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It's a sense of shame - Bayonne chief dismayed by Toulon humiliation
By Harry West
Toulon ran in 12 tries in their Top 14 demolition of Bayonne, whose sporting director Nicolas Morlaes was left feeling embarrassed following their 82-14 annihilation.
The three-time European champions crossed the whitewash seven times in the first half and on five more occasions after the interval - Bryan Habana, Juan Smith, Axel Muller and Liam Gill all recording braces.
That left Morlaes feeling humiliated and questioning his players' commitment as bottom-club Bayonne slipped 18 points adrift of safety.
"I don't even want to talk about rugby," he said. "It's a sense of shame that we have.
"Professional rugby players have rights but also responsibilities. The minimum required commitment wasn't there."
Leaders La Rochelle extended their advantage over second-placed Clermont Auvergne to eight points with a 38-15 defeat of Racing 92, Elliot Roudil scoring twice following earlier tries from Victor Vito and Jone Qovu.
Meanwhile, Lyon scored 18 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes to come back from 33-17 down and edge out Stade Francais 35-33 in a match that saw Taiasina Tuifua and Pascal Pape sent off for punching.
Elsewhere, Bordeaux-Begles were comfortable 46-14 winners over Grenoble and Gaetan Germain kicked all of Brive's points in their 21-19 success at home to Toulouse, for whom Toby Flood was red carded.
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I think France have made really good improvements. They have found several players on the bench and in the wider squad who are able to now operate at the level of their starters, they have power and devastation on the bench and can change the game. Their gameplan has also evolved and they are able to stay in the fight for longer. Fitness and conditioning seems to have become primary work ons. They have worked massively on breakdown where they forced so many turnovers and always slowed down Irelands ball. How many times did you see a French hand on the ball fighting the first and second cleaner tooth and nail for access before being shoved off of it? They become like a pack of rabid dogs on turnover and transitions, they counter so much better now and you can see elements of the Bordeaux and Toulouse game written all over the team. Its almost like a swarm when they counter. They have great alignment between the Top 14 and the national team and they have a group of players who are well versed in playing this style. You could see clearly in this game why both Galthie and Erasmus now fancy a 7-1 stack against Ireland. It is by and large to overpower them and demolish their breakdown. Irelands attack has devolved. Its now more metronomic than creative. It involves phase after phase of attritional attack and hordes of possession but it lacks creativity and purpose after the second or third phase. The Ireland attack of old kept teams guessing. You didnt know if they were gonna go wide or close in, you had to worry about the offload, the inside pass, the blindside and the hooker on the wing. Now it seems like they move the ball side to side while patiently waiting for the dam wall to break. They also lack pace and bite in the outside channels without Hansen and Lowe. Nash and Osborne were not on it and they struggled to contain the outside French backs who were incredible. France had more leaders that stood up, more grit and more power and it all proved too much for Ireland to handle.
Go to commentsKarefi is from the same mold as Savea, have him in the ABs in a heart beat.
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