After Brive’s tense victory over Provence maintained their quest for promotion to the Top 14, the post-match talk turned to how they might commemorate a Lions call-up for their iconic import, Courtney Lawes.
Standing in front of the tunnel at Stade Amedee Domenech, club president Thierry Blandinieres and the Englishman he succeeded, Simon Gillham, were full of enthusiasm. Two suggestions from their Mail Sport visitor were well received; stocking Lions merchandise in the smart club shop or wearing red – instead of the usual black and white – as a one-off tribute, for the first game next season.
‘We could wear red here against Toulouse,’ said Blandinieres, as he envisaged Brive being back among the elite of French rugby, and Lawes being honoured after touring Australia with the Lions. ‘We would be the first club from the French second division to have a Lion,’ added Gillham.
The former England captain had already earned a Presidential endorsement, having been watched in action against Provence by Francois Hollande – who had a term in high office at the Elysee Palace between 2012 and 2017, before Emmanuel Macron seized power. The politician who made his name in the Correze region is a passionate follower of Brive and after sitting alongside him on Friday night, Gillham said: ‘Monsieur Hollande is definitely a fan of Courtney Lawes!’
Whether Andy Farrell is such a fan of Lawes that he will pick him for one last British and Irish mission will be known soon enough – on May 8, to be precise. What is clear is that, at the age of 36, the veteran back-rower and Test centurion is still a formidable player and leader. He may not be playing international rugby now, or even top-tier club rugby, but Lawes still oozes international pedigree.
He has been magnificent all season for Brive, to galvanise their promotion campaign, and he was a regal figure again in the 24-17 win over leading rivals from the south. What stood out in the midst of a frenetic encounter was the composure and nous Lawes brings to proceedings. He has seen it and done it all, and he brought order to the chaos all around him.
He may not be playing international rugby but Courtney Lawes oozes international pedigree
For all the back-row riches at present in British and Irish rugby, there aren’t many like him
Whether Andy Farrell is such a fan of Lawes that he will pick him will be known on May 8
There were crucial lineout takes galore, a stack of clever carries to showcase his footwork and astute running lines, slick handling and the usual menacing presence at rucks. He won a vital breakdown penalty in the 13th minute when Provence were on the charge. Three minutes later, he stole a lineout from the visitors and paved the way for a penalty which allowed Brive to take the lead.
Lawes remained prominent and influential throughout. One thunderous tackle early in the second half halted a spell of Provence pressure. Just after the hour, his challenge at another lineout earned Brive a free-kick and with 13 minutes to go, his swerving run into the opposition 22 ignited an attack which nearly yielded a try. Soon after, it was the pack talisman’s latest aerial take and maul presence which brought the decisive strike to seal the win.
Up in the stand, the club hierarchy were as impressed as ever. ‘Courtney has been extraordinary for Brive and he was amazing tonight,’ said Gillham. ‘He makes everyone play well around him – just like Jonny (Wilkinson) did when he was at Toulon.’
When Farrell Sr announced his Lions assistant coaches last month, John Dalziel – the Scot who will oversee the forwards – said of Lawes: ‘His games will get watched and his name is on the list.’ If they are watching, then he should be a prime contender. For all the back-row riches at present in British and Irish rugby, there aren’t many like him.
Lawes had already declared his ambition to make the cut for another Lions tour and his belief that he could even force his way into the Test XV. Speaking to Mail Sport on Friday, he was torn between realism and hope, saying: ‘I’m not really expecting to be involved with the Lions, but I’ll keep the dates available just in case something drastic happens!
‘I kind of think, “Do I deserve to go, with the form of the boys who have been playing international rugby and top-flight rugby?”. But it’s about whether you can add to the team and I 100 per cent can add to the team in terms of experience and being a different kind of back row.
‘I’m probably the only out-and-out six. They (home nations) are very openside-heavy and even our No 8s are similar to opensides. I am probably the most unique back row and I can play second row, plus I’ve got experience and leadership so I can add to the team in that aspect. I’m certainly not hanging my hat on it and, ultimately, I don’t think I’ll go, but you never know!’
Asked to evaluate his form at Brive, Lawes added: ‘I’m happy to be doing my thing. I’m doing well in the lineouts and breakdowns, and I’m trying to carry a lot too. A lot of it is being that person who can be relied on to deliver, regardless of the conditions and what’s going on in the game.’
Lawes has been magnificent all season, galvanising Brive’s promotion push
If Farrell’s staff are watching, then Lawes should be a prime contender to be selected
Farrell should pick Lawes once Brive have completed their play-off campaign
Even the Lions, for all their abundant class, will have use for that sort of reliability, experience and versatility. It is true that they are better stocked at openside than at blindside. Farrell should pick Lawes, who will be fully available, once Brive have completed their play-off campaign. He is fit and firing, he has presence, universal respect, popularity and know-how. He can be an asset again.
At Brive, they should clear some space in the club shop and start planning a commemorative colour change, just in case.
