A potential Toulon XV for 2019/20
Toulon endured a miserable season past for a team of their pedigree. They finished 9th in the Top 14 and performed pitifully in the Champions Cup, a competition they have won three times over the past decade.
They will seek to rebuild next season in the Top 14 and the Challenge Cup, with a number of huge names arriving at the Stade Mayol. Conversely, some of their biggest stars such as Mathieu Bastareaud, Guilhem Guirado and JP Pietersen have all left.
However, while Toulon have been famed over the years of buying in big names, usually in the twilight of their career, they have also invested wisely in youth, and have some of the most promising French players coming through their ranks.
With a blend of youth and experience, Toulon could establish themselves as giants of the Top 14 once again next season, and this is how they could look:
15 Hugo Bonneval
A skillful and creative force at the back for Toulon, Bonneval could link up with the superstar backline nicely.
14 Nehe Milner-Skudder
The 2015 World Cup winner and World Breakthrough Player of the Year is one of many huge signings. He has electric speed and footwork out wide, and should he stay fit, he will devastate defences across France.
13 Julian Savea
In the absence of the powerful Bastareaud at outside-centre, the 54-cap All Black could make a slight positional adjustment. He had a turbulent first season on the south coast and a strained relationship with Presiden Mourad Boudjellal, and will hope to bounce back this coming season.
12 Ma’a Nonu
The legendary All Black has spent the first half of 2019 in Super Rugby with the Blues, but is rumoured to be making a return. He will battle it out with incoming Julien Hériteau from Agen for the 12 shirt.
11 Bryce Heem
For a number of seasons, Heem was one of Worcester Warriors’ best players, and many people are curious to see how he fairs in a stronger team. He is extremely well rounded, and could find himself in a number of positions throughout the season.
With 23-year-old Antony Belleau France international also in the squad, Toulon are set for a great battle for the 10 shirt. But this may be the season where two-time world under-20 champion Carbonel claims the fly-half berth.
France international Serin is another major signing, as he arrives from Bordeaux this summer. While Rhys Webb will occupy the 9 shirt during the World Cup, the Frenchman could displace him as the season goes on.
8 Sergio Parrise
A titan of European and world rugby, Parisse needs no introduction and is making a massive move after spending 15 years with Stade Francais. He may be 35 years of age, but few would bet against the number eight making a major impact.
7 Facundo Isa
The dynamic Argentinian has been one of Toulon’s best players over the past few years in a star-studded pack. Tireless and powerful, the openside gets his hands on the ball as much as possible and causes a lot of damage.
6 Liam Messam
The 35-year-old Messam may form an aging back-row alongside Parisse, but his experience and complete game means he will surely still be a force next season in red.
5 Romain Taofifénua
Taofifénua may be out of the reckoning for the France team at the moment, but the behemoth of a lock is set to make up one of the most terrifying second-row partnerships in Europe this coming season.
4 Eben Etzebeth
Former South Africa skipper Etzebeth is easily one of the best locks in the world and is joining the French giants in his prime. The ferocious Springbok will bring a lot of firepower to the Toulon pack as they seek to rediscover their dominance up front.
3 Emerick Setiano
Called into France’s World Cup training squad, the 22-year-old tighthead is the ‘new breed’ of prop- brutal in the scrum, dynamic in the loose. Whether Setiano starts or South African Marcel van der Merwe does, Toulon’s scrummaging prowess will not let up over 80 minutes, with class on the bench as well.
2 Christopher Tolofua
The former Saracen has massive boots to fill with France captain Guirado moving to Montpellier, but after two seasons with the European champions, he may be up to that task.
1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Big things are expected of two-time World Rugby Under-20 Championship winner, and this may be the season where the 6ft 5, 20-year-old loosehead announces himself to the rest of Europe. He became established at Toulon last season, and this season will be a chance for him to kick on.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments