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A potential Toulon XV for 2019/20

Eben Etzebeth with Julian Savea (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Toulon endured a miserable season past for a team of their pedigree. They finished 9th in the Top 14 and performed pitifully in the Champions Cup, a competition they have won three times over the past decade.

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They will seek to rebuild next season in the Top 14 and the Challenge Cup, with a number of huge names arriving at the Stade Mayol. Conversely, some of their biggest stars such as Mathieu Bastareaud, Guilhem Guirado and JP Pietersen have all left.

However, while Toulon have been famed over the years of buying in big names, usually in the twilight of their career, they have also invested wisely in youth, and have some of the most promising French players coming through their ranks.

With a blend of youth and experience, Toulon could establish themselves as giants of the Top 14 once again next season, and this is how they could look:

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15 Hugo Bonneval

A skillful and creative force at the back for Toulon, Bonneval could link up with the superstar backline nicely.

14 Nehe Milner-Skudder
The 2015 World Cup winner and World Breakthrough Player of the Year is one of many huge signings. He has electric speed and footwork out wide, and should he stay fit, he will devastate defences across France.

Toulon
Nehe Milner-Skudder. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
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13 Julian Savea

In the absence of the powerful Bastareaud at outside-centre, the 54-cap All Black could make a slight positional adjustment. He had a turbulent first season on the south coast and a strained relationship with Presiden Mourad Boudjellal, and will hope to bounce back this coming season.

12 Ma’a Nonu

The legendary All Black has spent the first half of 2019 in Super Rugby with the Blues, but is rumoured to be making a return. He will battle it out with incoming Julien Hériteau from Agen for the 12 shirt.

Toulon
Julian Savea. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images for Barbarians RFC)

11 Bryce Heem

For a number of seasons, Heem was one of Worcester Warriors’ best players, and many people are curious to see how he fairs in a stronger team. He is extremely well rounded, and could find himself in a number of positions throughout the season.

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10 Louis Carbonel

With 23-year-old Antony Belleau France international also in the squad, Toulon are set for a great battle for the 10 shirt. But this may be the season where two-time world under-20 champion Carbonel claims the fly-half berth.

9 Baptiste Serin

France international Serin is another major signing, as he arrives from Bordeaux this summer. While Rhys Webb will occupy the 9 shirt during the World Cup, the Frenchman could displace him as the season goes on.

Toulon
Baptiste Serin

8 Sergio Parrise

A titan of European and world rugby, Parisse needs no introduction and is making a massive move after spending 15 years with Stade Francais. He may be 35 years of age, but few would bet against the number eight making a major impact.

7 Facundo Isa

The dynamic Argentinian has been one of Toulon’s best players over the past few years in a star-studded pack. Tireless and powerful, the openside gets his hands on the ball as much as possible and causes a lot of damage.

6 Liam Messam

The 35-year-old Messam may form an aging back-row alongside Parisse, but his experience and complete game means he will surely still be a force next season in red.

5 Romain Taofifénua

Taofifénua may be out of the reckoning for the France team at the moment, but the behemoth of a lock is set to make up one of the most terrifying second-row partnerships in Europe this coming season.

4 Eben Etzebeth

Former South Africa skipper Etzebeth is easily one of the best locks in the world and is joining the French giants in his prime. The ferocious Springbok will bring a lot of firepower to the Toulon pack as they seek to rediscover their dominance up front.

3 Emerick Setiano

Called into France’s World Cup training squad, the 22-year-old tighthead is the ‘new breed’ of prop- brutal in the scrum, dynamic in the loose. Whether Setiano starts or South African Marcel van der Merwe does, Toulon’s scrummaging prowess will not let up over 80 minutes, with class on the bench as well.

2 Christopher Tolofua

The former Saracen has massive boots to fill with France captain Guirado moving to Montpellier, but after two seasons with the European champions, he may be up to that task.

Toulon
Tolofua playing for new club Saracens

1 Jean-Baptiste Gros

Big things are expected of two-time World Rugby Under-20 Championship winner, and this may be the season where the 6ft 5, 20-year-old loosehead announces himself to the rest of Europe. He became established at Toulon last season, and this season will be a chance for him to kick on.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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