Oy! Second best if you don't mind.

I have to say that I was disappointed by Toulouse. I did expect a better of them; especially given they were supposed to have 7 French internationals in the side. Their preparation was poor, with limited game time coming into the start of their season. This would have some effect but, we (Widnes) had similar problems last season for the opening rounds of the NRC and also had to draft in 8 of our academy players to the first team squad, yet they still held their own in the NRC and the early rounds of NL1. 5 of those players faced Toulouse on Thursday night. Toulouse had been in England since the Sheffield game and trained in Huddersfield, so the travelling aspect shouldn’t have been as severe as it will be when they are flying in the day before games.

I have a lot of sympathy for Toulouse’s position. Their friendly with Les Catalan was cancelled and the other French clubs wouldn’t allow them the play in the Lord Derby Cup. The cost of setting up games with English clubs would’ve been prohibitive, so there was very little they could do.

They played well against Sheffield and probably lost that game due to the sending off of hothead Martin Mitchell, so they cannot be as bad as Thursday nights score line would suggest. I’m sure they’ll get better with more game time, but they need to pick up a few more quality players if they are to compete for a place in play offs. Obviously their main advantage will be their home games. Those, at least, should keep them from finishing bottom.

Who gives a stuff? This thread is not about franchises.

Added to which their discipline was disgusting. Or are we to excuse spitting in the faces of opposition players just as people are excusing their rubbish performance?

"Give them 2 years and they'll have learned not to spit at the opposition"...

With regard to the travelling aspect and having flown from Toulouse to the UK myself as recently as 2 weeks ago I would have to say the 2 hour flight was a lot less stressful and tiring than sitting on a coach from Yorkshire to Whitehaven.

Yes it's called the French League, they shouldn't have been let anywhere near the Championship til they were too good for that, but they weren't even in the top half last year

The big problem will be if they finish in the bottom 2

That will really p155 some fans off

And at the moment you would have to say there is a real chance they will

Also it would seem they have upset the clubs in France if they didn't allow them to enter the Lord Derby cup

Bad Idea

Hello forum , been a while since my last posting vis a vis toulouse, let me inform you all on whats going on this side of the channel.

Gilles dumas their coach has not a great coaching record, highly unliked by most of the players that have played under him (especially in the french side) he was a cheap option and his assistant is julien gerin, a player from st gaudens that has played a few matches for the french side but by no means is a good visionary product, the choice has been ridiculed in many circles and as they are two good friends i feel his imput will be some what silenced, A qualified cone pikeruppera is all he`ll be there.

They had some quality french players unavailable because of work commitments, so they should be a lot better at home, the players that work were offered paltry fulltime contracts and laughed at the amount being offered and kept their jobs. But on the whole the squad is weak , inexperienced and typical of any french rugby league side, some good frenchies,some good imports and lots of question marks on the rest , if the australians get injured it could be a very long year indeed.

They have one player who has never even played before , he`s a handballer , a big unit but their hoping he can pass with two hands.

Now i would love to be able to say , yes they will get a lot better, yes they will dispute a final but the reality in france is that the resources aren`t there, the catalans are ok but there are far to many australians there, in this weeks team there are 7 aussies in it, carlaw and ryles are out but would normally be in so that would make 9. I can tell you that the french catalan supportes are already seriously bagging, walters, perry and bell,

Affaire a suivre.

All of this confirming the fears that no real thought has been put into the decisions made by the RFL.

Interessant ca, d'apres ce que j'ai lu les fans Francais etaient contemps avec le choix de Walters, Bell, Perry et - grande surprise - Bird. Je croyais que ce n'etais que le contingent sang-et-or(.net) qui n'etais pas contemp.

Avec la possibilite d'utiliser des Juniors Catalans et UTC le TO devrais etre pas si mal, et le choix d'entraineur ne peut pas etre aussi mauvais que le choix pour l'equipe nationalle.

Thought Richard Lewis would have been at the game.After all, it was a bit of an occassion with it being the first championship game of the season live on SKY tv and Toulouse making their debut in the British competition.

And in what way is this different to other RL sides generally?

To take any journey you have to take the first step.

I don't expect Toulouse to be any great shakes initially but over time.

It's generally called training/apprenticeship where you learn the skills required and develop.

The trouble is now we have a WANT IT NOW mentallity in all aspects of life, not just RL and as a nation we seem to be getting more impatient.

Give them time, 1 match dosn't prove anything except they lost.

Forgetting to mention Leeds being hammered by Wigan and Offiah in particular or don't you go back that far.

Toulouse have recruited poorly.

They should have found a couple more quality French forwards with SL experience, such as Adel Fellous.

Of the forwards only Griffi, Anselme and Gay are up to the required standard.

They also need a top class Aussie or Kiwi playmaker.