English rugby could learn from Brive
Brive have facilities, finances and fervour worthy of their status as former European champions and a club with top-tier ambitions. English billionaire Ian Osborne became a primary shareholder two years ago and his investment has contributed to significant squad recruitment and the creation of a gleaming new stand last year, at a cost of £10million.
Facilities on site include a large gym, medical area, spacious changing rooms, synthetic training pitch, new hospitality boxes and offices, including a coaches’ office featuring – for some reason – a picture of Harry Maguire in Manchester United kit on a pinboard. Along the corridor is a players’ relaxation room with a dart board on the wall; a wall that has suffered a lot of damage, suggesting limited darts prowess in the ranks.
As for the fervour, it was remarkable to behold. Two hours before kick-off, all was quiet in the town, before an eruption of partisan support at the ground. The attendance was a near-capacity 13,778 and the population of Brive is only 45,000.
Hordes of fans gathered for their team’s arrival by coach. The reception committee were so organised, they even had official accreditation. They were ready with red flares to form a tunnel of colour, noise and smoke for their heroes. Some brandished megaphones, the arrival was filmed and hundreds massed around the gates waving flags.
It is a relatively new routine there and should be copied in the Premiership. This column is backing Gloucester’s die-hards to match it – if they don’t fall foul of health-and-safety red tape in relation to the use of flares – but the challenge is there for any set of English fans to generate Brive-level passion and atmosphere.
Welsh and Northampton rendezvous in France
These days, even in the second division, French club matches serve as a reunion event for players from all parts of the world – and Brive versus Provence was a catch-up occasion for groups from Wales and Northampton.
After the game, Provence pair George North and Tomas Francis joined Brive’s injured Welsh flanker, Ross Moriarty, for photos together in the tunnel. Sadly for North, he was replaced early and finished the night in a protective boot, having endured a long recovery from a serious Achilles injury before making a belated debut for Provence in January.
He was one of three former Saints stars involved in the game, along with Lawes and Teimana Harrison – the ex-England flanker who was captaining the visitors. Harrison was typically explosive and aggressive, to the extent that he was accorded a loud ovation by the Brive fans when he went off.
There was certainly no holding back when the old team-mates crossed paths, with Harrison seeking to target Lawes with some big shots, and Lawes in turn lining up North, to stop him wreaking havoc in midfield.
Johnny Sexton cannot put the boot in the No 10 debate
Johnny Sexton is a magnificent addition to the Lions coaching set-up, given his relevant, title-winning insight into the modern game and attacking strategy – but his views about No 10 selection should not guide Andy Farrell’s thinking one iota.
The Irish icon has nailed his colours to the mast in support of Owen Farrell and at the expense of Finn Russell, which is not entirely helpful in fostering a spirit of unity among the playmakers, to say the least.
Having been omitted from the initial cast of assistants announced by the head coach – and given his out-spoken thoughts on the subject – Sexton should be limited to a mentoring role with whichever fly-halves are chosen, rather than having a say in that debate.
If Russell were to be overlooked for the tour, it would be an utter travesty and that is surely unthinkable. Frankly, he should still be considered the front-runner to wear No 10 in the Test series, whether Sexton is wearing a Lions tracksuit or not.
Meanwhile, Marcus Smith’s loss of form appears increasingly fatal for his chances, whereas George Ford has boosted his faint hopes with another masterclass display for Sale, in their bonus-point win over Harlequins.
If another veteran conductor is sought for the Australia tour, Ford deserves to be considered ahead of Farrell Jr.
Last Word
As well as his role at Brive – where he is revered by the locals – Gillham wears another hat these days, as chairman of the Championship here. He has an almighty task on his hands and a bee in his bonnet, about the need to embrace a true, merit-based system of promotion and relegation between the second tier and the Premiership, rather than maintaining the ring-fenced status quo, as is being discussed.
Having watched Brive win last Friday, Gillham addressed the contrasting scenarios on either side of the Channel and said: ‘For me, what is done between the Top 14 and Pro D2 is brilliant because of jeopardy on the one hand and aspiration on the other. Provence so wanted to win tonight and so did we. If we didn’t have promotion, it would have probably been a dead-rubber game and instead of nearly 14,000 here, we would have had 3,000.
‘Sport is all about aspiration and jeopardy. The system in France is far from perfect, but it’s got a few things right and one of them is the movement up and down. In England, the Premiership and tier two can learn a lot from this. I really think we would be going down a very rocky road in England if we were to say, there’s only promotion and no relegation. To have a closed league is the very last thing we want to do. It will not expand; it will get smaller and smaller.
‘The Championship has real potential. We have a big meeting on May 8. We have to work with the Premiership and the Premiership has to work with the Championship. If the Premiership makes the mistake of thinking it doesn’t need the Championship, then the Premiership is going to implode.’
Gillham’s argument is convincing and the proof that it makes sense was illustrated by the vibrant occasion at Stade Amedee Domenech, thanks to the promotion prize on offer.
