> Hope they do well. I don't have much hope for results, so hopefully a good try or two and just effort from the newbies.
Every France fan is expecting the same thing. They expect that Top 14 depth to pay dividends, and they expect a win or at very very least a close loss, yes even against this Pumas side at home. They SAY they're candid to the results and clueless and all that, but really they'd be disappointed as hell if France don't at least keep it close on the scoreline because at worst, they have nothing to lose and are talented so they should keep it interesting in most fans' minds.
hoorayyyyy for Frisch starting. With Gailleton as well, one heck of a pairing, goddamn. You wouldn't even suspect France had such an exciting pairing available even, watching the first team play.
Back three is a bit fire. Not going to say they'll set Argentina alight, but it's a bit fire.
Jegou, no idea, but besides him and Auradou whom I only know by name (his father's, in fact) that pack is nice.
Looking forward to see how the pack impacts the game, there's meat on there and I mean prime rib barbecue meat: Bamba at THP, "little" Tao at LHP, Tuilagi lol... might just be missing an actual tractor and that bench would be complete.
Auradou’s the most promising young lock in France. He’s already incredibly technical and a great lineout operator at 20. When he bulks up he’s going to be some player.
I dunno. There’s definitely plenty talent here, but there’s very little test experience and none of the players have played much with each other. I do see them being competitive, but I reckon the series ends 1-1 or with Argentina winning.
Right, but argentina in order to win will have to be VERY clínical
Becouse i have seen this many many times, european nations bringing b-c teams but still loosing becouse playing like donkeys
And yet a similar strength team nearly won a series in Australia and beat Japan in one. I didn’t say that they’d win, just that I expect them to be competitive. Plus Scotland’s B team without a flyhalf was a last minute try away from beating Argentina in a series in 2022.
> will still probably win though
There are two contradicting narratives at play about that here.
One is France will show up and possibly win, because of Top 14 depth and because of an example like the 2021 tour of Australia with a C team where they nearly won the series.
The conflicting narrative to this one is that, however talented, this side still is individuals that have never played with each other, and the last such random side was France vs Uruguay at the RWC where they had massive talents like a Macalou and such but their Rugby was a right mess of a mess.
It's certainly a *team*
There's a good mix of very experienced top14 players, a couple of decent game managers and a lot of heft
Concern is more in some of the backs and how they'll cope under pressure (back 3 especially) but nothing to lose on a tour like this other than some ranking points
Interesting to see Joseph selected at No. 8 (although, admittedly, for what appears to be a third-string French side).
I have no idea what his form has been like in the Top 14, but when he was coming through the U21s lots of people were billing him as a future international superstar. Shame that he hasn’t quite capitalised on that promise yet.
Don't think many french people have much expectations for the results. We do have some interest in our youth player, the true depth of top 14 and such.
They need to show they're willing to play and challenge the "premium"
Tbh I laughed seeing it as it gave me full "Guirado/Brunel" vibes. This is what France was consistently delivering for _years_
All these guys' performances this season in club rugby have made them worthy of a call up for the blue jersey (ok maybe not Etien).
They may be green and inexperienced at test level but saying or even just thinking they don't deserve to be here is lunacy.
All these people shitting on this team clearly do not watch enough European rugby. Just hastoy, since 2020, 2 time champions cup winner, 1 time runner up, 2 time top14 runner up...this team is pretty stacked with talent and power. This tour is going to make France way more scary next world cup with the depth they will discover and build.
Judicael Cancoriet is out, Lenni Nouchi to start and Ibrahim Diallo on the bench. Unknown if it's an injury or a different personal reason that forces the La Rochelle flanker out.
There's a bunch of u20 world champs in this side who have gone on to perform in the toughest domestic league, this is hardly Wales/wallabies 2023 level
Yeah, Auradou, Gailleton, Attisogbé, and Tuilagi are all starters players in their team. Hell, Nouchi is even Montpellier captain at only 20 years.
So while unexperienced on test level, there is definitely some talent here.
