Latest news with #LeoBarre
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
France player ratings: How they rated in second test defeat to the All Blacks
How the French rated in their 43-17 defeat to the All Blacks in Wellington. 15. Leo Barre - 8 Another strong outing from a French fullback. Was dangerous with ball in hand and was hard to put down, beating seven defenders. Managed to score a try as he finally got
Eyewitness News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
France make 10 changes to starting side for second All Blacks Test
WELLINGTON - France coach Fabien Galthie announced a major reshuffle Thursday for the second Test against New Zealand, with 10 changes to his starting side after the 31-27 defeat in Dunedin. Ten-cap hooker Gaetan Barlot was retained in the side and was named captain, with experienced centre Gael Fickou left out of the matchday 23. Four of the five who played in the Top 14 final on 29 June are starting along with Leo Barre, who arrived late in New Zealand due to a thigh injury. Barlot, 28, will lead an inexperienced team with an average of only four caps each among the starters. The most experienced French players such as prop Rabah Slimani (58 caps) and wing Gabin Villiere (19) were left out of the 23 altogether, while Cameron Woki (31) and Romain Taofifenua (55) will again start on the bench. "It's a rotation for stimulation, competition," Galthie told reporters. "We brought the players to the end of the world. They have to play. We absolutely wanted to play them as quickly as possible." New Zealand coach Scott Robertson made just three changes to his starting side, two of which were injury-enforced. Captain Scott Barrett was ruled out with a torn calf, and wing Sevu Reece was concussed. Patrick Tuipulotu and Caleb Clarke, respectively, replace them with Rieko Ioane switching to the right wing, while wing Timoci Tavatavanawai will debut off the bench. France (15-1): Leo Barre; Theo Attissogbe, Nicolas Depoortere, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Emilien Gailleton; Joris Segonds, Nolann Le Garrec; Esteban Abadie, Jacobus Van Tonder, Pierre Bochaton; Matthias Halagahu, Joshua Brennan; Georges-Henri Colombe, Gaetan Barlot, Baptiste Erdocio. Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Paul Mallez, Regis Montagne, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, Thibault Daubagna, Antoine Hastoy.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barre hopes to take France form to Stade Francais' Top 14 'operation survival'
France full-back Leo Barre said he wants to transfer his impressive Six Nations form to Stade Francais as the Parisian club, who host La Rochelle on Saturday, fight for their French Top 14 survival. Barre, who grew up near the Palace of Versailles, scored twice as Les Bleus hammered Italy to keep their Championship title hopes alive last Sunday. The 22-year-old returns this weekend to the 14-time French champions, and their famous pink jerseys, bottom of the table with just nine games to go. "Things went well with France. We had quite a lot of positives," Barre told reporters on Thursday as he spent the week training with his club side. "I was very eager to join up with the team on Monday, to put my hand up to play the La Rochelle game. "To be with your mates again, and to see things are difficult makes you want to give everything on Saturday," he added. Barre's club have won just twice in the league since the start of December, a stark contrast to last season when they reached the play-off semi-final after leading the standings. The Parisians lost at second-placed Toulon last weekend, which led to director of rugby Laurent Labit offering his resignation before deciding to take a step back from on the field matters. Stade Francais are joined in the relegation scrap by promoted Vannes, four-time champions Perpignan and local rivals Racing 92. The four teams are separated by just as many points. "Toulouse, Bordeaux-Begles and Toulon, they're above the rest of the league this season," Barre said. "For us, for survival, it's super tight. "There's no easy match this year," he added. Barre's presence is a boost after the rangy runner was released by France coach Fabien Galthie to his club, before Les Bleus head to Ireland in a Six Nations title showdown on March 8. "I don't like to think about what's to come afterwards," Barre said. "For now, it's La Rochelle, it's operation survival. "We'll see what happens Saturday night after the match, if they call me up or not," he added. - 'Panini sticker players' - Elsewhere, in-form Toulon head to Lyon, days after they announced the return of ex-All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu. The 42-year-old is set for his third debut with the three-time Champions Cup winners later in March after signing as injury cover. "We took a whole week to put a plan in place to make sure we weren't just paying for something symbolic," Toulon head coach Pierre Mignoni told reports on Tuesday. "Our club no longer needs Panini sticker players. "He's a competitor. "Even if he can just play 20 minutes, he'll give everything for 20 minutes," Mignoni added. Top-of-the-table Toulouse host Vannes without their 10 France players, who were among 19 squad members Galthie chose to rest rather than release. The absentees include superstar scrum-half Antoine Dupont. Bayonne can close the gap to third-placed Bordeaux-Begles as they welcome Clermont but will be without Australia full-back Reece Hodge, ruled out for the season, and ex-France fly-half Camille Lopez who will be sidelined for a month. Fixtures (times GMT) Saturday Stade Francais v La Rochelle (1330), Lyon v Toulon, Montpellier v Castres, Racing 92 v Pau, Toulouse v Vannes (1530), Perpignan v Bordeaux-Begles (2005) Sunday Bayonne v Clermont (2005) iwd/pb
Associated Press
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
France crushes Italy and sends warning to Ireland for their Six Nations showdown
ROME (AP) — France will face unbeaten Six Nations leader Ireland in a buoyant mood after thrashing Italy by a record-high 73-24 at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. France blew away its previous highest score against Italy of 60 in 1967 and 2023, and racked up its highest score in Six Nations rugby. The French gave an all-business performance that netted 11 tries — the bonus-point fourth try came after 30 minutes. Looking to rebound from the fumbling loss to England, France looked like the pre-tournament title favorite again which will pump up the hype around the round-four showdown in Dublin which will likely decide the fate of the Six Nations title, as their matchups in the previous three years have done. France bombed at least half a dozen tries at a wet Twickenham two weeks ago, but the handling in Rome was silky and certain in ideal conditions with only 15 drops among 242 passes and a remarkable 28 offloads. 'When we had to score the tries (against England) we made mistakes,' France captain Antoine Dupont said. 'Today, it was better. 'It will be a huge game in Dublin. We have two weeks to prepare for that but it will be tough for sure.' The result in Rome was somewhat surprising considering Italy's improvement and their 13-13 draw in Lille last year, but France made its intentions known in the first minute when a penalty from the first breakdown was kicked for a corner lineout. Fullback Leo Barre was held out, but he and France were not denied for long. ___
