The difficult third season for All Black laden Pau
Things are moving fast at ambitious Top 14 side Pau – or Section Paloise, to give the club its Sunday name.
Three seasons ago, Simon Mannix’s side won the Pro D2 so easily that to use the canter cliche would suggest an inaccurately high expulsion of effort on their part.
Suffice to say, they started recruiting for their first season in the Top 14 since 2006 more than a month before the end of the regular season. And, yes, that meant they were able to tempt World Cup-fresh All Blacks Conrad Smith and Colin Slade to their ranks.
They finished a perfectly respectable 11th in their first season back in the French top flight.
Grosse séance d'entraînement ce matin pour nos Vert et Blanc ! 1er match de préparation jeudi face au @SAXV_Charente ! #Allsection pic.twitter.com/sgIezB4E5X
— Section Paloise (@SectionPaloise) July 30, 2017
But they did not rest on their laurels. The following season, last season, was even better. Three weeks from the end of the regular 2016/17 campaign, the club in the shadow of the Pyrenees in southwest France, occupied a sought-after play-off place, ahead of more illustrious sides such as Stade Francais, Bordeaux, Racing 92, or troubled Toulouse.
They fell away at the end, however, to finish ninth, five points off the pace, as injuries to key players – including both Slade and Smith – took their toll.
That Mannix and his cohorts were devastated with their run-in performance reveals the ambition of the club – and the on-field vision is being matched off the pitch.
More savvy recruitment means Slade, Smith, Dan Ramsay, Jamie Mackintosh and Tom Taylor, who joined from Toulon at the start of last season, will be joined by fellow New Zealanders Benson Stanley, Franck Halai and Peter Saili.
Mannix is also keen to point out the homegrown talent in the club – mentioning boys from the Bearn stuff Quentin Lespiaucq, Thibault Daubagna and Bastien Pourailly in dispatches when quizzed on the number of All Blacks populating key playing positions. Big things are expected this season of young stars Lespiaucq and Daubagna, in particular.
Beyond the white lines, the club’s ambitions are equally apparent. Work is almost finished on expanding Stade du Hameau from 14,000 to 18,500 seats, to complement the still shiny new training complex that was inaugurated at the beginning of last season. The expansion includes new changing rooms and improved hospitality suites.
Now, the team has to standards demanded by the facilities.
As ever, Mannix is coy about his side’s chances. “If we work well, we will play well and we will win our games,” he told Rugbyrama recently. But he – as well as club bosses and fans – wants Pau to challenge for the top six finish, and the play-off place and European Champions Cup qualification that goes with it.
It will be tough. At least 10 sides, including Pau, have serious and genuine top six ambitions going into the new campaign. And the club have to tighten up in defence so they don’t lose as often at home – they gave up four points on their own turf four times last season.
How Pau’s season shakes out will depend on turning the attractive Hameau into a fortress.
Des photos impressionnantes prises par Stéphane depuis sa grue sur le chantier du #Hameau2017@Ville_Pau pic.twitter.com/aGWZg9ouji
— Section Paloise (@SectionPaloise) July 29, 2017
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments