Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Two French legends stand on the verge of a decade old Top14 record

Aurelien Rougerie

The name Laurent Arbo is probably not one many rugby fans outside France will recognise.

ADVERTISEMENT

He did not grace the international scene as a player, making his first appearance in Les Bleus’ kit as a trainer in 2011 ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand, and four years after he had laced up his boots in anger for the final time.

His domestic career bears all the hallmarks of an honest, long-serving journeyman. It ran from the early years of professionalism in 1991, when the Top 14 was the Top 16, until 2007, and included spells at Perpignan, Brive, Pau, Castres Olympique, and Montpellier.

Yet in those 16 years of service in the French top flight, he set a record that still stands today. On November 17, 2006, in an otherwise unremarkable match between Montpellier and Stade Francais, Arbo scored his 100th try in French top-flight rugby.

No player in the professional era in France has touched down more times. Only two current players are even close. And both are about to enter what looks set to be their final seasons.

The 36-year-old Vincent Clerc scored most of his 98 domestic tries during a 14-season spell with Toulouse, before heading to the south coast to join Toulon at the start of last season on a one-year deal.

After just three matches in Toulon colours, a ruptured achilles ended his campaign in January. That injury came close to ending Clerc’s career, when he was three touchdowns shy of a new French scoring record. He finally re-signed with Toulon in early July for one more season, having been a visitor to the local job centre for a few weeks after his contract ended.

ADVERTISEMENT

Arbo believes Clerc is the player to break his long-standing mark. “I am a little proud of this record,” he told French rugby website Rugbyrama in May. “I was never the toughest player, but I managed to get through some stretched defences.

“But … Vincent Clerc had an international career that I did not have, injuries that he had to come back from. To last so long, I have to raise my hat to him. And I think he’ll come back again: he has the mind for it.”

Arbo’s prediction has come true – Clerc has come back. But he will have to make the most of what are likely to be limited chances, with Josua Tuisova, Chris Ashton and Hugo Bonneval likely to dominate back-three selection.

And he has a rival. In January, one-club man Aurélien Rougerie signed a contract extension that keeps him at Clermont for another year. The centre has 95 domestic tries to his name, and may have a few more chances than Clerc to reach his century-plus-one if he stays fit.

ADVERTISEMENT

Arbo admits his record would have fallen already if either of these two players had not enjoyed lengthy international careers. Clerc has 34 international tries in 67 appearances in France colours, while and Rougerie has 23 from 76 internationals, which means their career totals including internationals leave Arbo’s for dust. And who knows what their numbers would have been had they remained injury free?

But, for now Arbo remains the only player to have scored 100 tries in professional domestic rugby in France. The question is: for how much longer?

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

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 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
LONG READ
LONG READ “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation
Search