Top 14: Toulon turn to Jake White;
Toulouse prepare for top-two clash
26 November 2008
In the latest twist to the ongoing Toulon
saga the club’s millionaire president Mourad Boudjellal has
hired former Springbok coach Jake White as a temporary
‘consultant’.
The arrival of White, scheduled for December
3rd, follows hot on the heals of the failed
recruitment of Australian John Connolly.
Boudjellal turned to Connolly as the team
struggled for cohesion, and wins, but the two-day experiment
was kicked into touch when players and current coach Tana
Umaga objected to his arrival.
A player walkout was only averted when
Connolly’s consultancy was abruptly terminated, with results
taking a distinct upturn on the pitch following the unseemly
episode.
Aubin Hueber was brought in as a full-time
assistant coach, after Jean-Jacques Crenca was dismissed,
and Toulon’s recent performances have given grounds for
optimism with a narrow away defeat at Toulouse followed by
victory at the weekend at home to Biarritz.
But now Boudjellal is paving the way for
further disruption by bringing in another high-profile coach
– White - albeit in a restricted two-week ‘consultancy’
role.
The 45-year-old South African won the 2007
World Cup with the Springboks but is currently working in an
advisory role at Saracens – in the Guinness Premiership – in
tandem with coach Eddie Jones.
A Toulon statement confirmed: “During the two
weeks, he will work with Tana Umaga and Aubin Hueber, a
mission which could be renewed if the Toulon staff want to.”
The continuing air of uncertainty could not
be more removed from defending champions Toulouse,
where head coach Guy Noves has become a virtual institution
as he has guided the club to national and European
domination.
Noves, who is the longest serving coach in
the professional era, is busy preparing the Top 14 leaders
for their Friday night showdown with Bayonne, the surprise
high-fliers currently lying second.
Les Avirons have surpassed
expectations with their present win record (nine out of 11
so far), but Noves said it was hardly surprising given the
quality of their squad and coaches (Jean-Philippe Coyola and
Thierry Mentieres).
Their off-season recruitment of Rodney Blake,
Remy Martin, Pepito Elhorga and Craig Gower has proved
inspired and they will arrive in Toulouse fresh from pasting
Montpellier 42-9 at the weekend – a match which saw them run
in five tries to secure their first attacking bonus point.
Noves knows it will be a tough evening,
especially with his phalanx of internationals likely to be
jaded after their recent efforts.
“Before we work, we’re going to have a good
look at the returning international players’ mental and
physical state,” he said.
“We’ll be lucky to get them all healthy for
even two sessions. It’s going to be a headcase of a week,”
he admitted.
The leaders will definitely be without the
services of Finau Maka and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde – both
injured on international duty - while Cedric Heymans and
William Servat are also doubtful.
And Noves said most of his other players were
also carrying niggles. “Everyone’s tired. Not a single
Toulouse player has rested these recent weekends. Most
people have the impression we have a huge squad, but that’s
a little useless if they’re all knackered,” he lamented.
At least he had a ray of sunshine in an
otherwise wintry start to the week when Shaun Sowerby, the
club’s South African number eight, signed a two-year
contract extension, taking him up to the end of the 2010/11
season.
Elsewhere, Stade Francais have their
own injury concerns and will be without first-choice
fly-halves Lionel Beauxis and Juan Martin Hernandez for
Saturday’s Top 14 clash with Biarritz. Both are sidelined
with groin injuries, meaning centre Guillaume Bousses will
continue his temporary role at No 10, from where he helped
guide Stade to victory over Castres last weekend.
Castres,
meanwhile, will have to make do without their inspirational
captain Lionel Nallet, who sustained a rub injury while
leading France against Australia.
Nallet is likely to be out for three weeks,
meaning he will miss the Top 14 match with Bourgoin as well
the home and away Heineken Cup clashes with Leinster.
Meanwhile, in ProD2 the directors of FC Auch-Gers
have asked players to take a 17% pay cut to prevent a
budgetary deficit at the end of the season.
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