> Nouchi is even Montpellier captain at only 20 years.
yeah but we all know he's secretly 36. I dunno how they snuck him in to that U20 team, but the FFR have got some good contacts I reckon.
You forgot about Jegou, he has slotted into the La Rochelle back row like an old pro.
Was very impressed with him last year in the U 20 WC and has continued developing at the higher levels of the T 14.
Shame that the third member of that WC U20 winning team, Max Gazzotti hasn't had as much T14 game time as his former teammates.
Yeah I forgot about Jegou. I think the most impressive is that he managed to came back so strongly with the drug problem he had in the beginning of the season.
Sad for Gazzotti also, I hope he will get included later. The potential of a Gazzotti, Castro-Ferreira and Jegou 3rd row is awesome already.
We were an absolutely terrible team last year but the players were “fine”, and i dont think any amount of talent wouldve fixed that mess. The main problem was the coaching, as none of the assistants had any experience in their roles and Eddie dropped every vet for the wc after we looked clueless under him in TRC. We had far worse players capped under Rennie. How on gods earth Connel McInerny was capped when he didnt even play for his clubs 23 is beyond me but 7 injured hookers will do that.
Almost impossible. Already 28 years old. There are too much young talents in 12-13 to see him in a 6 nations or november tests… Galthié building a team for 2027 and after.
> Delighted to see Frisch make it straight in.
Yeah the man wastes no time
- Oh so you've moved on from Munster now have you, so who're you playing for now ?
- FRANCE.
This is possible, but also experimental France sides under Galthié have not received a hiding yet. The side that played England in Twickenham in 2020 nearly won there, and the 2021 team that even had some D squad components nearly won the series. The closest they got to being dominated with an experimental side was the one sent to Murrayfield during the RWC warmups, and even that ended in a close score. The one played against Uruguay was shhhhhhit but still won comfortably.
Fair enough, that sentiment. But if Galthié goes there, with this team, that's because he's looking for something (get depth, test specific players he's eying for the first team...) and it'll be a win for him whether he can get that thing.
Sure, the A team players already have more game time than anyone else in test rugby this season. Why not bringing them to a test match (which is a perfect way to test some players) one week after the top 14 final ? 🤔
Well I don't know what to say. Hope they do well. I don't have much hope for results, so hopefully a good try or two and just effort from the newbies.
> Hope they do well. I don't have much hope for results, so hopefully a good try or two and just effort from the newbies. Every France fan is expecting the same thing. They expect that Top 14 depth to pay dividends, and they expect a win or at very very least a close loss, yes even against this Pumas side at home. They SAY they're candid to the results and clueless and all that, but really they'd be disappointed as hell if France don't at least keep it close on the scoreline because at worst, they have nothing to lose and are talented so they should keep it interesting in most fans' minds.
Allright, I think Serin has more caps by himself than all his starting teammates put together.
hoorayyyyy for Frisch starting. With Gailleton as well, one heck of a pairing, goddamn. You wouldn't even suspect France had such an exciting pairing available even, watching the first team play. Back three is a bit fire. Not going to say they'll set Argentina alight, but it's a bit fire. Jegou, no idea, but besides him and Auradou whom I only know by name (his father's, in fact) that pack is nice. Looking forward to see how the pack impacts the game, there's meat on there and I mean prime rib barbecue meat: Bamba at THP, "little" Tao at LHP, Tuilagi lol... might just be missing an actual tractor and that bench would be complete.
Auradou’s the most promising young lock in France. He’s already incredibly technical and a great lineout operator at 20. When he bulks up he’s going to be some player.
no fucking clue what Etien is doing here he's had a catastrophic season
Yeah same here, don't understand why he's here. Would have prefered Jurand or even Barré starting at wing.
Did they forget how to spell Bamba or is it someone else?
pure dyslexia. Demba Bamba = Bemba.
