Deans' Wallabies are world beaters. Well, nearly!

He has always had conditioning issues, like turning up to pre-season training weighing 130kg. Perhaps, but I get the feeling that he isn't that bothered about being a pro-athlete. He is a very hit and miss scrummager which implies the potential is there but not the mentality. The French are massively lax trainers so it would be far more beneficial for him were he to play in the Guinness Premiership rather than the Top 14.

"He slips on weight far too easily" - so would I if I was in France. He's young though, maybe if he turns into a good scrummager and comes back to the Reds in 2010 Mooney, and Deans, can sort out his fitness.

He's a good player, a good scrummager.

Yeah, they're brothers. Tevita played for Bay of Plenty, North Harbour and the Blues. I think he had a stint at the Chiefs too.

I thought Saimone was the brother of Tevita, the Worcester and Tonga tighthead. Sluggy, not sure about his scrummaging. His general fitness is the biggest problem. He slips on weight far too easily which suggests he isn't too keen on personal conditioning.

mudskipper, A google search suggests they're related in some way or another, but it seems pretty distant.

ohtani's jacket... Is Saimone Taumoepeau related to winger Afusipa Taumoepeau who joined the Brumbies on an Academy contract for the 2008 season? Taumoepeau, a member of 2007 Australian Schoolboys that defeated New Zealand, has already represented the CA Brumbies on two occasions, having made his Super 14 debut against the Reds in Week Three. Some of this is of the Brumbies web site… He has also been playing 7’s for Australia recently. I think he has a brother who is also with the Brumbies academy... they're currently playing Shute Shield in Sydney, Easts I think, for the end of year season... just interested to know being a Brumbies fan...talented boys hope to see more of them next year...

Thanks OJ - hardly world class from that CV but in those years I didnt have Fox so makes sense I didnt know him.

"Rodney Blake signed for Bayonne, who finished 8th in the Top 14." Has his scrummaging improved? I'm thinking ahead to 2011 here.

Justin, Saimone Taumoepeau is a prop-hooker who played for Auckland and the Blues. He was back-up for Tony Woodcock in the Blues squad, but formed a highly successful front row with John Afoa in the NPC/Air NZ Cup. He went on the All Blacks end of year tour in 2004 and 2005 and played for the Junior All Blacks in 2005 and 2006.

Saimone Taumoepeau is a name that has been thrown about as a loss for the ABs but for the life of me I couldnt tell you which S14 side he plays or that he ever played for NZ. Does he have another name he goes under? And yeah I watch most games...its got me stumped!

Peter, I accept what you're saying. Bob, I apologise. I don't agree with you but I shouldn't have been rude either. I'm too quick to frustration on occasions. Let's call this a moment of clarity.

There is some money unevenly distributed, some clubs have 'sugar daddies' - Racing Metro and Toulon, whilst others are more communal. For example in the Top 14 Albi were relegated on the basis of their finances. There is no salary cap and there are tax benefits so compared to the rest of the playing world money in French rugby is huge. Peter Fitzsimmons noted that an average Top 14 player will earn roughly 30'000 euros a month. Rodney Blake signed for Bayonne, who finished 8th in the Top 14. Toulon seemingly signed some players on the basis of their reputation, ie. Saimone Taumoepeau because he was an All Black. Lots of French teams used to fall into the trap of thinking ever SH player was better than a NH player thus there were lots of journeymen earning a good living however they do take their props v.seriously. Toulon have some amazing players, as do Racing Metro so you're right, a higher division doesn't always equate to a player logically being better on that basis, but it is a general rule of thumb.

Benjamin - I know that Bob did target you, and you have had similar reactions from others. That is why I requested you to be bigger than that. Do not respond in kind, it just makes it childish name calling back and forth. I appealed to you hoping you could be above it. You do play the man when you say he is churlish and pompous. That is directed at the man not his argument ie the ball. Look some of your postings are very intelligent, and have great insight. They also put the other perspective. I love it when inconvenient truths are pointed out and they get upset because their opinionated , narrow mined ie the only rugby is in SH, bubbles are burst. But I love it when it is left to the rugby and not the person. Sure there are other idots here, but do you want to lower yourself to that level, when they in many cases know little about rugby, and frankly are a waste of time responding to. In most cases their blogs aren't worth reading. The question I have do you want to roll in the mud with them or not.

Benjamin - Serious question. Is there as much money in Div2 French Rugby as Div1? Also which DIV is Rodney Blake playing in? As we have seen Toulon have paid shitloads of money over the past few years in Div2 so it potentially doesnt equate to players being better just because they are in a higher division. Not always but it sounds like there are a number of exceptions.

Peter, read Bob's previous 'lectures' to me. Twice I told him that I didn't appreciate his tone, which is rude and glib, and which continues and he also implies on various occasions that I'm an idiot which I don't appreciate, especially given that his inference started whilst I was debating with somebody else. It really isn't on. Im not going to complain about him because that's equally childish. It just isn't on. No, I don't enjoy winding people up either, but If I did it would hardly be out of place on the Roar, which is full of OTT stereotyping. So please, I don't flame people, nor do I 'play the man and not the ball.'

Benjamin - please stop flaming people , all it does is exacerbate the problem. If they start it then be the bigger person and not stoop down to their level. You seem to enjoy winding people up or at least having 'lively' discussions but too often with a few people they degenerate to playing the man and not the ball. This is not what this forum is for. If thats want you want them please go to another forum where they enjoy the personal attacks back and forwards.

James, if Tournaire and Lo Cicero can only gain employment in the French second division how on earth do you imagine that Baxter could easily get a contract?

Bob, I imagine that's because the referee was allowing both the scrum to collapse and for play to continue. And no the truth doesn't hurt but I don't think you know what you're talking about so I don't think you deserve the attention. Furthermore you lecture about things you clearly do not understand and also about things that are irrelevant. Your tone is churlish and your attitude pompous. Stillmissit, Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton, Matt Williams, Eddie O'Sullivan, Carwyn James, Ian McGeechan and Frank Hadden were all teachers - so very much a mixed bag.

Stillmissit Robbie Deans has never been a school teacher. Graham Henry was and once had Russell Crowe in his form class at Auckland Grammar.