20 replies to this topic

[Just Browny]

First of all, my apologies for starting a thread about rugby - I'm well aware it's not the done thing.

I think these two are the best halfback pairing in Super League, possibly by a distance. When you think about the stick Dureau got from some people before he'd even landed in France, it's amazing really. He's got speed, agility, passes accurately and has a great kicking game. He's also a genuine leader and organiser.

We all knew how good Pryce can be, but I doubted whether he was fully committed to the Catalan cause and whether the change in culture would suit him - but he was sublime yesterday.

The only real shame of it all is that it relegates a player of the quality of Bosc to the wing, a position he's clearly not suited to. If he can improve his Aussie twang, a few English clubs might look at him for 2013.

Oh, and a mention too for Fakir. He was an absolute human wrecking ball yesterday, frightening.

[Futtocks]

Oh, and a mention too for Fakir. He was an absolute human wrecking ball yesterday, frightening.

I'd love to see him have a whole season uninterrupted by injury.

[trakl]

When Leon Pryce produces an all-round display as he did yesterday, then it is easy to see why the likes of Lee Briers - despite his obvious skill and his many supporters - were often overlooked for GB selection. I know it's not a debate that many want but he remains a better stand-off than anyone else in the England squad.

As for Fakir, I just wish his coaches would entrust him with more playing time. He was monstrous every time he had the football and should be the kind of star for French rugby league that Chabal has been in the past for union.

Morley is one of my all-time favourite players and still remains important for Warrington - but he is now well past his prime and looked ineffective opposite the rampaging Fakir. McNamara needs to think carefully regarding Morley's continued selection for England.

[Tonka]

I've got the Warrington game recorded and now its just the simple case of getting the Mrs to let me watch it tonight...

Sounds like they're playing well - an in form Pryce can be devastating. Wonder if he can play himself back into England contention?

[Ant]

The only way anyone not named in the current England squad will get a look in is if they put the 13 shirt on for Leeds...

Anyway, Les Cats have some real steel in their defence and their attack is superb. I think it would do the game a lot of good for Bosc to come to an English club as well, and he would bring benefit to any of them.

Fakir is a fantastic player, and as someone has said, lets hope he goes without injury this season.

A strong Les Cats side is so good for the game.

[Dave T]

Morley is one of my all-time favourite players and still remains important for Warrington - but he is now well past his prime and looked ineffective opposite the rampaging Fakir. McNamara needs to think carefully regarding Morley's continued selection for England.

The Wire pack is falling short at the moment, but interestingly, at half time Wire had made more yards than Catalan, and at stages we were making massive ground with each set.

Catalan need a touch more consistency for me in their forwads. At spells of that game, they appeared to go soft and made very few yards, and had Warrington had an ounce of creativity (or finished a couple of the chances they did create) then Catalan could have put themselves under real pressure.

Agree about the backs, they look outstanding and are brilliant to watch.

[trakl]

The Wire pack is falling short at the moment, but interestingly, at half time Wire had made more yards than Catalan, and at stages we were making massive ground with each set.

Catalan need a touch more consistency for me in their forwads. At spells of that game, they appeared to go soft and made very few yards, and had Warrington had an ounce of creativity (or finished a couple of the chances they did create) then Catalan could have put themselves under real pressure.

Agree about the backs, they look outstanding and are brilliant to watch.

Catalans mixed moments of brilliance with sustained lapses of concentration - I thought that the energy levels in both teams were pretty low.

Vis-a-vis Morley - we all remember when he was in his pomp with Leeds and the Roosters and I think most of us can recognise that he is now past his best. There's no shame or embarrassment in any of this (very few players leave the game at their peak) but nothing is more important for rugby league in this country than a winning England team and I simply can't see how McNamara can justify picking Morley any longer.

As one brought up well outside the game's "heartlands" I feel compelled to see everything within the context of international rugby league - which is why McNamara should ask himself if he can afford to leave the best and most gifted stand-off out of the England squad...

[Futtocks]

As one brought up well outside the game's "heartlands" I feel compelled to see everything within the context of international rugby league - which is why McNamara should ask himself if he can afford to leave the best and most gifted stand-off out of the England squad...

If Pryce can perform like that for the whole season, he has to return to the international squad.

[Dave T]

Catalans mixed moments of brilliance with sustained lapses of concentration - I thought that the energy levels in both teams were pretty low.

Vis-a-vis Morley - we all remember when he was in his pomp with Leeds and the Roosters and I think most of us can recognise that he is now past his best. There's no shame or embarrassment in any of this (very few players leave the game at their peak) but nothing is more important for rugby league in this country than a winning England team and I simply can't see how McNamara can justify picking Morley any longer.

As one brought up well outside the game's "heartlands" I feel compelled to see everything within the context of international rugby league - which is why McNamara should ask himself if he can afford to leave the best and most gifted stand-off out of the England squad...

Can't disagree with any of that.

Morley does a solid job for us now, but he shouldn't make the Test team.

McNamara obviously has issues with a couple of players, it will be interesting to see if Pryce and Atkins (to name just two) get a look in in later squads if they maintain their form.

[giwildgo]

I wouldn't swap Dureau / Pryce for Finch / Leuluai, but that is more a reflection of how highly I rate the latter rather than a slight on the former.

