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This week, Pro D2 returns after a three-week winter break for the second half of the season. Conveniently, in the marathon that is the 30-game Pro D2 regular league season, the longest break of the season comes at the exact half way mark.
Encouraged by and guided by the official Pro D2 website’s fan vote over the festive period, we banged our heads together and composed our own Pro D2 Team of the Mid Season.
Whether you are new to Pro D2 and want to know what’s going on this season or you have been a die-hard follower for years, let us know what you think!
Forwards
Full disclosure here: from our overseas vantage point, it can be very hard to gauge the performances of tight-five forwards, given that outside of France, access is generally limited solely to highlights (apart from, of course, FRUK Rugby on YouTube who stream one Pro D2 game each week). Alas, very few of the men at the coalface of Pro D2 grab the headlines unless they are prolific try scorers, somehow manage to go viral or they are a former international and have therefore already built up their reputation.
As part of the fan vote on the Pro D2 website, each position had a shortlist of five players, and it would seem the official website’s shortlist is also determined on the basis of whether they are a big name or they have scored loads of tries. We did use these shortlists as a guide, but also took them with a pinch of salt - if you’ve ever seen the official Top 14 website equivalents of these, you will know why…
Loosehead Prop - Sébastien Taofifénua
Near misses: Luka Goginava (Mont de Marsan), Nathan Fraissenon (Brive)
We may not be able to watch every minute of every game, but one thing is abundantly clear: Provence’s already mighty pack has been made even stronger by the arrival of former France international Sébastien Taofifénua. As you’d expect, he has been tearing up scrums and has been crashing around in the loose. Luka Goginava has charged around even more than ‘Seb Tao’ in the first half of the season, hitting 2nd place in the carrying charts for the league and playing more minutes than any other front rower in Pro D2. He has, however, also conceded more penalties than anyone else.
Alongside Provence, Brive are the other side that have a genuinely fearsome scrum. They have rotated their three quality loosehead options a fair amount, but Nathan Friassenon is another man that has impressed us - he clearly has an appetite for scrummaging.
Hooker - Dorian Marco Peña
Near misses: Dave Cherry (Vannes), Santi Socino (Agen), Clément Martinez (Biarritz), Efi Ma’afu (Nevers), Iban Hiriart-Urruty (Dax)
It is now commonplace for hookers to top try-scoring charts, but Dorian Marco Peña has not only been prolific, sitting joint 3rd in the league with eight tries, but has been part of a fantastically well-oiled Valence Romans forward unit upon which they’ve been able to base their expansive gameplan and garner penalties for Lucas Meret. The Valence Romans pack has been critical in lifting them to 3rd in the league, and that’s what gets him the nod over the other try-scoring hookers such as Clément Martinez (8 tries), Iban Hiriart-Urruty (7 tries, a couple of them match-winning), and Efi Ma’afu (6 tries). Ma’afu may have been a hat trick hero in Round 1, but he also got sent off for punching in Round 14.
Less prolific on the scoresheet, but incredibly active around the park, Santi Socino has been excellent for Agen this season. Often captaining the side, he was outstanding in the game we witnessed live against Béziers. Scotland international Dave Cherry has slotted in seamlessly into that dominant Vannes pack - his lineout work has been typically excellent.
Perry Mayo
Samuel Marques
Setareki Bituniyata
Dorian Marco-Pena
Clement MartinezTighthead Prop - Marcel van der Merwe
Near misses: Malachi Hawkes (Provence), Santiago Medrano (Vannes), Christian Judge (Béziers), Alex Burin & Lasha Macharashvili (Agen)
Like with the other side of the front row, our focus here is on the players who are the key cogs in the scrums that have been munching up opposition. Marcel van der Merwe, the seven-times capped Springbok, remains the most feared tighthead in the league and the Brive scrum regularly puts the opposition on roller skates. He remains the key man upon which the Brive gameplan is based, and he started all nine of his appearances so far, before picking up an injury in Round 13.
Again, Provence and Vannes, as the two other genuinely dominant packs provide some contenders. Argentinian international Santiago Medrano is an unsurprising inclusion in our shortlist, while 23 year-old Australian Malachi Hawkes has flourished during his spell on loan from Toulouse, using his increased game time to display the flair he has in his running game alongside the scrum dominance that has cemented him as first choice at Provence.
Englishman Chris Judge’s scrummaging has been one of the positives at Béziers this season, while Agen are blessed with tightheads. Alex Burin has shown why he was a shock call up to France’s 6 Nations training squad two years ago with his powerful scrummaging, while teammate Lasha Macharashvili combines similar heft at the set piece with bundles of work round the park, making him an excellent option from the bench.
