JAMES HARRINGTON

FRENCH COLUMN

The afternoon after the Friday-night chastening Six Nations defeat in Marseille before, a subdued French rugby audience tuned in to the final weekend of a non-stop 15-week block of Top 14 games.
Players and coaches have earned their first weekend off since the day after the World Cup final at the end of October. But some coaches will rest a little more easily after earning themselves a little respite.
Take, for example, Castres’ manager Jeremy Davidson. Seven defeats in their last 10 outings coming into the weekend, and six in the last seven – including th...