Current France 17

[NRLandSL]

Don’t want to be over the top but really like the look of France’s side right, looking pretty strong.

1-Arthur Mourgue 
2-Fouad Yaha
3-Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet
4-Arthur Romano
5-Matthieu Laguerre
6-Cesar Rougé
7-Theo Fageś
8-Julian Bousquet
9-Alrix Da Costa  
10-Romain Navarette
11-Paul Seguier    
12-Mathieu Cozza  
13-Benjamin Garcia

14-Amir Bourouh ? (Albert, Tison)
15-Justin Sangaré 
16-Jordan Dezaria
17-Joe Chan

Literally a full 17 of pretty much SL regulars. A lot of in form players.

Aispuro-Bichet is an exceptional talent, one of the best teenagers in SL and has elite potential. (There’s also Clement Martin who’s the same age and just as good)

Da Costa has continued to improve and is now a quality first grade hooker IMO.

Cozza’s looked great for Wakefield, will continue to improve.

Not 100% about Bourouh but he is eligible and would be a massive addition. Chan is a big in from the Storm.

Mourgue and Garcia are the stars.

We desperately need the England test back, and France to be playing regularly international’s against quality nations.

Edited April 19 by NRLandSL

[slowdive]

I think the front row looks a bit on the old side, but it's exciting to see some of the young french talent coming through.  I'd like the French to play teams like PNG and Fiji a bit more often.  The England test is a nice idea but I don't think they're at the level quite yet for it to be worthwhile.  Losing comprehensively is more damaging than beneficial for me.  I think if or when Toulouse make it into SL, there will hopefully be a bigger pool to pick from.  

Any decent players with New Caladonia heritage they can use?

[JT RL]

One game a year. Home and away alternating. Same weekend. Same ground. Give it 10 years to build.

[NRLandSL]

55 minutes ago, slowdive said:

I think the front row looks a bit on the old side, but it's exciting to see some of the young french talent coming through.  I'd like the French to play teams like PNG and Fiji a bit more often.  The England test is a nice idea but I don't think they're at the level quite yet for it to be worthwhile.  Losing comprehensively is more damaging than beneficial for me.  I think if or when Toulouse make it into SL, there will hopefully be a bigger pool to pick from.  

Any decent players with New Caladonia heritage they can use?

Yeah Front row definitely getting on in age, though Salabio will continue to improve, I think he could be a quality SL front rower one day, he has all the raw qualities. There’s Giovanni Descalzi-Ganthier aswell a talented Catalans youngster and a couple others. 

I would like to France go and tour PNG, Fiji and play a test against the Aussies and kiwis, that would be fantastic. I disagree on the England point, I think their definitely at the level to give England a close affair, I know they’ve been poor against them recently and for a while now but their side is strong enough, they just need more fixtures. Looking foward to Toulouse in SL, should be almost gurranteed for next season you’d think.

There’s Hnaloan Budden, plays for Albi, quality second rower.

Edited April 18 by NRLandSL

[NRLandSL]

55 minutes ago, JT RL said:

One game a year. Home and away alternating. Same weekend. Same ground. Give it 10 years to build.

Yeah, mid season test in France the a post season test in England as a warm up to the tour.

[StandOffHalf]

Enzo Griffier seems to be playing second row for the Chooks in Jersey Flegg. I thought he looked very promising last year, playing in the centres. I read that he bagged a brace a week or two ago.

I'd probably have Goudemand over Cozza, although I've heard good things about the latter.

Navarrete appears twice; Dezaria or Belmas on the bench perhaps.

Some really exciting players. Aispuro-Bichet is the one who has really caught my eye, after you alerted me to him.

So sad that England are walking away from Northern Hemisphere partners and actively harming the international game. I have criticised Australia a lot, but this betrayal is an insular and selfish act of avoidable harm.

[StandOffHalf]

I'm not sure, but I don't think Joe Chan wants to play for France.

[JT RL]

4 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

Yeah, mid season test in France the a post season test in England as a warm up to the tour.

No. Just one game a season. One year in England .. the next in France

[NRLandSL]

7 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

Enzo Griffier seems to be playing second row for the Chooks in Jersey Flegg. I thought he looked very promising last year, playing in the centres. I read that he bagged a brace a week or two ago.

I'd probably have Goudemand over Cozza, although I've heard good things about the latter.

Navarrete appears twice; Dezaria or Belmas on the bench perhaps.

