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Challenge Cup

Gloucester beaten by Top 14 newcomers Vannes in France

By PA
Christian Wade of Gloucester celebrates with team-mate Ollie Thorley after scoring a try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Newcastle Falcons at Kingsholm Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Gloucester’s hopes of a second successive EPCR Challenge Cup win disappeared without trace as they lost 43-19 to French club Vannes.

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After beating Edinburgh in their tournament opener, the west country club conceded three early tries against the Top 14 newcomers at Stade de la Rabine.

It was 14-0 inside three minutes as Enzo Benmegal and Michael Ruru crossed, before Ruru claimed a quickfire second after centre Chris Harris opened Gloucester’s account through a try that George Barton converted.

Benmegal’s second try appeared to take Vannes out of reach, yet Gloucester narrowed the gap to just seven points after touchdowns from Gareth Blackmore and Jacob Morris, with Rory Taylor kicking one conversion.

But Vannes were in no mood to let things slip, and further tries by Karl Chateau and Cyril Blanchard underpinned an emphatic success.

The Ospreys, meanwhile, suffered their record European defeat as they were crushed 59-15 by French hosts Montpellier.

The Welsh region conceded nine tries, and could only manage touchdowns from Evardi Boshoff and Keelan Giles, with fly-half Dan Edwards adding a drop-goal and conversion.

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Comments on RugbyPass

f
fl 35 minutes ago
Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

DDA looked less dominant this year than he has done previously, and will be 35 at the RWC. Esterhuizen only started 3 games this season (against Wales, Italy, and in the losing effort against Australia). If, at 31, he isn’t viewed by Rassie as a starting 12, I doubt he will be at 33.

19 Go to comments
f
fl 40 minutes ago
Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

Yeah depth at 12 is likely to be a bit of a problem! Still think backrow is the bigger problem.

19 Go to comments
E
EF 1 hour ago
Dans la forme de sa vie, Matthieu Jalibert peut-il vraiment relancer le débat en équipe de France ?

Is there any possibility to add an “extra player” to the Top100 MRP 2025? And why not Matthieu Jalibert

1 Go to comments
B
Benji7 1 hour ago
Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

Would LOVE to see Paul de Villiers given a chance at 6 in 2026. He’s been outstanding. Plus after Kolisi and Van Staden, who else is there?

Looking forward to seeing Elrigh Louw back, hopefully at 7! Great replacement for PSDT.



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19 Go to comments
B
Benji7 1 hour ago
Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

The Boks have DDA and Esterhuizen at 12. But 2026 is the year they need to start playing Ethan Hooker at 12. It’s his 1st choice position too.

19 Go to comments
c
cw 2 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

He is certainly no Skelton. His dimensions are similar to Eben at 204 cm / 120kg v 203 cm / 122kg. Though I take your point - the Boks churn out monsters in huge numbers. But we do have our own collection of monsters Tamaiti at 196 cm / 144 kg (combined 340) and Tosi at 193 / 140 kg (333) are as big as the biggest Bok monsters eg Snyder is 207cm / 130kg (337). And the point of having Vaa’i or Holland or Barrett at 4, 5 and or 6 and combined with others like Tuipulotu

and Parker - is that in “physics” theory at least their combined power matches that of the Boks - and provides the base for a rock solid scrum. And from memory, when Vaa’i or Holland were on the blindside, the NZ scrum did not go backwards.



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220 Go to comments
c
cw 3 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Cannot disagree - but it is interesting to note in those games the Boks were materially bigger (@ 38 point weight and height diferential where as the ABs and Boks were about even at Eden Park) and the English 6-2 combination was a clear point of difference. I also think the Boks had a blinder.

And to your last point - isnt that weird? An AB pack of the present dimensions should be at least achieving parity with both the Boks and Poms. Your post England game article highlighted a potential problem



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220 Go to comments
c
cw 3 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

This is a huge piece of data NB! Thanks for sharing it. It absolutely confirms our intuitions about how Robertson is wanting to play the game. It is based on set piece dominance and hence the “powering” up of the forwards. The ABs midfield strategies are so muddled its no wonder the team struggles. Look forward to your post Christmas analysis re attack!!

220 Go to comments
J
JW 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

What makes you think Jake is?

220 Go to comments
J
JW 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

He will have a clause, they all do these days.

220 Go to comments
J
JW 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

With PMCD and I sorry.

New Zealand had more meters carried but England had more meters gained, so England had a much narrower margin between the two, or more specifically, because NZ had a much wider margin (gained only half or meters carried) that it proved England had a good rush D (the topic of discussion).



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220 Go to comments
c
cw 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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220 Go to comments
c
cw 4 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Yes agree - this AB’s performance in London was bewildering - it should have been their statement game - and it was - just the wrong statement.

220 Go to comments
J
JW 5 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I just saw Kemeny’s try on the highlights lol

What a run him and Genge, love the leagues where you can still see those sorts of plays.



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W
WN 6 hours ago
Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Ranked points per match

1



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M
MO 8 hours ago
'To lose one Welsh captain is unfortunate; to lose two might be considered a bit careless'

Merry Christmas, mate. Sadly a miserable one for too many in Welsh rugby. Those responsible should be directed to the workhouse.

7 Go to comments
R
Rob 9 hours ago
Boks need more depth: 5 things on South Africa's Christmas wishlist

11 12 13 14 assuming no new talents push through I’d have thought would look like:

KLA Esturheizan Moodie Hooker.



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C
CS 10 hours ago
Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Morgane Bourgeois (France) 106.

3 Go to comments
C
CS 11 hours ago
Top 10 Test points scorers of 2025: Sacha just fell short at the death

Zoe Harrison (England) 101. Any others? You didn't state it was only men!

3 Go to comments
P
PMcD 11 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

I don’t think AUS are alone Ardy, I think IRE (and Leinster) are suffering a similar thing, as are ENG where the Lions players have been dropping like flies with injuries and they have been limiting their playing time since returning after the Lions.

I think an awful lot went into that Lions series but the toll has been felt since in AUS, IRE & ENG who provided the majority of the players.



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