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SURVEY: 13 head-coaches anonymously responded to a Top14 survey

Clermont are the favourites to win the 2017/18 Top 14 title, according to a survey of those who should know a thing or two about the state of play in the French top flight.

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We’re not talking pundits, commentators or journalists. We’re not even talking former players or ex-coaches with media training who have nothing better to do than navel gaze, ruminate and pontificate on the forthcoming campaign.

We’re talking coaches. Genuine, bone fide, 100% guaranteed current French Top 14 coaches, who responded to a survey from twice-weekly rugby newspaper Midi-Olympique. Only La Rochelle’s staff declined to take part in the poll.

Five of those who responded said the 2017 champions would successfully defend their title this season. Four opted for Montpellier, two for Toulon, one for Racing 92 – and one did not give an answer.

Clermont and Montpellier are the coaches’ choice to finish in the top two at the end of the regular season, and qualify directly for the play-off semi-finals, polling 11 and seven responses respectively. Toulon (six), Racing 92 (one) and La Rochelle (one) also picked up votes from the 13 coaches.

Such is the confidence that Franck Azema’s Clermont will be in the top two that they do not even feature in the list of teams expected to compete for the remaining four play-off places.

Racing 92 are top of the clubs expected to finish in the four ‘barrage’, or quarter-final play-off slots, polling 10 votes; Toulon picked up eight; Montpellier, La Rochelle, Lyon and Castres all polled six; Pau and Toulouse got two votes; Stade Francais and, somewhat surprisingly, Oyonnax both got one.

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At the other end of the scale, newly promoted Agen are the strong choice to yo-yo straight back down to the ProD2, with 11 of the 13 coaches taking part opting for the side from the southwest. The only other team to poll a vote was the other promoted side, ProD2 champions Oyonnax.

A rule change that comes into force this season means the team that finishes 13th in the league is not automatically relegated, but goes into a play-off match against the side that finished second in the ProD2. According to the coaches polled, Oyonnax are the Top 14 side most likely to face that extra match, with Stade Français and Agen also in the reckoning.

But, before you all go rushing off to put your money where the Top 14 coaches’ mouths are, know this. At this time last year, no one foresaw La Rochelle’s charge to the top of the table. They weren’t even in the reckoning for a play-off place. The coaching collective predicted that Racing 92 would successfully defend their title with four votes, ahead of Montpellier (three) and Clermont (two).

They were bang on with positions at the relegation-end of the table, however, with Bayonne and Grenoble picking up the bulk of the mentions, ahead of Lyon, Brive and Pau.

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The coaches who took part in the Top 14 2017/18 prediction survey were:
Mauricio Reggiardo (Agen); Jeremy Davidson (Bordeaux); Nicolas Godignon (Brive); Joe El Abd (Castres); Franck Azéma (Clermont); Pierre Mignoni (Lyon); Vern Cotter (Montpellier); Adrien Buononato (Oyonnax); Greg Cooper (Stade Français); Simon Mannix (Pau); Laurent Labit (Racing 92); Fabien Galthié (Toulon); William Servat (Toulouse).

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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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