Maybe it’s time we took a closer look at this team, this group of guys which I am becoming so integrated with. I got told this week that it looks like 5 of our pack are going to be involved in the France squad. Under 19? Under 20? I asked. No, under 18. My jaw just about hit the nicely manicured grass. The idea of these guys playing under 18 rugby is a frightening thought and, dare I say it, is a clear example of why France beat Scotland at every age-group level. These guys would walk into Scotland age group teams. There, I said it. We actually have two hookers - one normally plays for the under 23s and is in the France under 19 squad and the other is in line for the under 18s. Racing also has the under 20 hooker which leaves the club in a pretty good place going forward in that position.
Our traditional pack comfortably has dominated every pack we’ve come up against. The props scrummage and do little else but never go backwards and destroyed Bourgoin. The second rows launch their 6ft 5+ frames into anything that moves and one in particular has picked up 3 yellow cards already this season (proud of my record of someone being binned in every match I’ve played in France). The back row is split between the Betsen-esque flanker who chops legs away, the number 8 with a huge arse and a huge strapped-up head and a rangy silent assassin of a 6 who glides around the pitch.
But don’t be fooled into thinking that we play dull forward dominated rugby. True, if we get within 15 metres of their line, we will rumble over, but otherwise we play a very open game. This is facilitated by the complementary skills of our backs. Not a huge emphasis is placed on skills in training though both centres are lovely passers. The 12 will carry all day, step into 10 when necessary, stop anything in his channel and make right decisions. He is not a flair player, but he’s all a 10 needs.
The flair comes from the 13 and the 15 who are thick as thieves. This pair HAVE to sit next to each other on the bus and never stop talking, their conversations continuing throughout matches and training. Both are very slight, I have more weight on them, but this is very deceptive. They can tackle but to focus on that would be so dull, especially after you’ve seen them offload. The 13 in particular has the ability, almost a party trick, to come flying into contact at full pace, attract 2 defenders and then to fire the ball out the back of his hand to a supporter. I often find myself supporting in that role and the first time he did I only just caught the ball before running off laughing at the audacity of it. His latest trick was on Sunday when he grubbered it past the full back, picked it up with one hand and dotted down. The first person to congratulate him was the 15. This left-footer is temperamental, struggles to concentrate, often gets in arguments with coaches, captains and people in authority, speaks excellent English from listening to American rap and a lovely guy to boot.
Our wingers are quick and that’s all I really have to say on them. They take the ball and they just go. One has just moved to Paris from Bayonne and seems a very engaging fellow. Though I’m finding more that as my French improves and I can hold better conversations, I actually become more frustrated as I realise that someone might be very interesting but I’m just a little bit away from really chatting to them properly. In time...
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