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Reuters
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Stade Toulousain through to French Top 14 final
LYON, France, June 20 (Reuters) - Stade Toulousain kept up their bid for a third successive French Top 14 rugby title as they ended the hopes of outsiders Aviron Bayonnais with a 32-25 victory in their semi-final on Friday. Toulouse, despite missing injured talisman Antoine Dupont and fellow French international Peato Mauvaka, were always ahead in the contest with two tries scored in the first half by Romain Ntamack and Paul Graou while fullback Thomas Ramos put over six penalties and two conversions for a match-winning 22-point haul. Joris Segonds struck six penalties for Bayonne, while substitute Lucas Martin scored a consolation try with the final move of the match at the Groupama Stadium and Camille Lopez added the conversion. Ntamack finished off a sweeping move through the middle of the field for the first try in the 12th minute, with lock Thibaud Flament breaking through before popping the ball to wing Juan Cruz Mallia, whose blind behind-his-back pass put the flyhalf over. Graou's 33rd-minute score came after the ball was fed down an advancing Toulouse backline and then whipped back inside for the scrumhalf to easily go over. Basque club Bayonne were playing at this stage of the competition for the first time in 42 years and were only five points behind at halftime. However, Ramos punished their mistakes in the second half with four penalties to put the game beyond them, with their late score offering some consolation. The second semi-final is also at Lyon on Saturday when European champions Bordeaux-Begles take on Toulon. The final will be at the Stade de France in Paris on June 28.
Telegraph
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Six Nations team of the tournament: Five English players, but no Welshmen
Farewell, then, to the 2025 Six Nations, one of the more thrilling editions of the championship in recent memory given that on the final day there were three teams all in the mix for the title, and we had more tries (101) in a single Six Nations than ever before. France naturally dominate our team-of-the-tournament selection with eight players, but how many other countries are represented and who makes the cut? 15 Thomas Ramos (France) The top points scorer by a mile with 71 – he is also now France's top points scorer ever, overtaking Frédéric Michalak – but his link-up play is also so sharp. Makes shifting between full-back and fly-half seem easy. Lots of nominees with Blair Kinghorn shading Hugo Keenan for the Lions 15 shirt right now after finishing the Six Nations with the most offloads (13) and line breaks (nine). Tommaso Allan had a fine tournament and Blair Murray, sometimes loose, gave Wales a spark. 14 Tommy Freeman (England) A try in every round of the tournament for the Northampton back, who continues to evolve into a top international. The prospect of the 6ft 3in Freeman at centre for the long run is tantalising, although the leap and power he showed for his try on the wing against France was a highlight. Darcy Graham is obviously a red-hot contender and we should not sleep on Théo Attissogbie, who scored three tries in two Tests for France. 13 Yoram Moefana (France) Loved having Gael Fickou back alongside him for the finale against Scotland, scoring two tries including one impressive, powerful finish. Played every minute of France's title-winning campaign and can still improve defensively, which is promising. Good tournaments for Huw Jones and Juan Ignacio Brex. 12 Tom Jordan (Scotland) Gets tagged as a playmaker and he is excellent in that area, and versatile positionally as well, but he carries with so much strength into contact. Gem of a pass to create Scotland's final try against England and grabbed a couple of scores himself in the win over Wales. Not Bundee Aki's best tournament but he was superb off the bench in Cardiff, while Tommaso Menoncello continues to impress and saved his best for last against Ireland. 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France) The player of the tournament and just a delight to watch. Every time the ball reaches him you can sense the excitement given his astonishing speed, but his short kicking game is also razor sharp, typified by his assist for Léo Barré in Rome. Eight tries in the tournament ties the all-time record with Cyril Lowe (England, 1914) and Ian Smith (Scotland, 1925). 10 Fin Smith (England) A mixed field. Finn Russell certainly had his moments, good and bad. Sam Prendergast could be sensational but needs more time in the oven, and also missed the most tackles of anyone (while bravely making several). Paolo Garbisi will infuriate you at times but the talent is there. Romain Ntamack returned and was instantly banned for a dire tackle on Ben Thomas. Fin Smith? Assured, controlled with his passing – super wide ball for Tom Roebuck's try against Wales – and England just look better with him running things. 9 Maxime Lucu (France) The hardest position really, because you would expect Antoine Dupont. He finished well clear of the rest with seven try assists and may well have been the pick had it not been for his injury in Dublin (and he did have that bombed chance against England). Jamison Gibson-Park started well and faded, while Alex Mitchell was the opposite. Ben White was OK overall, best against England. Which leaves Lucu, who directed France brilliantly against Ireland and saw them home against Scotland. France's scrum-half depth – Dupont, Lucu, Nolann le Garrec, Baptiste Serin and Baptiste Couilloud – really is outrageous. 