Brits abroad

[p/d]

Some Brits have been appointed captain in this weekend’s round of the Top14:
Dave Ribbans captains Toulon at home against Bayonne.
Jack Willis for Toulouse (for whom Romain Ntamack returns from injury) at home against Perpignan.
Billy Vunipola for Montpellier at home to Pau.

at their respective bests, not a bad trio for an England pack.

Though no doubt Sarcastic Bent would say in order...not physical enough, no good over the ball and lightweight...

…….and lacking in leadership skills

[Banquo]

Some Brits have been appointed captain in this weekend’s round of the Top14:
Dave Ribbans captains Toulon at home against Bayonne.
Jack Willis for Toulouse (for whom Romain Ntamack returns from injury) at home against Perpignan.
Billy Vunipola for Montpellier at home to Pau.

at their respective bests, not a bad trio for an England pack.

Though no doubt Sarcastic Bent would say in order...not physical enough, no good over the ball and lightweight...

…….and lacking in leadership skills

He may have a point in at least two cases there...which would be chucking stones in a glasshouse tbf

[francoisfou]

Some Brits have been appointed captain in this weekend’s round of the Top14:
Dave Ribbans captains Toulon at home against Bayonne.
Jack Willis for Toulouse (for whom Romain Ntamack returns from injury) at home against Perpignan.
Billy Vunipola for Montpellier at home to Pau.

at their respective bests, not a bad trio for an England pack.

Though no doubt Sarcastic Bent would say in order...not physical enough, no good over the ball and lightweight...

And I’d imagine, for Ribbans and Willis, SB’s a bit miserable that the French are bringing out the best of them.
Ribbans would be in my matchday 23 instead of Isiekwe. Imagine bringing on Ribbans for the last 20 minutes against the Boks - that could’ve made all the difference.

[Mellsblue]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

[Oakboy]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

Until, we have a HC prepared to risk and develop a young rough diamond like Exeter's Tuima, that's where we are at. Ewels getting another call-up to the squad spells it out. Itoje plus one of Chessum/Martin being injured at the same time would be somewhat interesting!!

[Puja]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

Until, we have a HC prepared to risk and develop a young rough diamond like Exeter's Tuima, that's where we are at. Ewels getting another call-up to the squad spells it out. Itoje plus one of Chessum/Martin being injured at the same time would be somewhat interesting!!

Tuima strikes me as something of a Peter Short situation - easy to pick in fantasy teams cause he's big and burly, but not actually international quality or likely to get there. Same with Bamber and Clark (although the latter I could still be convinced by).

While I don't want Ewels because of his red card idiocy, he has done well for Bath and is probably the form pick as 4th choice lock.

Puja

[francoisfou]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

If he can do what it takes for Toulon, then why not for England, if the RFU change their selection qualification rule?

[Oakboy]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

Until, we have a HC prepared to risk and develop a young rough diamond like Exeter's Tuima, that's where we are at. Ewels getting another call-up to the squad spells it out. Itoje plus one of Chessum/Martin being injured at the same time would be somewhat interesting!!

Tuima strikes me as something of a Peter Short situation - easy to pick in fantasy teams cause he's big and burly, but not actually international quality or likely to get there. Same with Bamber and Clark (although the latter I could still be convinced by).

While I don't want Ewels because of his red card idiocy, he has done well for Bath and is probably the form pick as 4th choice lock.

Puja

Jonny will be back soon. Problem solved!

[Mikey Brown]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

If he can do what it takes for Toulon, then why not for England, if the RFU change their selection qualification rule?

Same as Kieran Brookes.

[Puja]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

If he can do what it takes for Toulon, then why not for England, if the RFU change their selection qualification rule?

Because performing for a club full of superstars doesn't always mean you're a superstar.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Until, we have a HC prepared to risk and develop a young rough diamond like Exeter's Tuima, that's where we are at. Ewels getting another call-up to the squad spells it out. Itoje plus one of Chessum/Martin being injured at the same time would be somewhat interesting!!

Tuima strikes me as something of a Peter Short situation - easy to pick in fantasy teams cause he's big and burly, but not actually international quality or likely to get there. Same with Bamber and Clark (although the latter I could still be convinced by).