Second Row - Andrès Zafra (Provence) & Fabrice Metz (Vannes)
Near misses: Ryan McCauley (Valence Romans), Charlie Matthews (Dax), Cam Dodson (Béziers), Thomas Adelaïde (Colomiers), Izack Rodda (Provence), John Madigan (Agen)
Plenty of choice here, but since this is Pro D2 we’ve gone for two guys who love the rough stuff. Provence captain, the Colombian Andrès Zafra, brings plenty of aggression, smashing rucks and making big hits, as well as being a great lineout option. He edges out Charlie Matthews and Cam Dodson. Their clubs might not have had much to shout about this season, but the lineout and maul work of these two Englishmen have been consistently positive. Similarly, Australian Ryan McCauley has been a giant for Valence Romans’ excellent forward play.
On the other side, we’ve gone for the grizzled veteran from Vannes, Fabrice Metz. He is an omnipresent figure right in the heart of those rumbling mauls from the Bretons. John Madigan plays a similar role for Agen but his discipline can let him down, and his red card and one yellow card count against him here. Thomas Adelaïde is a different type of lock, able to mix the nuts and bolts required of a Pro D2 second row, with the ability to play a key role in Colomiers’ expansive attacking game.
Flankers - Luka Plataret & Tomasi Fineanganofo
Near misses: Julien Lebian (Agen), Juan Bautista Pedemonte (Vannes), Louis Suaud (Valence Romans), Waël Ponpon (Mont de Marsan), Courtney Lawes (Brive)
Waël Ponpon (1st) and Louis Suaud (2nd) were right up there in the league stats for top tacklers at the halfway stage, but our selection at blindside had to be the man sitting just in behind them. Luka Plataret looked to be an excellent signing for Colomiers when he switched from Nevers over the summer, and so it has proved. His tackling is not only high volume, but incredibly high impact, and he brings similar aggression and physicality with ball in hand too.
One man arguably bringing more dynamism and physical ball carrying than anyone else in the league is Agen’s 22 year-old Tongan, Tomasi Fineanganofo. He has four tries from 10 games at the halfway stage, adding to his excellent work rate round the park. Courtney Lawes has had plenty of gametime in a struggling Brive side, and unsurprisingly leads the way as the league’s turnover king, while Argentinian international Juan Bautista Pedemonte has returned with a vengeance after a long injury lay off for Vannes. But Fineanganofo edges them both out due to sheer X factor.
Number 8 - Joe Edwards (Vannes)
Near misses: Caleb Timu (Colomiers), Otunku Pauta (Béziers), Tornike Jalagonia (Provence)
Any of these players would be worthy of a place in a Team of the Mid Season. Otunku Pauta really loves ball carrying, and it is no surprise to see him topping the metres-made stats. Caleb Timu remains integral to Colomiers’ game plan, and when he’s absent they really do struggle without his relentless ability to get over the gainline. Georgian international Jalagonia has outstanding stats for carries, tackles and offloads and can feel aggrieved should he find himself reading this.
Ultimately, we went for Joe Edwards, despite the Vannes captain’s appearances being cut short by a nasty injury in Round 11. What has struck us about Edwards this season is the sheer impact he has had in Pro D2 this season; his collisions are seismic. This perhaps shows the difference between the Top 14 and Pro D2, as last year Edwards brought plenty of work rate and aggression, but not quite the sort of impact that really shifts the dial. This season though, and perhaps emblematic of this Vannes side, he looks too powerful for any opposition he comes up against. As if to highlight this, he has four tries from ten Pro D2 games; last year he didn’t score in twenty Top 14 appearances.
Backs
Scrum half - Samuel Marquès (Béziers)
Near misses: Michael Ruru (Vannes), Arthur Coville (Provence), Ugo Seguéla (Colomiers), Yann Lesgourges (Biarritz)
As might be expected in France, scrum-half is probably the hardest position to choose. Arthur Coville is a sublime player, a supreme organiser and petit général for Provence, Ugo Seguéla sets the tempo for Colomiers’ fast-paced attack, while Yann Lesgourges - a Champions Cup winner with UBB last season - has brought all of his guile and tenacity on his return to his boyhood club Biarritz.
This is, however, a two-way battle between the 2nd and 3rd highest try scorers in the league, Samuel Marquès and Michael Ruru. Ruru is an excellent scrum half and (sometimes to the frustration of his team mates) loves a snipe for the line. Marquès, however, remains the main man in Pro D2 and is arguably the most influential player in the league - still. Not only does he have nine tries in 14 games, but his goal kicking means he’s also the fourth-highest points scorer in the league. At times, it feels like he is the only player on the pitch for Béziers. He does absolutely everything for them and, although it may sound like hyperbole, he is as important for Les Biterrois as Antoine Dupont is for Toulouse. Without him, who knows where Béziers would be sitting in the league table.
Fly half - Lucas Meret (Valence Romans)
Near misses: Maxime Lafage (Vannes), Craig Willis (Agen), Valentin Delpy (Colomiers), Justin Bouraux (Oyonnax)
The other half-back position is just as hard to call. Last year the game management of Maxime Lafage was such a key part of Vannes staying competitive in the Top 14, so it is hardly surprising that he has been one of the standouts in Pro D2 this season.