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros (France) Yellow card against Scotland slightly blotted his copybook but that was for team infringements. The loosehead scrummaged well and was so lively around the paddock, jackaling like a top back row and with soft hands to pop great offloads. A very good tournament as well for Ellis Genge. 2 Dan Sheehan (Ireland) Ireland faded away in the final two games but not Sheehan, who looked a nailed-on Test starter for the Lions after successfully returning from his ACL injury. Work-rate off the charts in the loose and had a deserved hat-trick in Rome. Peato Mauvaka was in the mix but lost marks for his mad red card against Scotland, while Jamie George played with a real spark for England. 3 Will Stuart (England) A bit of a revelation, in that he has gone from fringe Lions tourist to a potential Test starter. This is the best he has scrummaged at Test level but the footwork is also really sharp; think back to the sidestep against Italy. Enjoyed WillGriff John's swagger against Ireland before Genge brought him back to earth, while Uini Atonio is scrummaging royalty. 4 Maro Itoje (England) A very good tournament for the England captain. Yes, he will give away some soft penalties, but he has thrived in the new role and also produced enough top performances to create a bit of a debate around who should be Lions captain in Australia. Great jackal threat, hit all of the rucks. 5 Mickaël Guillard (France) Strong contenders here with Ollie Chessum elevating England on his return. He could be a Lions starter. Grant Gilchrist quietly had a great championship, while Tadgh Beirne started hot and then faded. But the way Guillard grew as the Six Nations went on, physically dominant in France's final three matches, was quite something. Part of a really nice starting lock combination with Thibaud Flament. 6 François Cros (France) What a grafter. If you have a ruck that needs cleaning out, Cros will be there. Finished the tournament with 70 tackles and makes that powerful French engine purr. Jamie Ritchie turned in his best performances for Scotland – outstanding at the Allianz Stadium, he led the championship with seven turnovers – and of course you have to mention Tom Curry here. 7 Ben Curry (England) Had to bide his time but what a statement he made in this Six Nations, richly deserving his player-of-the-match award in Cardiff after a great defensive display. A genuine Lions shout now, even in a congested field, because of his excellent work-rate. Rory Darge should be in the frame too, while Jac Morgan did his best but could not stop a rough championship for Wales, leading the tournament with 88 tackles. 8 Gregory Alldritt (France) Caelan Doris overall was very good, while Ben Earl cut out the errors in key moments and looked back to his best. Ross Vintcent gives Italy a spark (but his red card against Ireland was clumsy) and there were moments where Taulupe Faletau looked like his old self. But, after winning his personal battle with Doris in Dublin, it has to be Alldritt, who finished the tournament with the third-most carries and four breakdown steals. Country breakdown France: 8 England: 5 Ireland: 1 Scotland: 1 Wales: 0 Italy: 0
Reuters
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Ramos becomes France's all-time top points scorer
PARIS, March 15 (Reuters) - Fullback Thomas Ramos became France's all-time top scorer when he slotted a conversion and two penalties in Les Bleus' Six Nations game against Scotland on Saturday. Ramos took his tally to 438 points to beat the previous mark of 436 set by Frederic Michalak from 2001-15.
The Guardian
23-02-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Italy v France: Six Nations updates
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature While we wait, here's a bunch of tasty writing from yesterday's Six Nations action: Rob Kitson reflects on Scotland's agony: Andy Bull sings the praises of England's 'iron-chinned boxers': Michael Aylwin enjoyed watching Scotland, but laments their inability to deliver on their promise: Gerard Meagher rates England's and Scotland's players: England 16-15 Scotland: Calcutta Cup Six Nations player ratings And Luke McLuaghlin heard from Wales' interim coach, Matt Sherratt, who managed to rouse a response from his beleaguered squad: Share The French are going for power over panache as Fabian Galthié has loaded his bench with seven forwards. There are four changes from the team that started in the defeat to England with Thibaud Flament making his first appearance of the tournament in the second row alongside Mackael Guillard who came off the bench in Twickenham two weeks ago. Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and winger Damian Penaud have remarkably been axed from the match-day 23 altogether with Thomas Ramos slotting in at 10 and Leo Barre moving to 15. Theo Attissogbe starts on the right wing. There are more changes on the bench with Georges-Henri Colombe replacing Dorian Aldegheri as the replacement tighthead prop while lock Romain Taofifenua joins the party. Anthony Jelonch adds extra heft while Maxime Lucu is the sole back among the subs, edging out Nolann Le Garrec. France: 15 – Leo Barre; 14 – Theo Attissogbe, 13 – Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 – Yoram Moefana, 11 – Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 – Thomas Ramos, 9 – Antoine Dupont (c); 1 – Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 – Peato Mauvaka, 3 – Uini Atonio, 4 – Thibaud Flament, 5 – Mickael Guillard, 6 – Francois Cros, 7 – Paul Boudehent, 8 – Gregory Alldritt. Replacements: 