Some really exciting players. Aispuro-Bichet is the one who has really caught my eye, after you alerted me to him.

So sad that England are walking away from Northern Hemisphere partners and actively harming the international game. I have criticised Australia a lot, but this betrayal is an insular and selfish act of avoidable harm.

Yeah Enzo hasn’t really pushed on just yet it seems, made his NSW debut last year but is now stuck in Flegg even coming off the bench some games. Cozza looked phenomenal against Castleford, he’s probably better than Goudemand.

Thanks for pointing that out, meant to write Dezaria.

Yeah it’s disgusting, England and the RFL doing their very best to make sure the international game doesn’t grow.

[NRLandSL]

7 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

I'm not sure, but I don't think Joe Chan wants to play for France.

Haven’t heard anything about him not wanting to play. Played a test for New Zealand A but I doubt he’s going to make NZ side at all. He’s brother’s played, let’s hope Joe does. 

[BroncoFan]

I don’t rate Navarette at all, I think even Gadwin Springer offers more than him.

[StandOffHalf]

5 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

Yeah Enzo hasn’t really pushed on just yet it seems, made his NSW debut last year but is now stuck in Flegg even coming off the bench some games. Cozza looked phenomenal against Castleford, he’s probably better than Goudemand.

Thanks for pointing that out, meant to write Dezaria.

Yeah it’s disgusting, England and the RFL doing their very best to make sure the international game doesn’t grow.

I really liked the look of Griffier last year. I would like to see more of him, but playing second row will build strength and endurance. Given his height, I wonder whether France could use him as a right wing in the future, outside Aispuro-Bichet? Having him at right edge second row or on the wing would create a potent right side for France.

I love Mourgue for his stepping, his kicking, and his speed, but I think he can be a bit indecisive and jittery under the high ball. He also needs to work on his distribution. He often tries to do it all himself. Looks great when it comes off, as yesterday.

Romano and Yaha on the left, with Fages and Rougé in the halves is an exciting mix.

Edited April 19 by StandOffHalf

[NRLandSL]

2 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

I really liked the look of Griffier last year. I would like to see more of him, but playing second row will build strength and endurance. Given his height, I wonder whether France could use him as a right wing in the future, outside Aispuro-Bichet? Having him at right edge second row or on the wing would create a potent right side for France.

I love Mourgue for his stepping, his kicking, and his speed, but I think he can be a bit indecisive and jittery under the high ball. He also needs to work on his distribution. He often tries to do it all himself. Looks great when it comes off, as yesterday.

Romano and Yaha on the left, with Fages and Rougé in the halves is an exciting mix.

Griffier got injured in the England test last year I believe, and was out for whole year. Such a shame cause that was right after a great NSW cup debut as well and he probably would have played plenty more. Let’s hope he can break back into NSW cup this season.

I’m hoping Cesar Rougé can push as well, he isn’t close to reaching his potential. Needs more game time.

[welshmagpie]

14 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

Enzo Griffier seems to be playing second row for the Chooks in Jersey Flegg. I thought he looked very promising last year, playing in the centres. I read that he bagged a brace a week or two ago.

I'd probably have Goudemand over Cozza, although I've heard good things about the latter.

Navarrete appears twice; Dezaria or Belmas on the bench perhaps.

Some really exciting players. Aispuro-Bichet is the one who has really caught my eye, after you alerted me to him.

So sad that England are walking away from Northern Hemisphere partners and actively harming the international game. I have criticised Australia a lot, but this betrayal is an insular and selfish act of avoidable harm.

See the latest IRL press release, seems they’re doing what they can to ensure England look closer to home over the next decade to avoid becoming isolated. 

[StandOffHalf]

34 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

Griffier got injured in the England test last year I believe, and was out for whole year. Such a shame cause that was right after a great NSW cup debut as well and he probably would have played plenty more. Let’s hope he can break back into NSW cup this season.

I’m hoping Cesar Rougé can push as well, he isn’t close to reaching his potential. Needs more game time.

If he can play internationally as a kid and hold his own (as he did last year), there's no reason why he can't play NSW Cup at least.

I loved having a glimpse of him last year. I hadn't realised he'd been injured. Hope so much that he can kick on. He's got serious natural attributes that a lot of players would kill for!

[Bull Mania]

11 hours ago, JT RL said:

No. Just one game a season. One year in England .. the next in France

We've done it for 15+ years and ended up with possibly the most embarrassing spectacle in RL for a long time last year. We end up begging fans to go with hugely discounted tickets.

