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Mon 5 Nov 2012 | 09:54
Best Tries of the Top 14 - Rounds 8 and 9

16
Comments

With the two domestic competitions down south now complete, there's a bit more breathing space as we focus on the northern hemisphere tournaments, and of the upcoming internationals. For now though, we're starting the week with a feast of tries.

Up north the RaboDirect PRO12, Aviva Premiership, and French Top 14 are ticking along so we'll continue to scan the games to find the best bits of play from all three tournaments. Your help is needed though so don't be shy to submit your suggestions or contributions when possible.

Today though we're featuring two of the latest Top 10 Tries compilations from Canal Plus in France, which includes their picks of the best tries from Rounds 8 and 9 of the competition.

With these videos it's quite subjective usually, and while there's 20 tries in total for you to watch, you'll possibly only find a handful to be outstanding. They're all enjoyable though so if you have the time, skim through and feel free to let us know below which were your favourites.

As mentioned, there are two videos below, but we've placed the latest (Round 9) at the top of the queue, so that'll play first, and then automatically jump to Round 8 if you fancy watching that too.

Posted By: Grant Constable

16 Comments

  • jeroo
    3:30 PM 07/11/2012

    You'd have to include Steffon in your team if possible, closest thing to Back since Back. If we can get him in would you move Robshaw to 6?

  • stroudos
    11:18 AM 07/11/2012

    I don't object too much to the principle of allowing foreigners to play for England. But it does seem perverse that the country with the highest number of rugby players in the world - by some distance - is unable to convert enough of them to elite level as to not rely on foreign help.

  • stroudos
    9:51 PM 06/11/2012

    I'm with Tc/To on this one. The handoff was a beauty and it's always nice to see someone of the size of Botha's oppo here being sent flying.
    Mind you I also enjoyed the Clarkin handoff at 0:40.

  • thunor
    3:08 PM 06/11/2012

    I have no problem with it, generally. Nationality is a bizarre and blurry thing which is extremely difficult to define.

    At any rate, in the case of Vunipola, he's lived here most of his life (since 8 years old) - see this BBC article http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20094952

    You'd have difficulty picking Stevens in that lineup, given that he's retired :-).

  • browner
    2:39 PM 06/11/2012

    Steffon honed his skills playing 7's, European rugby suits his style.... fast flowing etc...

    I agree pick him....but where do you draw the line?....without a disincentive all our top players will bugger off to french leagues, & leave us with 2nd/3rd tier south sea islanders all filling our leagues .....

    The 3 year residency rule stinks...... one day England will line up with Tuilagi, Vunipulu [, & Baritt, Hartley Botha Stevens [SA] Waldron,[NZ] Paice [Aus] & more of their bands of brothers ....... it will be a sad day ..... but it's coming sooner than we think !

  • colombes
    1:36 PM 06/11/2012

    Clerc skills proves that he's still one of the best top14 finishers despite his age (30)
    Young guns such like martin, buttin, o'connor, berard and even palisson will have to push very hard to take his place.

    Refs were speaking english during these rounds, in order to help players to understand erc refs recommendations during the next Hcup weekend. Apart toulon and racing, most of the top14 teams are full of "perdon my english" french players

  • 4lc4tr4z
    9:42 AM 06/11/2012

    Refs speaks in english because... They are english...
    Those 8 and 9 days, there were french refs in UK and british ones in France.
    To prepare the first round of the HCup which came few days after that

    Of course most of french refs can speak english sometimes.
    That made funny vids, when a french ref had chosen to talk in english to Steffon Armitage who's fluent in french... Then talked french to afrikaneer Bakkies Botha few minutes later.... :'-)

  • stubby
    2:40 AM 06/11/2012

    Vincent Clerc aurait du etre numero un.

  • 2:25 AM 06/11/2012

    Premiere essai, Wilkinson a Basteraud est en avant.

    Terrible plaquage, comme mon francais, dans le 5ieme essai de Smith, je pense que le 15 n'essayer pas.

    Clerc est une de les meilleur finishers dans le monde.

  • thunor
    1:48 AM 06/11/2012

    Due to the selection policy which says that overseas players are only chosen in exceptional circumstances. The reason for that is to provide a disincentive for players to move to France and Australia, despite the big money, crowds, weather and other aspects.

    I agree though, he's probably the best flanker in Europe at present. In some ways he is England's nearest equivalent to Schalk Brits; a skilful attacking forward who wouldn't look out of place in the back line, with great handling, pace and even reasonable kicking.

    My view is that he should be one of the aforementioned exceptions.

  • reality
    11:11 PM 05/11/2012

    It's like watching the Super 15 sometimes, isn't it? The table-topping team, Toulon, has about 3 French players, and all of their stars are non-French. A bit sad really. I suppose in the long run it'll be disastrous for the national team.

  • guy
    10:50 PM 05/11/2012

    Agree with Katman: Clerc did fabulously well in that try. Incredible footwork. Imho, I would have chosen it to be the winner.

    By the way: nice to see a Frenchie score a try every now and then. I noticed last time that most of the tries in these round-ups are scored by foreigners. I know the French competition has a lot of players from abroad but that much?

  • guy
    10:44 PM 05/11/2012

    Sooooo...if I understand correctly your highlight from a 20 try compilation is the handoff by Bakkies? Interesting choice.

  • froliks
    9:44 PM 05/11/2012

    Can anybody explain why in almost 50% of these matches the referee is speaking English? They weren't European games were they?

    Puzzled.

    PS: Steffon Armitage would walk into most Test squads - why not the English one?!

  • jeppy89
    7:01 PM 05/11/2012

    some great tries, and some great skills, but equally some god awful defending and hands in there

  • katman
    4:57 PM 05/11/2012

    Great skills by Vincent Clerc. And David Smith had no right to score his try either. Nice to see some of the fatties get in on the action too.

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