16 – Julien Marchand, 17- Cyril Baille, 18- Dorian Aldegheri, 19- Romain Taofifenua, 20 - Alexandre Roumat, 21 - Oscar Jegou, 22 - Anthony Jelonch, 23 – Maxime Lucu Share Gonzalo Quesada has made two changes from the starting XV that comfortably beat Wales a fortnight ago. One is a forced change with the injured winger Monty Ioane making way for Simone Gesi, who started on the bench in Warren Gatland's last game in charge of Wales. There's also a change at hooker with Gianmarco Lucchesi moving to the bench and Giacomo Nicotera starting. The previously banned loosehead Mirco Spagnolo has returns to the match-day 23 with tighthead Giosuè Zilocchi and lock Riccardo Favretto among the substitutes in a 6-2 split. Otherwise it's a settled backline with perhaps the most potent midfield in the competition. It's a question of whether or not their tight five can win the arm wrestle up front. Italy: 15 – Tommasso Allan; 14 – Ange Capuozzo, 13 – Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 – Tommaso Menoncello, 11 – Simone Gesi; 10 – Paolo Garbisi, 9 – Martin Page-Relo; 1 – Danilo Fischetti, 2 – Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3 – Simone Ferrari, 4 - Niccolò Cannone, 5 – Federico Ruzza, 6 – Sebastian Negri, 7 – Michele Lamaro (c), 8 – Lorenzo Cannone. Replacements: 16 - Giacomo Nicotera, 17 – Mirco Spagnolo, 18 – Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 – Riccardo Favretto, 20 – Manuel Zuliani, 21 – Ross Vintcent, 22 – Alessandro Garbisi, 23 - Jacopo Trulla Share Daniel Gallan Is Fabian Galthié wasting a golden generation of French talent? It's a harsh question, but a fair one considering a team stacked with game changers, one supplemented by the best domestic league in the world, has only one Six Nations crown to show for all their dazzle. Now, with England beating Scotland, and Ireland keeping their grand slam ambitions alive, we're entering must-win territory for France. A loss today would see their slim hopes of a title evaporate. In years gone by this would be a gimme. From 9 February 2011 to 6 October 2023, France beat Italy 14 times in a row. But last year, a malfunctioning kicking tee denied the Azzurri a deserving victory in Lille. Instead the sides settled for a 13-13 draw but it was the Italians who left with enhanced reputations and the French wondering if their quarterfinal exit in a home World Cup in 2023 constituted a high water mark. Italy will fancy their chances against the one team they want to beat more than the rest. There's a bit of a little-brother-big-brother vibe to this rivalry and the fratellini have all the tools for an upset on home soil. Can they do it? We'll find out once things kick off in Rome at 3pm. Teams and more updates to come. Share
The Independent
21-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
France opt for bold Springboks-style tactic as Damian Penaud and Matthieu Jalibert dropped for Italy clash
France coach Fabien Galthie has swung the selection axe after his side's Six Nations defeat to England with wing Damian Penaud and fly half Matthieu Jalibert omitted for the encounter with Italy. The pair are among those to pay the price for an error-ridden performance at Twickenham that saw France's hopes of a grand slam go up in smoke. Thomas Ramos moves forward from full-back to partner Antoine Dupont in the halves with Toulouse teammate Romain Ntamack still suspended, while Leo Barre and Theo Attissogbe come into the back three. Up front, Mickael Guillard is promoted in the second row with Emmanuel Meafou dealing with illness. Thibaud Flament is his partner after recovering from injury. There is a radical selection on the bench, too, as Galthie opts for a Springbok-style seven forwards to one back bench split. Scrum half Maxime Lucu is the sole backline cover among the replacements. South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus unveiled the tactic ahead of the 2023 World Cup and used the strategy in the final against New Zealand. France have backed the versatility of players like Dupont, Ramos and Yoram Moefana to provide enough options should injury strike, with flanker Paul Boudehent also sometimes used as centre cover. France face Ireland in round four and will hope to keep their championship hopes alive in Rome on Sunday. The hosts, meanwhile, make two changes to the team that beat Wales. Simone Gesi replaces an injured Monty Ioane on the wing and Gianmarco Lucchesi swaps in at hooker for Giacomo Nicotera, who drops to the bench. The bench includes six forwards but not Harlequins lock Dino Lamb, who is ruled out with a shoulder issue. Italy XV to face France in Rome (Sunday 23 February, 3pm GMT): 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 3 Simone Ferrari; 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 Federico Ruzza; 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro (capt.), 8 Lorenzo Cannone; 9 Martin Page-Relo, 10 Paolo Garbisi; 11 Simone Gesi, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 14 Ange Capuozzo; 15 Tommaso Allan. Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Ross Vintcent; 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacopo Trulla. France XV: 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio; 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Mickael Guillard; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Gregory Alldritt; 9 Antoine Dupont, 10 Thomas Ramos; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 14 Theo Attissogbe; 15 Leo Barre. Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyrill Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Anthony Jelonch; 23 Maxime Lucu.