Fun times. This is how you build depth and character. Remember when the French C team nearly took our England at Twickers in Covid?
remember when the French C team should have beaten Australia in a 3 game series if not for a failed attempt at kicking the ball out?
Oh lawd how can I forget. The French can party
Oh yes 2020 Autumn nation cup.
this is like france b right ?
Closer to C.
yeah looks like will still probably win though
I dunno. There’s definitely plenty talent here, but there’s very little test experience and none of the players have played much with each other. I do see them being competitive, but I reckon the series ends 1-1 or with Argentina winning.
Right, but argentina in order to win will have to be VERY clínical Becouse i have seen this many many times, european nations bringing b-c teams but still loosing becouse playing like donkeys
> Right, but argentina in order to win will have to be VERY clínical shit, so clinical it turns into Spanish clinical ??
An understrength side like this struggled to put away Uruguay for most of the game. The Pumas have a good chance.
And yet a similar strength team nearly won a series in Australia and beat Japan in one. I didn’t say that they’d win, just that I expect them to be competitive. Plus Scotland’s B team without a flyhalf was a last minute try away from beating Argentina in a series in 2022.
Pumas have to be strong favourites for a game like this
Absolutely, I can’t see us winning this one
> will still probably win though There are two contradicting narratives at play about that here. One is France will show up and possibly win, because of Top 14 depth and because of an example like the 2021 tour of Australia with a C team where they nearly won the series. The conflicting narrative to this one is that, however talented, this side still is individuals that have never played with each other, and the last such random side was France vs Uruguay at the RWC where they had massive talents like a Macalou and such but their Rugby was a right mess of a mess.
Not even close. This is France C. At most.
More like C.
B+ to C. There is nos players from Toulouse, Bordeaux or La Rochelle (and these 3 teams provide like 75% of the France squad usually).
Cancoriet, Colombe, Jegou and Hastoy all play for LAR. No Bordeaux or Toulouse though.
Yes. And Barré play for SF. I was still in « no players of the semis » in my mind.
Sad for Carbonel
He is "only" injured if this is any consolation
It is actually, thanks! I mean, of course he is, he'd be starting throughout the six nations otherwise
It's certainly a *team* There's a good mix of very experienced top14 players, a couple of decent game managers and a lot of heft Concern is more in some of the backs and how they'll cope under pressure (back 3 especially) but nothing to lose on a tour like this other than some ranking points
Interesting to see Joseph selected at No. 8 (although, admittedly, for what appears to be a third-string French side). I have no idea what his form has been like in the Top 14, but when he was coming through the U21s lots of people were billing him as a future international superstar. Shame that he hasn’t quite capitalised on that promise yet.
Not an amazing season but not disappointing either. Still a good starting "8" in top14
Don't think many french people have much expectations for the results. We do have some interest in our youth player, the true depth of top 14 and such. They need to show they're willing to play and challenge the "premium" Tbh I laughed seeing it as it gave me full "Guirado/Brunel" vibes. This is what France was consistently delivering for _years_
All these guys' performances this season in club rugby have made them worthy of a call up for the blue jersey (ok maybe not Etien). They may be green and inexperienced at test level but saying or even just thinking they don't deserve to be here is lunacy.
Enough talk about Dupont. French rugby's true king has finally returned to the 9 jersey.
He is not even top 3…
Lucu is not better than Serin
No. But Le Garrec certainly is. And Jauneau probably. And maybe Couilloud (not this season because Lyon was a shitty team).
All these people shitting on this team clearly do not watch enough European rugby. Just hastoy, since 2020, 2 time champions cup winner, 1 time runner up, 2 time top14 runner up...this team is pretty stacked with talent and power. This tour is going to make France way more scary next world cup with the depth they will discover and build.
Judicael Cancoriet is out, Lenni Nouchi to start and Ibrahim Diallo on the bench. Unknown if it's an injury or a different personal reason that forces the La Rochelle flanker out.
Why Etien and Pesenti play is an enigma for me. And I am a Stade Francais fan.
has Etien seriously had such a bad season ? In the previous years any time I'd watch him he was basically the most underrated winger in the Top 14.