Englishman Craig Willis had big shoes to fill as the replacement for Billy Searle (now flying high in the Prem for Leicester Tigers) at Agen, but he’s been fantastic. He’s great fun to watch, and his willingness to attack and play with pace has brought the best out of Agen’s exciting outside backs.
Two French youngsters who have Top 14 experience and will be playing in the Top 14 next season, Valentin Delpy and Justin Bouraux, have also been impressive. Delpy had his brilliant start to the season interrupted by having to return to play for parent club Toulouse during the Autumn Nations Series, but before that he was one of the standout players in the league, while Bouraux has kept Georgian first-choice fly-half Luka Matkava out of the Oyonnax starting jersey and is the second-top points scorer in the league.
However, the gap between him and the highest points scorer in the league was too hard to ignore. Lucas Méret scored nearly 100 points more than anyone else in Pro D2 last season, despite Valence Romans being near the bottom for much of the season. Now that his side are riding high in 3rd place, it is unsurprising that he has stretched clear in the points scoring charts yet again. Not only does he slot them from anywhere, but he’s using that excellent forward platform to orchestrate some thrilling attacking play.
Centres - Ray Nu’u (Colomiers) & Louis Morland (Oyonnax)
Near misses: Kolinio Ramoka (Agen), Louis Marrou (Valence Romans), Mathis Lafon (Soyaux Angoulême), Mathys Belaubre (Nevers)
Ray Nu’u is the standout candidate for our side at inside centre. Kolinio Ramoka has had some blockbuster moments and is a huge physical presence for Agen, while Valence Romans captain Louis Marrou is tough as teak in midfield, but Nu’u is a class above. He just looks too good for this league sometimes, not just in the power with which he gets over the gainline, but the subtle touches in his all round game. The 27 year-old Kiwi is a Top 14 player in waiting.
At outside centre, Mathis Lafon was an option as he can play both 12 and 13. He has played the second most amount of minutes in the league, and is integral to Soyaux Angoulême’s exhilarating attacking game with his ability to fix defences and bring his rapid back three into the game. However, our decision came down to a choice between the two youngsters: 20 year-old Mathys Belaubre and 21 year-old Louis Morland. We went with the Oyoman in his first season in Pro D2 thanks to his outside break and his tryscoring ability, including a hattrick in a thumping win over Valence Romans.
Wings - Ben Stevenson (Vannes) & Lucas Martins (Agen)
Near misses: Enzo Benmegal (Vannes), Setareki Bitinuyiata (Provence), Adrien Lapègue (Provence)
We are well aware that you may be reading this having just witnessed Bitinuyiata tear it up (albeit as an outside centre) for Provence against Grenoble in Round 16, however we picked this time at the exact halfway point.
While the big Fijian has had an excellent season since moving from Toulouse over the summer, on the left wing we went with another man new to Pro D2, former Newcastle man Ben Stevenson. He has scored four tries, including a couple of stunners, but it’s his work in the less glamorous aspects of wing play that get him the nod. His assuredness under the high ball, his timing and accuracy on kick chase, and workrate off his wing are things that are critical to the Vannes gameplan - he is the perfect winger for their pragmatic style of play.
On the other wing, his Vannes teammate Enzo Benmegal has been incredibly threatening throughout, but we went with Agen’s 22 year-old Portugal international Lucas Martins. He has a delightful running game, gliding past defenders with pace to burn, and he scored a brace in each of the big wins at home to last year’s top two, Grenoble and Brive.
Full Back - Perry Mayo (Nevers)
Near misses: Mathis Jean (Agen), Anthony Bouthier (Vannes), Dachi Papunashvili (Aurillac)
Anthony Bouthier found some excellent form the second half of last season in the Top 14 with Montpellier, and unsurprisingly he has oozed class back in Pro D2 with his former club Vannes. Aurillac’s Georgian fullback Dachi Papunashvili started the season on fire, with four tries in the first four games. He’s been tryless since, but he is still 5th in the points scoring charts thanks to some excellent goal kicking. Talented youngster Mathis Jean at Agen has been given an opportunity this season and has flourished in the second playmaker role, dovetailing nicely with Craig Willis.
Nonetheless, Perry Mayo had to make our Team of the Mid-Season - it was just a matter of which position he slots in at. He has played in each position of the back three, but he’s started at full back in six of his 11 games. In those 11 games, he has managed to top the league charts for tries (10), clean breaks (13) and defenders beaten (53, ten more than any other player). Nevers have a reputation for picking out uncut gems, and they may well have unearthed another in the 23 year old from the Limousin region and, as the Pro D2 official X account suggested (above), this is not a Mayo you need to worry about consuming in moderation…