While I don't want Ewels because of his red card idiocy, he has done well for Bath and is probably the form pick as 4th choice lock.

Puja

Jonny will be back soon. Problem solved!

Wilko?!?!?

[Oakboy]

Tuima strikes me as something of a Peter Short situation - easy to pick in fantasy teams cause he's big and burly, but not actually international quality or likely to get there. Same with Bamber and Clark (although the latter I could still be convinced by).

While I don't want Ewels because of his red card idiocy, he has done well for Bath and is probably the form pick as 4th choice lock.

Puja

Jonny will be back soon. Problem solved!

Wilko?!?!?

Did he ever throttle spectators?

[p/d]

Tuima strikes me as something of a Peter Short situation - easy to pick in fantasy teams cause he's big and burly, but not actually international quality or likely to get there. Same with Bamber and Clark (although the latter I could still be convinced by).

While I don't want Ewels because of his red card idiocy, he has done well for Bath and is probably the form pick as 4th choice lock.

Puja

Done well for Bath is better than performing well in a club of superstars?

I would have thought getting selected to start for a club full of superstars is not without merit.

[p/d]

Sorry Mells, not sure what the f**k happened there

[francoisfou]

We’re fecked if we’re pining for Ribbans.

If he can do what it takes for Toulon, then why not for England, if the RFU change their selection qualification rule?

Because performing for a club full of superstars doesn't always mean you're a superstar.

Puja

To be fair, there are fewer “superstars” playing for Toulon nowadays.

[francoisfou]

This evening’s Top14 fixture is the Paris derby, Stade Français v Racing92.
Joe Marchant and Zach Henry will be on the SF bench and for Racing, Sam James, Dan Lancaster, Henry Arundel and Junior Kpoku are all in the starting XV. Owen Farrell isn’t in the match day squad it’s said he has a groin strain.

[francoisfou]

Brive, Courtney Lawes’ new club, for whom Joe Worsley is defence coach, are the current leaders in ProD2 after yesterday evening’s home win with bp against fellow promotion hopefuls Montauban.
Long way to go yet, but I’d really like to see Lawes play in the Top14.

[francoisfou]

Round 11 of the Top14 is this weekend:

Racing - 10 Dan Lancaster, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Jr Kpoku, 22 Henry Arundel
Toulouse - 8 Jack Willis (c)

La Rochelle - 14 Jack Nowell
Vannes - 1 Mako Vunipola

Perpignan - 11 Ali Crossdale, 3 Kieran Brookes
Toulon - 4 Dave Ribbans, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Lewis Ludlam, 20 Dan Biggar

Bordeaux/Bègles
Montpellier - 8 Billy Vuniploa (c)

Clermont
Castres - 3 Will Collier

Pau - 10 Joe Simmons, 6 Joel Kpoku
Lyon

[Mikey Brown]

Brive, Courtney Lawes’ new club, for whom Joe Worsley is defence coach, are the current leaders in ProD2 after yesterday evening’s home win with bp against fellow promotion hopefuls Montauban.
Long way to go yet, but I’d really like to see Lawes play in the Top14.

There can’t be that many who’ve taken a team from relegation to the top league in both Premiership and Top 14, surely. That would be cool for him.

Anything to keep him busy and away from the mic at England games.

How highly is Worsley regarded? Seems to be doing well out there but never really hear his name in the England conversation.

[francoisfou]

Brive, Courtney Lawes’ new club, for whom Joe Worsley is defence coach, are the current leaders in ProD2 after yesterday evening’s home win with bp against fellow promotion hopefuls Montauban.
Long way to go yet, but I’d really like to see Lawes play in the Top14.

There can’t be that many who’ve taken a team from relegation to the top league in both Premiership and Top 14, surely. That would be cool for him.

Anything to keep him busy and away from the mic at England games.

How highly is Worsley regarded? Seems to be doing well out there but never really hear his name in the England conversation.

Don't know. Only just found out that he's with Brive.
He was defence coach for Bordeaux/Bègles 2012/18 and then head coach 2018/2019, but was replaced.
Defence coach at Castres 2019/22 where I believe he was well respected.

[francoisfou]

Bayonne are at home to Stade Français this evening. Manu Tuilagi wears 12 for Bayonne and Joe Marchant 13 for SF.