As someone said above, France need more games against teams around them. Playing against England was doing more harm than good. 

Its good to see some young players coming through though. 

[StandOffHalf]

37 minutes ago, welshmagpie said:

See the latest IRL press release, seems they’re doing what they can to ensure England look closer to home over the next decade to avoid becoming isolated. 

Cheers, I'll have a look. Playing France is so obviously the right thing for the game.

[JT RL]

3 hours ago, Bull Mania said:

We've done it for 15+ years and ended up with possibly the most embarrassing spectacle in RL for a long time last year. We end up begging fans to go with hugely discounted tickets.

As someone said above, France need more games against teams around them. Playing against England was doing more harm than good. 

Its good to see some young players coming through though. 

Have “we” really been doing this for 15 years ? Leigh, Eccles, Avignon, Salford City, Doncaster, Gateshead on random dates … 17 different venues, no set date … no continuity. 
 

Meanwhile, being critically reflective … are the England results against France that much more embarrassing than the England results against Australia ? 
 

If we accept that a good French team is emerging, a regular game might create an annual testing focal point. An annual event. Something to market. Something for the press to get behind. Create stories. Develop history. Fans making the pilgrimage. 

How about allowing each SL club to include 1 or 2 non-salary cap French qualified player/s in squads, to encourage player pool  allow

[Damien]

5 hours ago, welshmagpie said:

See the latest IRL press release, seems they’re doing what they can to ensure England look closer to home over the next decade to avoid becoming isolated. 

While I agree that England should be doing all it can to develop countries on its doorstep, notably France and Wales, it shouldn't be a binary choice. The biggest way it can prevent itself becoming isolated is to host a money spinning Ashes series to full stadiums. Winning would be the icing on the cake. This more than anything will galvanise the international game and get the Aussies interested again.

[JT RL]

14 minutes ago, Damien said:

While I agree that England should be doing all it can to develop countries on its doorstep, notably France and Wales, it shouldn't be a binary choice. The biggest way it can prevent itself becoming isolated is to host a money spinning Ashes series to full stadiums. Winning would be the icing on the cake. This more than anything will galvanise the international game and get the Aussies interested again.

Yes, that is a taken.

However, just like Aussie helping the English game

So, we should be helping the French game

While European Super League should be helping Wales & the rest 

[graveyard johnny]

11 hours ago, BroncoFan said:

I don’t rate Navarette at all, I think even Gadwin Springer offers more than him.

Jerry Springer offers more than him

[Damien]

11 hours ago, BroncoFan said:

I don’t rate Navarette at all, I think even Gadwin Springer offers more than him.

At Wigan I couldn't believe how small he is for a prop. He's not big enough or good enough to be effective against quality forwards.

Edited April 19 by Damien

[Damien]

29 minutes ago, JT RL said:

Yes, that is a taken.

However, just like Aussie helping the English game

So, we should be helping the French game

While European Super League should be helping Wales & the rest 

By some distance the quickest and most effective way to improve France and Wales at international level is to increase the full time player pool of both nations. That takes at least another French club at SL level and a Welsh SL club. Arguments around international games is just tinkering around the edges with minimal improvement.

[NRLandSL]

1 hour ago, JT RL said:

Have “we” really been doing this for 15 years ? Leigh, Eccles, Avignon, Salford City, Doncaster, Gateshead on random dates … 17 different venues, no set date … no continuity. 
 

Meanwhile, being critically reflective … are the England results against France that much more embarrassing than the England results against Australia ? 
 

If we accept that a good French team is emerging, a regular game might create an annual testing focal point. An annual event. Something to market. Something for the press to get behind. Create stories. Develop history. Fans making the pilgrimage. 

How about allowing each SL club to include 1 or 2 non-salary cap French qualified player/s in squads, to encourage player pool  allow

Yeah I agree, England needs the France test as much as France need it.  I simply can’t understand why it was ever binned off for this season. Needs to be well advertised, in a good ground. Has the potential to become the “Origin” of the SL.

As much as English people will probably get mad at this, developing France should be the RFL’s number 1 priority.

[NRLandSL]

13 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

Jerry Springer offers more than him

He’s not too bad Navarette. Quick, mobile, hard working foward. Obviously he doesn’t the impact of Dezaria or Bousquet but he gets through a ton of work.