Brits abroad

[Danno]

Damn. James Gaskell. Now there is a luxury giraffe I haven't thought of in a while.

My heart thought that was a typo and was on the phone to 111

[FKAS]

Damn. James Gaskell. Now there is a luxury giraffe I haven't thought of in a while.

Looks like he's got a decent thing going over in Japan after Wasps collapse. He was always decent at lineout time, perhaps unlucky to arrive in the scene shortly after Tom Croft and face that comparison.

[Mellsblue]

Just discovered this:

https://youtube.com/@frukrugby?si=FFpHQaqpqT0N8O7J

[francoisfou]

Just discovered this:

https://youtube.com/@frukrugby?si=FFpHQaqpqT0N8O7J

Looks good. I'll check it out every week.

[francoisfou]

The first ProD2 semifinal is tomorrow evening with Grenoble at home to Provence.

For Grenoble - Sam Davies (8 caps for Wales 2016/17) plays fly half and Pearce Philips (ex Jersey, Worcester and Edinburgh) wears 5
For Provence - George North 13, Jimmy Gopperth 10 and Teimana Harrison 8

Could be Gopperth's last game for Provence, but he says he'd like to continue playing. I wonder who'll make him an offer?

The second semi is on Friday night when Brive play Montauban.

[francoisfou]

The first ProD2 semifinal is tomorrow evening with Grenoble at home to Provence.

For Grenoble - Sam Davies (8 caps for Wales 2016/17) plays fly half and Pearce Philips (ex Jersey, Worcester and Edinburgh) wears 5
For Provence - George North 13, Jimmy Gopperth 10 and Teimana Harrison 8

Could be Gopperth's last game for Provence, but he says he'd like to continue playing. I wonder who'll make him an offer?

The second semi is on Friday night when Brive play Montauban.

Grenoble 38 Provence 17
Brive 13 Montauban 29

Disappointingly, there'll be no Top14 rugby next season for George North, Teimana Harrison or Courtney Lawes.

[francoisfou]

Joe Simmonds is in line to be the Top14's top points scorer.
After converting each of his side's seven tries and kicking a penalty away to Vannes on Saturday, and despite being absent injured for several weeks, he currently has 246 points (1 behind Lafage of Vannes) before the final round next Saturday evening when his side Pau will be at home to la Rochelle while Vannes travel to UBB.

[Oakboy]

Joe Simmonds is in line to be the Top14's top points scorer.
After converting each of his side's seven tries and kicking a penalty away to Vannes on Saturday, and despite being absent injured for several weeks, he currently has 246 points (1 behind Lafage of Vannes) before the final round next Saturday evening when his side Pau will be at home to la Rochelle while Vannes travel to UBB.

There is some irony there. Never a serious England prospect, he has been somewhat more effective than OF in France this season. And, considered a tier beneath the iceman, he is nevertheless a massive level above Exeter's current 10, Skinner. But, if Farrell returns to Saracens he will probably be one of the premiership's most effective FHs.

[Banquo]

Joe Simmonds is in line to be the Top14's top points scorer.
After converting each of his side's seven tries and kicking a penalty away to Vannes on Saturday, and despite being absent injured for several weeks, he currently has 246 points (1 behind Lafage of Vannes) before the final round next Saturday evening when his side Pau will be at home to la Rochelle while Vannes travel to UBB.

There is some irony there. Never a serious England prospect, he has been somewhat more effective than OF in France this season. And, considered a tier beneath the iceman, he is nevertheless a massive level above Exeter's current 10, Skinner. But, if Farrell returns to Saracens he will probably be one of the premiership's most effective FHs.

Still only 28 surprisingly. IMO he could have been a very decent intl player, he was quick when he first appeared and amazing kicking stats. I’d even say more natural talent than Faz

[Oakboy]

Joe Simmonds is in line to be the Top14's top points scorer.
After converting each of his side's seven tries and kicking a penalty away to Vannes on Saturday, and despite being absent injured for several weeks, he currently has 246 points (1 behind Lafage of Vannes) before the final round next Saturday evening when his side Pau will be at home to la Rochelle while Vannes travel to UBB.

There is some irony there. Never a serious England prospect, he has been somewhat more effective than OF in France this season. And, considered a tier beneath the iceman, he is nevertheless a massive level above Exeter's current 10, Skinner. But, if Farrell returns to Saracens he will probably be one of the premiership's most effective FHs.

Still only 28 surprisingly. IMO he could have been a very decent intl player, he was quick when he first appeared and amazing kicking stats. I’d even say more natural talent than Faz

Interesting! I can but agree. Then, though, what explanations emerge. Were Exeter unfashionable? Did Simmonds upset somebody? Were successive selectors incompetent? Was it just luck?

[Danno]

Coaches' obsession with Fazzlet coupled with Ford being easily the best FH imo. There just wasn't any room for him - and it's not like Chiefs players were being overlooked (or Gloucestered) - LCD, Moon, Hill, Slade, Nowell were all featuring.

[Banquo]

Coaches' obsession with Fazzlet coupled with Ford being easily the best FH imo. There just wasn't any room for him - and it's not like Chiefs players were being overlooked (or Gloucestered) - LCD, Moon, Hill, Slade, Nowell were all featuring.

indeed.

[Oakboy]

Coaches' obsession with Fazzlet coupled with Ford being easily the best FH imo. There just wasn't any room for him - and it's not like Chiefs players were being overlooked (or Gloucestered) - LCD, Moon, Hill, Slade, Nowell were all featuring.

indeed.

Fair comment. If he was still in the prem he would now be the ideal 4th choice and an asset for the Arg tour. The irony broadens if Farrrell comes back as rumoured. He would not be an asset at this point, especially for the 12 shirt.

[Banquo]

Coaches' obsession with Fazzlet coupled with Ford being easily the best FH imo. There just wasn't any room for him - and it's not like Chiefs players were being overlooked (or Gloucestered) - LCD, Moon, Hill, Slade, Nowell were all featuring.

indeed.

Fair comment. If he was still in the prem he would now be the ideal 4th choice and an asset for the Arg tour. The irony broadens if Farrrell comes back as rumoured. He would not be an asset at this point, especially for the 12 shirt.

In fairness, Simmonds J form fell off a cliff just when he'd looked like a contender; others on here thought him a journeyman, but he had that bit of gas that I thought made him a bit different.

[Spiffy]

Joe Simmonds is in line to be the Top14's top points scorer.
After converting each of his side's seven tries and kicking a penalty away to Vannes on Saturday, and despite being absent injured for several weeks, he currently has 246 points (1 behind Lafage of Vannes) before the final round next Saturday evening when his side Pau will be at home to la Rochelle while Vannes travel to UBB.

There is some irony there. Never a serious England prospect, he has been somewhat more effective than OF in France this season. And, considered a tier beneath the iceman, he is nevertheless a massive level above Exeter's current 10, Skinner. But, if Farrell returns to Saracens he will probably be one of the premiership's most effective FHs.

Still only 28 surprisingly. IMO he could have been a very decent intl player, he was quick when he first appeared and amazing kicking stats. I’d even say more natural talent than Faz

Faz natural talent - that's an even bigger oxymoron than military intelligence.

[Banquo]

There is some irony there. Never a serious England prospect, he has been somewhat more effective than OF in France this season. And, considered a tier beneath the iceman, he is nevertheless a massive level above Exeter's current 10, Skinner. But, if Farrell returns to Saracens he will probably be one of the premiership's most effective FHs.

Still only 28 surprisingly. IMO he could have been a very decent intl player, he was quick when he first appeared and amazing kicking stats. I’d even say more natural talent than Faz

Faz natural talent - that's an even bigger oxymoron than military intelligence.

Well it’s all relative, not many have even the talent to be an excellent prem rugby player …

[francoisfou]

Last round of the Top14 is played this evening, ko time 21h05 local time for all matches.

Bayonne - 12 Manu Tuilagi, 4 Alex Moon
Toulon - 9 Ben White, 4 Dave Ribbans, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 23 Kyle Sinckler
(three former Saints players are doing rather well here in France)

Perpignan - 23 Kieran Brookes
Toulouse

Pau - 10 Joe Simmonds
La Rochelle - 14 Jack Nowell
(two former Chiefs players have nade their mark here)

UBB
Vannes - 1 Mako Vunipola, who'll sadly will probably be playing in ProD2 next season

Lyon
Racing - 15 Sam James, 14 Henry Arundell (last game for Racing before heading for Bath), 18 Will Rowlands

SF - 11 Joe Marchant, 10 Zach Henry (who could both be playing in ProD2 next season too)
Castres

Montpellier - 19 Sam Simmonds (his last game before heading for Lyon next season)
Clermont

[Danno]

I'd forgotten about Brookes. Feels like he should have had a lot more England caps - but then again if someone gave me the chance to live in the South of France they'd be missing a hand fairly sharpish