Athleticism has finally trumped weight for France
Just over a year ago France fielded the heaviest pack ever seen in international rugby history.
The then Jacques Brunel coached team that faced Wales at the Stade de France tipped the scales at a staggering 962kg – an average of 120.3kg a man. A solid 7kg a man heavier than an average Test pack.
It was the culmination of a decade of increasingly heavy athlete selection for the French national team, a strategy that aped the Top 14’s obsessional, size at all costs approach to the game. It’s been the fallback position for a league that former Clermont coach Joe Schmidt once described as a ‘man-up-a-thon’.
Selectors had better buy in bulk or go home.
Not that its efficacy was ever proven. While Racing 92 and La Rochelle – albeit to a lesser extent – have had success with giant forward packs, if anything the opposite was true for the many sides whose big bodies were falling by the wayside.
Toulouse fielded a one-tonne plus in 2016/17. Was it a coincidence that the aristocrats of French rugby finished an unheard of 12th that year? The same year a super-sized Bayonne were relegated. Perpignan in 2013/14 had the heaviest pack in all of France that season and were relegated and wouldn’t be seen in the French top-flight again until 2018.
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In stark contrast, the teams that have dominated the same league over the last decade: Toulon, Clermont, Castres and the Toulouse side of 2011-13, did so – contrary to popular belief – with decidedly middle-weight forwards.
Could it be that the Fabien Galthie’s 2020 French side has finally learned that size doesn’t win in the Top 14 and neither does it win Test matches?
It’s obvious that height and athleticism are more important for Galthie. There’s one only survivor from Brunel’s giant pack of 2019 Six Nations; a much-slimmed down 6’7, 129kg Paul Willemse. Having shed 6kg since over the summer, the big Montpellier lock is playing the rugby of his life.
That’s not to say his current crop are willowy. Far from it. The average weight of starting eight that beat Wales in Cardiff was 918kg, or 114.75kg a man. They are also tall – with an average height of 6’3.5 inches (or 191.25cm).
There is a greater trend in test rugby to selecting for height at blindsides or shifting second rows into the backrow. England’s converted lock, 6’7 Courtney Lawes; the Springboks 6’6 Pieter Steph Du Toit and New Zealand’s 6’5 Liam Squire and 6’5 Jerome Kaino before that are examples of that.
Allied to that, the pretty mediocre results of Michael Cheika’s ‘Pooper’ experiment for the Wallabies suggests starting two (relatively) short opensides capable of competing for the ball on the deck wasn’t the panacea for fast-ball and turnovers on opposition ball that many thought it might be.
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— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 29, 2020
Height at six is an easy way to add a few inches for a third lineout option, while simultaneously providing heft for close-quarter ball-carries.
What strikes you about this French forward pack however is their abundant athleticism. They seem equally happy in the open field and with space in from to them as do they do when called upon to run over the top of the opposition.
That athleticism is reflected in the stats too. Six foot seven flanker Ollivon leads the try-scoring charts with three tries. He is also joint first with Ntamack for try assists with three. His height has also helped him to become the tournament’s leading lineout taker with 20 – 5 more than Ireland’s James Ryan in 2nd.
No.8 Gregory Alldritt leads the forwards in the competition for metres made with 271. It’s the fourth-highest of any player and seven metres more than Scottish fullback Stuart Hogg in 5th.
Galthie’s investment in youth made the headlines in the lead up to the Six Nations. But what his selections seem to indicate is that it is no longer enough to be a big body. He wants athletes into the bargain.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to comments