Both Dureau and Pryce can be unplayable on their day, but Leon doesn't show it often enough in my opinion. I'd take Dureau as a replacement for Leuluai at the end of the season, although I'm not convinced we'd be able to prise him away from Catalans under any circumstance.

Edited by giwildgo, 10 April 2012 - 06:00 PM.

[barrowraiderskid]

I agree about getting rid of morley. Graham, Mossop, Peacock, Burgess, Patrick and Crabtree are all ahead of him in my opinion. As for Pryce/Dureau I thought Catalans pack dominated Warringtons which made the game easy for them. It'll be interesting to see how they fair when their backs are against the wall.

[l'angelo mysterioso]

constructive, informed Rugby League analysis...hmmm nice.
Made my day.

The Pryce Dureau partnership looks capable of anything, as for Bosc even on the wing he is exhilerating.
Goping to Perpignan to see Les Cats has been one of the most memorable, heartening, and to be honest gleefully ###### up(cheers tim tum) experiences of my 50 odd years watching Rugby League.

This team has everything in place and the chemistry to go with it. can't wait for my next visit

[Dave T]

I agree about getting rid of morley. Graham, Mossop, Peacock, Burgess, Patrick and Crabtree are all ahead of him in my opinion. As for Pryce/Dureau I thought Catalans pack dominated Warringtons which made the game easy for them. It'll be interesting to see how they fair when their backs are against the wall.

Completely disagree about the pack dominating Wire's. Territorially Wire were getting the upper hand for much of the game. Wire had made more yards in the first half, and in the 2nd for the first 15-20 minutes of it Catalan forwards couldn't get out of their half. Catalan forwards were making errors and struggling to get their team out of their own half.

Half of the 8 Catalan tries were from inside their own half. I haven't seen the territory stats, but I expect that they do not show a story of dominance by the Catalan pack. They were consistently finishing sets in poor position.

Tries like Millard's and the one from Dureau's last tackle play were actually from poor positions on-field and IMHO some of these plays from the backs actually covered for the forwards lack of consistency and drive at times.

I think when the Catalan forwards do click, it could be scary how good that Catalan team could be!

[barrowraiderskid]

Completely disagree about the pack dominating Wire's. Territorially Wire were getting the upper hand for much of the game. Wire had made more yards in the first half, and in the 2nd for the first 15-20 minutes of it Catalan forwards couldn't get out of their half. Catalan forwards were making errors and struggling to get their team out of their own half.

Half of the 8 Catalan tries were from inside their own half. I haven't seen the territory stats, but I expect that they do not show a story of dominance by the Catalan pack. They were consistently finishing sets in poor position.

Tries like Millard's and the one from Dureau's last tackle play were actually from poor positions on-field and IMHO some of these plays from the backs actually covered for the forwards lack of consistency and drive at times.

I think when the Catalan forwards do click, it could be scary how good that Catalan team could be!

To be fair I did only catch the second half but in most of the tackles Warrington were losing the collision and making it easy for Catalans to make easy metres on the back of runs from their forwards. I'm pretty sure millards try came on the back of dominant run from a Catalan forward which left the line unorganised. Obviously it may tell a different story in the first half, but from what I saw the Wire pack looked tired.

[Dave T]

To be fair I did only catch the second half but in most of the tackles Warrington were losing the collision and making it easy for Catalans to make easy metres on the back of runs from their forwards. I'm pretty sure millards try came on the back of dominant run from a Catalan forward which left the line unorganised. Obviously it may tell a different story in the first half, but from what I saw the Wire pack looked tired.

The ptb was very quick all game, Ganson set his stall out on that one. For much of the game there were quick ptb's which had the markers out of position. Catalan were simply better at capitalising on this.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the Catalan forwards were poor, I just don't think they were anywhere near their best, and had they been then they could have scored 70 instead of playing a lot of the 2nd half in their own half.

Having the talent in the backs that they have is so dangerous for the opposition, as we saw. Probably the only players who had the skill and pace to do that for Wire were all off the pitch, leaving us with a backline including Grix, Blythe, Briers and Hodgson whio are not known for their pace, instead of Ratchford, Atkins and Myler who suddenly speed up that backline.

[Dennis Bloodnock]

Just watched the game oon Euorosports here in Queensland,great game and great atmosphere.
This is the first time I have seen a game televised from France,what a great advertisement for the game.
One question,is the Catalans ground to be added to at the end where a warehouse seems to be?

[Dave T]

Just watched the game oon Euorosports here in Queensland,great game and great atmosphere.
This is the first time I have seen a game televised from France,what a great advertisement for the game.
One question,is the Catalans ground to be added to at the end where a warehouse seems to be?

I think that's a new building (a pool maybe) so not sure. Unsure whether they will be planning to build on top or something.

[Jim from Oz]

are there any youtube/internet links to the highlights of the game anywhere?

[Wiltshire Rhino]

are there any youtube/internet links to the highlights of the game anywhere?

http://m.youtube.com/user/SLHighlights?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google

[Jim from Oz]

Thanks for that; just watched the highlights - looked like a cracking match.

Would have loved to have been there!

Noticed empty seats in a 11,500 crowd. Can the ground fit more than that?

And what will the capacity be come the 2013 RLWC match? Audios, can you fill us in? Thanks!