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Are Montpellier about to be barred from this seasons Top 14?

Montpellier look to be in hot water

A missing signature on a single piece of paper could leave Aaron Cruden kicking his heels in frustration at Montpellier when the season kicks off, it has emerged.

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Everyone knows the French love bureaucracy. As a nation, if they can tie anything up in red tape, they will. One of the few things they love more than bureaucracy is an almighty row involving bureaucracy. And rugby fans are being treated to a humdinger of the latter that, 25 days from the start of the new season, could in theory see the Top 14 reduced to the Top 13.

The problem? A single signature on one vital piece of paperwork that could leave the entire Montpellier squad – including Cruden and fellow big-name summer arrivals Ruan Pienaar and Louis Picamoles – with nothing to do and no games to play when the season kicks off later this month.

Montpellier’s billionaire owner Mohed Altrad is engaged in a long-running row with chairman of the club’s amateur section Jean-Michel Arazo. The cause of the disagreement is complicated. It started five years ago, with a row over funding for training amateur players and at one point escalated to include police involvement in allegations of ticket theft – allegations which have been described by Arazo as ‘false and defamatory’.

The enmity between the two has simmered ever since. This summer, it has boiled over again, as the new season looms large on the horizon.

Arazo has still to sign the convention that officialises the link between the professional and amateur arms that will allow the club to take its place in the French top flight. It is, under normal circumstances, an annual rubberstamping exercise that clubs undertake without fanfare or rancour.

Without his signature, and the FFR affiliation code that he holds, the club will not be allowed to compete in the Top 14. The paperwork must be completed by the scheduled kick off of Montpellier’s season-opening match against Agen, at 6pm on August 26.

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While club officials as well as FFR and LNR authorities expect the paperwork to be complete in good time, there is some disquiet that it has not already been filed.

There are, reportedly, even concerns that the issue could affect relations between the union and Altrad. The construction magnate is the first sponsor of the shirts of the French national side.

This is the latest in a series of background issues that have beset the club before the start of the new campaign. On July 18, the club won an appeal against a ruling that would have seen it forced to play its opening match at a neutral venue. The sanction was imposed after Montpellier was found guilty of displaying posters critical of the LNR and its president Paul Goze at the height of the controversial and ultimately unsuccessful merger between Racing 92 and Stade Francais. A related €70,000 fine was also reduced to €20,000.

All professional clubs in France must have an amateur section. These throwbacks to pre-professional days can wield enormous influence. Long before the abortive Racing 92 / Stade Francais merger in March 2017, the amateur arm of ProD2 side Biarritz halted in its tracks an attempt to merge the club with Basque Country rivals Bayonne.

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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 3 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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