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La Rochelle hammer Agen to lead Top 14, Brive stun Montpellier

By Peter Thompson
La Rochelle number eight Afa Amosa

La Rochelle will start 2018 as the Top 14 leaders following a 47-6 demolition of Agen, as Montpellier were beaten at lowly Brive on Saturday.

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Back-to-back defeats against Wasps and Bordeaux-Begles – the former in European competition – had rocked La Rochelle in recent weeks, but they got back on track with a seven-try rout at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Jeremy Sinzelle, Pierre Bourgarit and Alexi Bales scored first-half tries for the home side, who led 21-6 at half-time as struggling Agen could only muster two Hugo Verdu penalties.

La Rochelle dominated the second half as well, with Gregory Lamboley going over just after the interval. Pierre Aguillon, Afaesetiti Amosa and Pierre Boudehent added further tries and Ryan Lamb scored 12 points with the boot as the new table-toppers finished 2017 with a flourish.

Montpellier’s three-game winning streak was halted at Stade Amedee-Domenech, where Brive produced an upset by winning 29-10.

Brive had lost three in a row and only had three wins to their name prior to this in the French top flight all season, but they scored 22 points without reply in the second half to knock Vern Cotter’s big spenders off the summit.

Nadir Megdoud scored two tries in the space of three second-half minutes after a converted Benjamin Fall try had edged Montpellier in front at 10-7.

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Benjamin Lapeyre added a third five-pointer 11 minutes from time to give Brive breathing space and there was no way back for Montpellier.

Racing 92 sit third after they were 16-12 victors at bottom side Oyonnax, Toulouse leapfrogged Toulon into fifth with an 18-13 win over the three-time European champions, and Stade Francais beat Bordeaux-Begles 22-12.

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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