Why Palisson wants to change
French international threequarter Alexis Palisson is to leave Toulon apparently, because he has, apparently, become frustrated with his lack of game time which begs the question: How French are French sides?
There are seven French teams in the Heineken Cup this weekend. How French are they?
Toulon have played in 16 Top 14 matches, of which Palisson has started in four. They have played in six Heineken Cup matches, Palisson in two. Toulon prefer foreigners – Delon Armitage, Drew Mitchell Rudi Wulf and David Smith. Even with Bryan Habana injured he did not start this weekend. Toulon's starting team is certainly the least French – just two out of 15. That is the most foreign of French sides. But if you were a selector what options do you have to pick a team to represent France from starting teams.
We have divided thestarting players in the weekend's Heinken Cup (105 in all) into French and Foreign. Amongst the French are players eligible to play for France even though born elsewhere, not only Thierry Dusautoir and Yannick Nyanga who were born in Africa but raised in France but also those born and raised elsewhere, e.g. Bernard le Roux of Moorreesburg, Jocelyn Suta of Wallis & Fortuna and Sofiane Guitone of Algeria.
When you add up the scores the French win 56-49. With the threat of an increasing influx of foreigners next year, the difference could change.
The number suggest that the best position for avoiding foreign competition is scrumhalf, though there are also people like Rory Kockott and Jano Vermaak around. Centre is also a good option.
Let's look at positions
Fullbacks: Brice Dulin, Maxime Médard, Delon Armitage, Anthony Floch, Joffrey Michel, Lee Byrne, Benjamin Fall
French: Brice Dulin, Maxime Médard, Anthony Floch, Joffrey Michel, Benjamin Fall (5)
Foreign: Delon Armitage, Lee Byrne (2)
Wings: Marcel Garvey, Rémi Grosso, Vincent Clerc, Yoann Huguet, Drew Mitchell, David Smith, Rene Ranger, Lucas Dupont,
Tommaso Benvenuti, Watisoni Votu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Napolioni Nalaga, Juan Imhoff, Marc Andreu
French: Rémi Grosso, Vincent Clerc, Yoann Huguet, Lucas Dupont, Marc Andreu (5)
Foreign: Marcel Garvey, Drew Mitchell, David Smith, Rene Ranger, Tommaso Benvenuti, Watisoni Votu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Napolioni Nalaga, Juan Imhoff (9)
Centres: Romain Cabannes, Rémi Lamerat, Yann David, Gael Fickou, Mathieu Bastareaud, Matt Giteau, Anthony Tuitavke, Thomas Combezou, David Marty, Sione Piukala, Aurélien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Fabrice Estebanez, Jamie Roberts
French: Romain Cabannes, Rémi Lamerat, Yann David, Gael Fickou, Mathieu Bastareaud, Thomas Combezou, David Marty, Aurélien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Fabrice Estebanez (10)
Foreign: Matt Giteau, Anthony Tuitavke, Sione Piukala, Jamie Roberts (4)
Flyhalves: Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jean-Marc Doussain, Jonny Wilkinson, Sofiane Guitoune, François Trinh-Duc, Mike Delany, Juan Martín Hernández
French: Jean-Marc Doussain, Sofiane Guitoune, François Trinh-Duc (3)
Foreign: Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Delany, Juan Martín Hernández (4)
Scrumhalves: Julien Tomas, Sébastien Bézy, Sébastien Tillous-Borde, Eric Escande, Tom Ecochard, Ludovic Radoslavjevic, Maxime Machenaud
French: Julien Tomas, Sébastien Bézy, Sébastien Tillous-Borde, Eric Escande, Tom Ecochard, Ludovic Radoslavjevic, Maxime Machenaud (7)
Foreign:(0)
Loose forwards: Piula Fa'asalele, Jannie Bornman, Mathieu Babillot, Louis Picamoles, Thierry Dusautoir, Yannick Nyanga, Steffon Armitage, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Johnnie Beattie, Mamuka Gorgodze, Alexandre Bias, Karl Chateau Luke Narraway, Justin Purll, Fritz Lee, Alexandre Lapandry, Gerhard Vosloo, Jone Qovu Nailiko, Camille Gerondeau, Bernard Le Roux
French: Mathieu Babillot, Louis Picamoles, Thierry Dusautoir, Yannick Nyanga, Alexandre Bias, Karl Chateau, Alexandre Lapandry, Camille Gerondeau, Bernard Le Roux (9)
Foreign :Piula Fa'asalele, Jannie Bornman, Steffon Armitage, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Luke Narraway, , Johnnie Beattie, Mamuka Gorgodze, Justin Purll, Fritz Lee, Gerhard Vosloo, Jone Qovu Nailiko (12)
Locks: Richie Gray, Christophe Samson, Joe Tekori, Yoann Maestri, Jocelino Suta, Bakkies Botha, Mickael Demarco, Jim Hamilton, Romain Taofifenua, Dan Leo, Nathan Hines, Jamie Cudmore, Karim Ghezal, Francois van der Merwe
French: Christophe Samson, Mickael Demarco, Yoann Maestri, Jocelino Suta, Romain Taofifenua, Karim Ghezal (6)
Foreign: Richie Gray, Joe Tekori, Bakkies Botha, Jim Hamilton, Dan Leo, Nathan Hines, Jamie Cudmore, Francois van der Merwe (8)
Props: Anton Peikrishvili, Yannick Forrestier, Census Johnston, Schalk Ferreira, Carl Hayman, Andrew Sheridan, Nicolas Mas, Mikheil Nariashvili, Paulica Ion, Sébastien Taofifenua, Clément Ric, Thomas Domingo, Brian Mujati, Julien Brugnaut.
French: Yannick Forrestier, Nicolas Mas, Sébastien Taofifenua, Clément Ric, Thomas Domingo, Julien Brugnaut. (6)
Foreign: Anton Peikrishvili, Census Johnston, Schalk Ferreira, Carl Hayman, Andrew Sheridan, Mikheil Nariashvili, Paulica Ion, Brian Mujati (8)
Hookers: Marc-Antoine Rallier, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Craig Burden, Thomas Bianchin, Romain Terrain, Benjamin Kayser, Dimitri Szarzewski
French: Marc-Antoine Rallier, Thomas Bianchin, Romain Terrain, Benjamin Kayser, Dimitri Szarzewski (5)
Foreign: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Craig Burden (2)
