Episodes
It's heartbreak in the Isere as Grenoble are pipped in the Access Match, whilst Montpellier live to fight another day. The Barrages are done, with La Rochelle saving their best 'til last to tee up a Friday night feast under the lights against Toulouse, whilst UBB cruise past an increasingly ramshackle Racing 92. Rob dips into his spreadsheet to discuss the fresh faces in Fabien's preliminary squad for Argentina and Uruguay, and there's joy in Geneva and transfers aplenty in the...
Published 06/19/24
It's all about them up-north this week, as Vannes make history securing their first promotion to the Top14, sparking wild scenes in the changing rooms of Toulouse and the ports of Brittany. The Top 6 are confirmed as we look ahead to the Barrage, and can Grenoble spring an upset and overturn the Montpellier Madness in the access match?   00:00 - 01:50 Intro 01:50 - 17:35 Pro D2 Final Review 17:35 - 27:24 Top 14 Access Match Preview 27:24 - 53:55 Top 14 Final Round Review 53:55 - 59:58 Top 14...
Published 06/11/24
The Top14 is back and we review an absolute cracker between La Rochelle and a half-cut Toulouse at le Stadium on a Super Sunday where Toulon hammered home their title credentials. The ProD2 Final is upon us after two breathless semi-finals and it's heartbreak for Narbonne in a historic first Nationale Access Match as Jerome Bosviel's redemption arc comes full circle. Plus there's tips on how not to write a best man's speech, and how to shoehorn in a bit of rugby into your wedding, if that's...
Published 06/04/24
The Rosbifs dissect an astonishing Champions Cup final: Rich finds out whether Rob found it all a bit underwhelming, Toulouse add their 6th star, sparking city-wide celebrations for the ages. Meanwhile, Grenoble march on and Beziers confirm their place in the Pro D2 semi finals. There’s a first ever Pro D2/Nationale access match to chow down on, the Top 14 returns, and the Olympic torch pops up in Pau. 00:00 - 03:14 Entrées 03:14 - 34:41 Champions Cup Final Review 34:41 - 52:42 Pro D2:...
Published 05/28/24
The Rosbifs are back to review a pivotal round of Top14 action as the table begins to take shape. We preview what could be one of the all time Champions Cup Finals between Toulouse and Leinster and discuss the travails of following arguably the most dramatic round of PROD2 action ever via dodgy streams, whether you're a fan or a coach. Nice hit the ProD2 big time for the first time, but will any of this week's barrage hopefuls need to add them to their travel plans, or can they go one...
Published 05/22/24
Rob is back from his latest trip to Beziers, Perpignan and Prades with tales of scorching scenery, scintillating rugby and straight-up sunburn. We discuss all the latest updates from the Top14 as the usual suspects soar and others falter. There's a full preview of the last full round of ProD2 fixtures after another incredible week at both ends of the table, Narbonne and Nice eye up an Alpine showdown to join the promised land, plus get the inside line on the 1200 year old beef between Wilfred...
Published 05/15/24
The Rosbifs are joined by Agen lock Zak Farrance to discuss all things ProD2, from intensive eating at Oyonnax, to getting red carded by an away crowd and the pressures of Phillippe Sella peering over your shoulder. We review a Champions Cup classic between Toulouse and Harlequins and the epic events in Nationale, and there's some trophy diving served up for good measure. 00:00 - 06:10 Entrées 06:10 - 26:02 Champions Cup Semi Finals 26:02 - 29:45 Challenge Cup Semi Finals 29:45 - 1:02:42...
Published 05/08/24
It's Champions Cup Semi-Final week, and with the feeding and watering needs of the travelling Harlequins faithful in mind, the Rosbifs run through their recommendations for a belting weekend in Toulouse, including a couple of potential detours to the Nationale Barrage games. After Clermont prove they can still mix it with the best in the league and Perpignan settle diplomatic squabbles on the pitch in Montpellier, we run through all of the Top14 action and ProD2 highlights including a famous...
Published 05/01/24
Inspired by efforts of those partaking in the London Marathon the previous day, Rob embarks on a similarly torturous journey through the winding backstreets of the French JIFF rules, and the knock-on effect on the sharp end of the Top14 season. We recap all the weekend's action including an agonising defeat for Bayonne in France's premier division, and the end is in sight for ProD2 with just about every outcome still a possibility. Nationale approaches it's last round of the regular season,...
Published 04/23/24
Returning from Costa Rican exile and the Stade Chaban Delmas respectively, the Rosbifs are back to ask, Quins, what have you done?! Our man on the ground by the Garonne reports on a startling reverse for UBB at the hands of sunburnt south-west Londoners as La Rochelle's hopes of a hat-trick of titles fade to Leinster. Stade Toulousain look inspired despite Exeter borrowing Pierre Mignoni's clipboard, and the Challenge Cup is barely discussed whilst we probe instead how Homer Simpson would...
Published 04/16/24
We discuss a pulsating weekend of Champions Cup action and preview the best weekend in the rugby calendar: the Quarter Finals of the Champions Cup. Will any of the sides manage to pick up an away win? We also dissect the latest from Pro D2 and hear about what the hell is going on at the top of Nationale. In this week’s extraordinary Petit-Fours, we hear the unique way one coach will be preparing before his side’s quarter-final this weekend and discover how the film Platoon was recreated in...
Published 04/11/24
Separate episode looking forward to one of the great weekends in the rugby calendar: the last 16 of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. We run through our predictions for the games, give recommendations of the long weekends you could have, and play a Challenge Cup edition of ‘Will the French team bother to turn up?’ 01:35 Harlequins v Glasgow 5:13 Bulls v Lyon 7:48 Stormers v La Rochelle 12:14 Exeter v Bath 13:37 Bordeaux v Saracens 18:13 Leinster v Leicester 19:12 Northampton v...
Published 04/05/24
After falling for our April Fools, we have a recipient of the ‘Poisson d’Avril’ filling in for Rich this week after and we talk Mullet Quotas being introduced to Pro D2, hear from our Costa Rican Correspondent, debate whether smoking bans lead to successful French rugby teams and investigate a mystery disappearance during a sin bin period.   10:22 Entrées - April Fools and other news 18:47 Top 14 Games review 18:50 Toulouse v Pau 26:06 Montpellier v Stade Francais 33:04 Bayonne v Toulon 46:43...
Published 04/05/24
The Rosbifs dissect a bonkers round of TOP14 action including a game for the ages between Bordeaux Begles and Stade Toulousain at the Matmut Atlantique. Is Antoine Dupont human, and is Maxime 'the Man' Lucu even better? Plus we look ahead to the ProD2 run in, with Rugby's sexiest and most unpredictable league sure to serve up a feast of chaos in the remaining 6 rounds. Also find out why Rich is Castres and Castres is Rich, and Robins Tchale-Watchou and Perpignan's kitman get a shout out.
Published 03/28/24
Welcome to Rosbifs Rugby! Join Rob and Rich for the inaugural Rosbifs Rugby Podcast. We'll be reviewing the end of France's Six Nations campaign and dissecting the state of play in the TOP14, as well as revealing which 1998 football World Cup winner has been inspiring Brive ahead of their ProD2 run-in. Plus find out our recommendations for a night to remember in Bordeaux, and what is the secret ingredient in a 'Sauce Paloise'...
Published 03/22/24