toulon vs biaritz

Some big names in the lineups, should be an interesting final.

I dont know why but id really like to see toulon win this one.

apologies, didnt really dedicate much time, just wanted to see if anyone else was watching?

its a great game, good intensity. good quality as well except for wilkinson's first kick..

bia 6-3 toulon

I'm watching on my laptop. Picture's not great which is a little upsetting, but the noise is fantastic. Decent start to the match, I want Toulon to win as well.

Decent little start, but am flicking back and forth of the Ponty Llanelli game, and gotta admit it's slightly more exciting!

the HQ stands for 'High Quality' clearly I didnt meet that standard with the original post.

I'd like to see Wilko win

doesnt look like there will be many tries at this stage.

Could you two take this elsewhere please?

Biarritz 9 - 9 Toulon after 30 minutes. This game could end up being settled on one moment of brilliance, or one horrible mistake.

wayne barnes is being a little trigger happy, there has been a few times where i feel he could have let play go on.

That looked bad. Yachvili makes it 12-9 and Balshaw gets taken out in the air off the restart. Could have been a yellow.

robbo277 wrote:Could you two take this elsewhere please?

Biarritz 9 - 9 Toulon after 30 minutes. This game could end up being settled on one moment of brilliance, or one horrible mistake.

I thought the game was awful in the 20 mins I saw. I've flicked back to the WP play-off final now, so I don't suppose I have anything else to say.

If Biaritz have anyone with a brain on the pitch they could take Toulon apart here, very one dimensional defence, and I suspect Hari and co should just about work them out and unlock it soon enough.

Morgannwg wrote:

robbo277 wrote:Could you two take this elsewhere please?

Biarritz 9 - 9 Toulon after 30 minutes. This game could end up being settled on one moment of brilliance, or one horrible mistake.

I thought the game was awful in the 20 mins I saw. I've flicked back to the WP play-off final now, so I don't suppose I have anything else to say.

It's okay, but both teams are looking to kick a bit too much for my liking.

12-9 to Biarritz at half-time. 4/4 for Yachvili, 3/4 for Wilkinson.

Toulon's pack is something else though, and they've got Jenkins and Sheridan both coming in!

bluesman, im not so sure i think toulon look stronger up front, winning the collisions. biaritz look more tactically adept.

robbo

Scary prospect isn't it?? Roberts and Hayman aren't the most mobile or effective props around, with Sheridans sheer force and Geth around the park, added to JVN and Armitage they'll have a really effective pack!!!

Out of interest, whats the difference between Haymans yellow and the Toulon tackle in the first half???

Marconnet last 40 minutes of rugby tonight , he does look more like a 1980s prop though!

agree with robbo, too much tactical kicking and lack of pace. Suit Biarritz defensive game well.
Toulon pack also missing Shaw and Botha tonight.

that was silly from the so called T14 player of the season ....

nervermind Armitage, Bastaraud is making a decent blind side flanker.

There just aren't any game-breaking backs to produce a magic moment to separate these teams. Ngwenya almost made something happened, then lobbed the ball back 30 yards for his full-back to boot it away.

Both teams are happy to play a low-risk game and although the intensity has been high it hasn't been the best viewing for the neutral.

Yachvilli's hand may have won Biarittz the Amlin

Yachvili kicks Biarritz to 21-18 with 5 minutes to go, but was lucky to stay on the pitch moments earlier after cynically grabbing Tillas-Borde's foot whilst on the ground. The incident, in kicking range, was missed by the officials at 18-18.

Poor quality game. Barnes' decision making has been equally lacking. Yachvili is just filth.

Biarritz with their very own Neil Back moment! Last chance, clock in the red...

And Biarritz do it! Man, I feel for the Toulon fans. They should have had a three point lead and a man advantage.

They should have also had a red card and made a right bollox of a great field position in the end.

All people will talk about is Yachvillis foul on Tillous-Borde, but he's just a dream of a player. Fan-tastic. Love watching him.

Great, just what everyone wanted, Biaritz spoiling next year's HC with another series of dirgefests.

Biarritz win 21-18, there players are absolutely ecstatic at the final whistle.

silly from Toulon at the end....why they were not going for the Drop goal ? bad decision from tillous bordes...
cant believe we will have to put with Biarritz in the HC again and Yachvili MOTM ffs...

Terrible game.

Toulon have spent a lot but still seem to have a load of mediocre players. I wish I could have the job as their Director of Recruitment. The guy in charge now has no idea how to build a squad.

Urgh, I had been hoping we wouldn't have to put up with Biarritz in the HC again next year. I can't think when (if ever) I've enjoyed a game they've played in. I fell asleep in the middle of that one. Toulon look like they had themselves to blame from most of what I saw though. You'd think with Wilkinson & Giteau in the side they'd be able to better execute a kicking game. Bastareaud and Palisson could have done with a bit more ball, and David Smth could have done with a lot less, he was terrible.

Toulon are signing some decent backs this year (Michalak, Mermoz, Durand, Delon and Guy Armitage), but they seriously lacked invention today. So did Biarritz, but Yachvili managed to pull them through.

Both teams have little to no invention in attack and unless the opposition crumple under their packs they pretty much run out of ideas as we saw in this match.

How did flavour of the month Steffon do?


Thing about Toulon's recruitment is so often they are signing big names after their peak.

i havent watched much french rugby this year, this game started brightly with good intensity levels, good kicking and defense but like everyone has said both sides failed to threaten the others try line, disappointing in the end.

LondonTiger wrote:How did flavour of the month Steffon do?


Thing about Toulon's recruitment is so often they are signing big names after their peak.

Decent, but not spectacular. Solid at the breakdown with one turnover sticking in my mind, but he dropped a high ball and when he got a chance to run he got isolated and stripped (although the Biarritz player's momentum took him into touch and Toulon got the line-out).

robbo277 wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:How did flavour of the month Steffon do?


Thing about Toulon's recruitment is so often they are signing big names after their peak.

Decent, but not spectacular. Solid at the breakdown with one turnover sticking in my mind, but he dropped a high ball and when he got a chance to run he got isolated and stripped (although the Biarritz player's momentum took him into touch and Toulon got the line-out).

and got yellow carded

I have to say I'm delighted Toulon didn't win. They're just trying to buy success with foreign mercenaries. Their contribution to French rugby is precisely zero. I hope for rugby's sake that they fail to win anything.

robbo277 wrote:Toulon are signing some decent backs this year (Michalak, Mermoz, Durand, Delon and Guy Armitage), but they seriously lacked invention today. So did Biarritz, but Yachvili managed to pull them through.

Wow, how many players do Toulon need to bring in!?