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Irishman in temporary charge at Toulon following Collazo sacking

(Photo by Getty Images)

Toulon have called time on the reign of head coach Patrice Collazo following Sunday night’s Top 14 hammering at La Rochelle which left the three-time European champions drifting in 13th place, 19 points behind leaders Toulouse after just eight rounds of matches. 

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In charge since 2018, Collazo’s side have been very weak on their travels this term, losing 41-10 at Toulouse, 12-9 at Perpignan 27-16 at Castres and 39-6 at La Rochelle, that latest away defeat coming on the back of a home defeat to Racing. 

It has left the club in the relegation playoff spot in the Top 14 and rather than allow the situation to potentially worsen under Collazo ahead of Saturday’s huge game at home to fellow strugglers Biarritz, Toulon decided they needed to take drastic action quickly. 

Video Spacer

An All Black, a France squad and a disappearing act

Benji and Johnnie are back to dissect Fabien Galthie’s France squad for the autumn internationals and give their view on who will make the first choice XV and who will captain the side in Charles Ollivon’s absence. Plus, we’re joined by former All Black Francis Saili to fill us in on everything going on in Biarritz from whether the club is moving to Lille to naked plane rides and six-figure sums spent on yachts in Ibiza amid their celebrations at the end of last season! Oh and we end the show a man down in mysterious circumstances…

Video Spacer

An All Black, a France squad and a disappearing act

Benji and Johnnie are back to dissect Fabien Galthie’s France squad for the autumn internationals and give their view on who will make the first choice XV and who will captain the side in Charles Ollivon’s absence. Plus, we’re joined by former All Black Francis Saili to fill us in on everything going on in Biarritz from whether the club is moving to Lille to naked plane rides and six-figure sums spent on yachts in Ibiza amid their celebrations at the end of last season! Oh and we end the show a man down in mysterious circumstances…

A statement from the club read: “Rugby Club Toulon and Patrice Collazo have decided, by mutual agreement, to end their collaboration. The preparation for the Toulon-Biarritz match is now entrusted to the Toulon staff led by James Coughlan. Bernard Lemaitre will hold a press conference this Friday at the RCT Campus.”

The soon-to-be 41-year-old Coughlan only joined Toulon as an assistant in the off-season having previously coached at Brive, Provence and Pau. He is a former Munster teammate of Ronan O’Gara, the current La Rochelle boss.

There is speculation that the Irishman and fellow assistant Julien Dupuy could be left to steer the team for the next two games before a replacement for Collazo is recruited for the November 27 resumption of the league following a three-week break after the November 7 trip to Clermont. 

Two names immediately linked to the vacancy were Franck Azema, the recent ex-Clermont boss, and Xavier Garbajosa, who has been on the market since exiting Montpellier last January. Another possible candidate is Lyon boss Pierre Mignoni, who was Bernard Laporte’s assistant during the Toulon glory years of three European Cup and one Top 14 title. His stumbling block is a contract tying him to Lyon until 2023.

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N
Nickers 4 hours ago
The All Blacks strongest midfield partnership for the next World Cup is already clear

Under Schmidt Jordie was a constant attacking threat. I don’t think he has been asked to play that role over the past couple of years. He generally receives the ball while we are on the back foot and there are very few options available, and where running in particular is the worst option.

Not so much splitting the field but having lots of options and lots for the defence to think about. If the 9 can go to the 10 who is up flat, who in turn has a pod with another back in it say Jordan in the boot, and another player like Jordie/BB/Dmac out the back coming into the line with players inside and outside them (could be Jordan) it’ a very dynamic situation with 3 options, 2 of which could be kick/long pass as well as run. Having that final player out the back as a strong kicker and distributor/decision maker gives you so many opportunities. As good as Jordan is, he is not a playmaker the way those other guys are. His strength is running and timing, so when he has the ball that is the main thing the defence has to worry about, and the main way he will hurt you. Only one 10 on the field let’s the defence know the 9 only really has one option, 2 at best. Leaving players like Jordan to roam to where he thinks there is space and having two or three players that can find him, rather than him being involved in the spine makes the backline far more potent.



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