Three times the Top14 flicked the 'unmissable' switch in Round 3
Three rounds in, the Top 14 is emerging as one of rugby’s most competitive and exciting leagues. This week’s action continued to serve up great rugby from top to bottom of the table, and provide plenty of talking points.
La Rochelle told the world just how they feel about stumbling in last years semi-finals despite having led the regular season by 7 points. They put last year’s champions Clermont to the sword, running rampant to a 51-20 win at home.
Gabriel Lacroix was the talk of the town after claiming a hat trick of tries and exemplifying the ruthless La Rochelle backlash after their loss to Stade Francais last week.
That loss means La Rochelle still trail league leaders Montpellier by 5 points, but if this week is anything to go by they’re on the charge towards redemption. Such a merciless destruction of giants Clermont will act as a warning signal to the rest of the competition. Les Corsaires have no intention of repeating last year’s mistakes and have their eyes firmly fixed on the Stade de France.
To win it all La Rochelle will have to get past Montpellier, the big spenders are cashing in on their investment and sitting pretty with 3 wins from 3. That being said, their path past the ever dangerous Castres wasn’t such a walk in the park.
They needed a 74th minute match winner from Nemani Nadolo to maintain their perfect record and top their opponents 22-17. A win is a win, yet many will wonder whether their victory shows grit and the self-confidence, or whether they fell over the line on Ruan Pienaar’s back.
The Springbok scored 17 of their 22 points, ran the show from the base of the ruck, and likely was the difference maker for Montpellier. They’ll hope never to have to do without him but if they ever do, other teams will hope to see if they’d be losing a man they’re overly reliant on.
Pienaar is only one of many stars in the Top14, but no team possesses more star power than Toulon, and none have a more glittering history than Toulouse. Last weekend’s clash between the two saw a pair of juggernauts throw their weight around in drastically different ways.
In a battle of power versus pace, power eventually bullied it’s way to the win. Toulon’s monstrous pack powered them to a 20-16 trumph at home, but not without having to roll over some silky backline play from Toulouse.
If anything, the match was an exhibition of the age old forwards vs backs debate. Traditional French flair from Toulouse couldn’t quite be converted into enough to outdo it’s burlier brother, and Toulon’s battering ram wasn’t as exciting to watch, but proved more effective.
The debate will rage on forever, and is as closely contested as the match was. Toulon held out into the 83rd minute to grab the points and climb the table to 4th.
With a spate of crucial contests coming up in the next round every point matters, the next match day sees Montpellier take on Toulon and Toulouse face up against a volatile Stade Francais. If anythings for sure with French rugby, the Top14 will keep the talking points coming.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 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.
23 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 commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments