Whichever way you look at it, we could field a purely UTC/Catalans squad for the French national side. I think that the mid-season test would be a good chance to play a UTC/TO heavy side with a couple others, but come the 4N it should be UTC/Catalans+TO. Bobbie should send out the message that players who don't step up to the next level (Championship/SL) are not playing at a high enough level to make the national squad (this means you Greseque).
Even selecting a purely Catalan side we are starting to see some options as to whether we want big centres or fast second-rows. A Raguin/Baille/Duport second row would be pretty pacey + you could have Elima's pace at prop.
sang-et-or.net, home of the Bobbie Goulding appreciation society.
Joined: Feb 21 2002 Posts: 31779 Location: The commentary box
Clint will qualify by the time the 4-Nations comes round, so there's your full-back. Bosc at 7 is a must and we look half-decent in the forwards. For a while yet, we'll be picking part-time players in key positions though, and that doesn't inspire confidence.
I think the strong message has to be that to play for France you should be playing full time at a top club, so TO or Catalans. Therefore we should expect Greseque to either sign for a top club or bow out in favour of a promising new player who would work his way into the aforementioned clubs' first team.
Key positions? We have Bently and Judas at hooker, plentiful Catalan options in the forwards and barring injuries we have everything except fullback and a second half-back. Fullback is either Stacul or Greenshileds (depending on availibility) so we only need one player to step up to the level. I reckon we look at TO or give Guash a hit-out.
sang-et-or.net, home of the Bobbie Goulding appreciation society.
Joined: Aug 07 2007 Posts: 792 Location: Wood Green
belgianxiii wrote:I think the strong message has to be that to play for France you should be playing full time at a top club, so TO or Catalans. Therefore we should expect Greseque to either sign for a top club or bow out in favour of a promising new player who would work his way into the aforementioned clubs' first team.
Key positions? We have Bently and Judas at hooker, plentiful Catalan options in the forwards and barring injuries we have everything except fullback and a second half-back. Fullback is either Stacul or Greenshileds (depending on availibility) so we only need one player to step up to the level. I reckon we look at TO or give Guash a hit-out.
I think that you will have to be a little flexible on your criteria, and give Maxime another shot.
Are you sure that Greenshields will have qualified by October?
Maxime, if he was up to the task, would be playing at higher level. I thought it took 3 years to qualify, which means that Greenshields has another year.
sang-et-or.net, home of the Bobbie Goulding appreciation society.
Well, for the french squad it's Rinaldi, Bently and Wynn. I think that one of those has to be dropped for the squad and it can't be Bently! I would opt with Judas over Wynn, but if he isn't getting high level footy ...
sang-et-or.net, home of the Bobbie Goulding appreciation society.
1. Greenshelids
2. Stacul/Villegas
3. Baille
4. Couturier (just ahead of Saddoui becasue he is playing in the championship, also a spare kicker, but so slow mould grows on him.)
5. Pelo
6 Greseque ( I do agree with your point about higher level players but he is a good player and I dont see a better option at 6)
7 Bosc
8 Ferriol
9 Rinaldi/Bentley (Id go for Julien first but I dont know how much he is playing ATM)
10 Elima
11 Gossard
12
13 Mounis
Whats the crack with Crocker and Mogg, would they be availiable, would M Goulding want to pick older overseas players and would they want to be on board?
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