ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Wednesday Feb 21, 2018

Dropped Teddy Thomas shows dazzling feet in Racing 92 win over La Rochelle

A week after being dropped from Jacques Brunel’s French side for this Friday’s 6 Nations with Italy in Marseille, Teddy Thomas was in illustrious form in Racing 92’s Top 14 win over La Rochelle.

Thomas was among the seven players cut from the extended squad after their late-night escapades in Edinburgh following the side’s 32-26 defeat to Scotland.

The winger was suspended for one match but was not given the same punishment from his club, meaning he was able to turn out in the Ciel et Blanc against last season’s finalists La Rochelle.

He didn’t score – he got close but put a foot in touch – but his performance throughout the game, regularly beating a number of tacklers, caused the Rochelais all manner of problems in defence as the Parisian side claimed a narrow 19-12 victory.

The result moved Racing above La Rochelle into second place in the standings, just two behind leaders Montpellier.

Thomas is the top try-scorer in the 6 Nations, touching down against Ireland in the opening round and grabbing a spectacular brace against Scotland in round two.

Brunel’s men are coming under increasing pressure from the home media and cannot afford to slip to a third straight defeat in the south of France. It remains to be seen what impact (if any) Thomas’ absence will have on the team’s performance this week.

CALL-UPS FICKOU AND COUILLOUD CONFIRM SELECTION

The beneficiaries of France’s suspensions and worryingly long injury list are Toulouse’s Gaël Fickou and Lyon scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud.

Among an array of excellent tries over the course of the weekend, both Fickou and Couilloud were on fine form for their respective clubs, with Fickou bagging a hat-trick in his side’s emphatic 52-25 victory away to Agen.

Couilloud, who has been named on the bench for Friday’s game, scored a superb try under the posts as Lyon swatted aside struggling Clermont Auvergne 32-10 at home.

There’s no doubt France possess an abundance of talented individuals, but whether these introductions to the squad will be able to gel in enough time to get the national side back on track remains one of the many unanswered questions with Brunel’s outfit.

FRENCH SQUAD TO FACE ITALY

Backs: Hugo Bonneval, Bejamin Fall, Matthieu Bastareaud, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso, Lionel Beauxis, Maxime Machenaud.

Forwards: Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Paul Gabrillagues, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Wenceslas Lauret, Yacouba Camara, Marco Tauleigne.

Subs: Anthony Pelissié, Dany Priso, Cedate Gomes Sa, Romain Taofifenua, Kélian Galletier, Baptiste Couilloud, François Trinh-Duc, Gaël Fickou.

France take on Italy this Friday (23rd Feb) at the Satde Vélodrome in Marseille – kick-off 21:00 local

TOP TRIES FROM THE TOP 14

credit: top14official/yoe91

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments




Related Articles

  • 73 WEEKS AGO

    Absolute scenes from triple threat centre...

  • 75 WEEKS AGO

    Henry Arundell wonder try shows he is the...

  • 82 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Blues score two STUNNING tries against...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji number eight Viliame 'Bill' Mata scores audacious try

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Wild scenes in Toulouse as Portugal seal last gasp comeback win over Fiji

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    South African schoolboy produces the greatest goosey in the sport

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Monster hit from Perrin leaves Bristol Bears player stunned

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Posolo Tuilagi's massive tackle lights up Top 14

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Theo Dan in the centre of 'punch' storm as possible infringement missed

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Compilation video shows Jamie George's surprising box of tricks

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Eddie Jones reported to have negotiated return to Japan national side

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Rees Zammit hits Olympic level as 100m sprint time is officially finally released

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Shocking record set to be broken at this year’s World Cup

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

View All

Funnies

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Luke Cowan-Dickie left red faced after losing very costly bet

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen proves once again that he is a hero in Ireland

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Irish players brilliantly take the p*** out of Sexton on plane intercom

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Brilliant video of Andy Farrell readying the Irish troops for battle

View All

Amateur

  • 47 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 47 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 70 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 71 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Transfer News: George North to take considerable talents to France

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Tom Foley takes break from officiating international matches following death threats

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    James Haskell shares thoughts on 'best mate' Owen Farrell

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    The key change Steve Borthwick has made to England squad selection

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Siya Kolisi opens up about stabbing incident in powerful interview with Dan Biggar

View All