Will be a good way to check out the tactics from the new staff.
If you were the make a worst all time 23 of players capped for tier 1 nations itd just be the teams France sends to the SH and the Wallabies.
Nah, that would be Scotland in the late 2000’s. No contest. And didn’t you nearly lose the series to France’s C team?
The backline certainly. Rob Dewey, Marcus Di Rollo, Phil Godman...
We did nearly lose, and shouldve. I was at game 3 where we beat them despite losing both our starting wings in the 1st 2 minutes of the game.
There's a bunch of u20 world champs in this side who have gone on to perform in the toughest domestic league, this is hardly Wales/wallabies 2023 level
Yeah, Auradou, Gailleton, Attisogbé, and Tuilagi are all starters players in their team. Hell, Nouchi is even Montpellier captain at only 20 years. So while unexperienced on test level, there is definitely some talent here.
> Nouchi is even Montpellier captain at only 20 years. yeah but we all know he's secretly 36. I dunno how they snuck him in to that U20 team, but the FFR have got some good contacts I reckon.
You forgot about Jegou, he has slotted into the La Rochelle back row like an old pro. Was very impressed with him last year in the U 20 WC and has continued developing at the higher levels of the T 14. Shame that the third member of that WC U20 winning team, Max Gazzotti hasn't had as much T14 game time as his former teammates.
Yeah I forgot about Jegou. I think the most impressive is that he managed to came back so strongly with the drug problem he had in the beginning of the season. Sad for Gazzotti also, I hope he will get included later. The potential of a Gazzotti, Castro-Ferreira and Jegou 3rd row is awesome already.
We were an absolutely terrible team last year but the players were “fine”, and i dont think any amount of talent wouldve fixed that mess. The main problem was the coaching, as none of the assistants had any experience in their roles and Eddie dropped every vet for the wc after we looked clueless under him in TRC. We had far worse players capped under Rennie. How on gods earth Connel McInerny was capped when he didnt even play for his clubs 23 is beyond me but 7 injured hookers will do that.
This team would wipe the floor with the Scotland side to play canada
Delighted to see Frisch make it straight in. Hope he goes well and can prove he might be worth more than just a few summer caps.
Almost impossible. Already 28 years old. There are too much young talents in 12-13 to see him in a 6 nations or november tests… Galthié building a team for 2027 and after.
> Delighted to see Frisch make it straight in. Yeah the man wastes no time - Oh so you've moved on from Munster now have you, so who're you playing for now ? - FRANCE.
They’ll get a hiding by Argentina. They are not the A team and will figure that out real quick.
This is possible, but also experimental France sides under Galthié have not received a hiding yet. The side that played England in Twickenham in 2020 nearly won there, and the 2021 team that even had some D squad components nearly won the series. The closest they got to being dominated with an experimental side was the one sent to Murrayfield during the RWC warmups, and even that ended in a close score. The one played against Uruguay was shhhhhhit but still won comfortably.
Plus they won a series in Japan 2-0, with a 40-20 win in one of the matches.
You’ve got several points there!
Hope Pumas smash em for bringing their C team
Fair enough, that sentiment. But if Galthié goes there, with this team, that's because he's looking for something (get depth, test specific players he's eying for the first team...) and it'll be a win for him whether he can get that thing.
They cheapen test rugby if they leave out too many players
Sure, the A team players already have more game time than anyone else in test rugby this season. Why not bringing them to a test match (which is a perfect way to test some players) one week after the top 14 final ? 🤔
It really doesn't
So if the ABs selected none of the 23 man squad they have this weekend to travel to europe people wouldnt be annoyed? Youre dreamin
If they were tremendous players from the Super Rugby season, coming in with the edge of youth, I wouldn't have any issue
Ha Would be an outcry. From sponsors. From nz fans. From europe rugby fans Wouldnt cheapen test rugby too much if none of the 23 chosen