Toulon paying price for poor forward recruitment, says Andy Goode
Wednesday 25 November 2015 17:06, UK
Andy Goode says Toulon's lack of quality in the front five could be exposed when they visit Clermont Auvergne on Saturday night.
Ali Williams, Bakkies Botha and Carl Hayman hung up their boots last season while Martin Castrogiovanni was allowed to join Racing 92, and Goode believes Toulon's failure to replace them has proved costly.
The three-time European champions have lost their last three away fixtures and were thumped 32-6 at Wasps on Sunday, and Goode told the Sky Sports European Rugby Podcast that he expects their woes on the road to continue when they visit the Stade Marcel-Michelin, live on Sky Sports.
"Toulon's tight five were really poor against Wasps and a lot of that was to do with Wasps' ability to put pressure on them," said Goode.
"Toulon have got a brilliant backline that is littered with stars like Quade Cooper, Ma'a Nonu and Bryan Habana, but for me they're missing Matt Giteau and their tight five isn't as strong as it was last year.
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"It's very hard to replace such legends in the game who have retired. Clermont are always strong at their home ground and with the form Nick Abendanon and David Strettle are in, I'm pretty sure Clermont will come away with the win."
Asked if Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal and head coach Bernard Laporte had been guilty of focusing too much on the backline, Goode replied: I think they have a bit.
"You look at the front row situation. They let Martin Castrogiovanni leave on top of Hayman retiring. Craig Burden is gone and Guilhem Guirado is injured so they're really under pressure there and I don't think they've recruited particularly well in the front five.
"We all know forwards win you games and backs decide by how much. Unfortunately for Toulon at the minute, if you can't get quality ball from that forward pack you can have the best backline in the world and they won't cause as much trouble as they should.
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"Then you throw the absence of Giteau into the pot. He is their lynchpin, Boudjellal has compared him to Lionel Messi. That's the situation they're in at the minute. They've got some class players in the backline but not enough quality in the front five to win them good enough ball."
'Racing the standout team'
The other eye-catching fixture in this weekend's Top 14 sees third-placed Racing 92 host second-placed Toulouse.
Dan Carter will be unveiled by the home side before kick-off and Goode says the Paris club are contenders for domestic and European honours this season.
"They've learnt from experience," said Goode, who had a spell in the Top 14 with Brive. "Losing in the last kick of the game to Saracens in last season's Champions Cup quarter-final would have hurt them and refocused their minds. They've made some quality signings as well, none more so than Carter.
"The experience of losing tough games and being a side that has been thrown together with a load of money does not buy you overnight success. It takes a couple of years.
"I think Racing are really coming into their own at the minute. The pressure will be on them to produce because owners with deep pockets want fast results. I think they're going to be a standout team this year."
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