon]

I'm not sure the penalty try was the right call either...but it got Barnes off the hook I suppose.

Tight call. I think he was determined that France had collapsed the rolling maul and looked for a reason to give it.

Not a great game. Lots of huff and puff, not too much skill. The key question for the second half is on how fit the French are.

Overall, this feels like a wooden spoon play off.

[J Dory]

Didn't see the first half, second is dire so far.