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Le petit conseil de Finn Russell à Owen Farrell sur le Top 14

BATH, ANGLETERRE - 26 AVRIL : Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) rit avec Owen Farrell et Jamie George (Saracens) avant le match de rugby de la Gallagher Premiership entre Bath Rugby et Saracens au The Recreation Ground, le 26 avril 2024 à Bath, en Angleterre. (Photo par Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Après avoir joué cinq ans (2018-2023) sous les couleurs du Racing 92, le demi d’ouverture écossais Finn Russell sait de quoi il parle. Désormais à Bath, il n’en garde pas moins un souvenir très fort de ses années passées en France. Une expérience qu’Owen Farrell, ancien ouvreur des Saracens va s’apprêter à vivre à son tour pour au moins deux années.

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C’est l’entraîneur anglais Stuart Lancaster qui a réussi à le convaincre de tenter l’aventure à un moment où Farrell était plus enclin à freiner sa carrière après une Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 en France qu’il avait mal vécue sur le plan psychologique et personnel.

Prévenant, Finn Russell a mis en garde l’ancien capitaine de l’Angleterre pour qu’il ne se grille pas d’entrée de jeu.

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Paul Gustard on potential “signing of the season” Owen Farrell

Coach Paul Gustard is full of praise for Racing 92 signing Owen Farrell

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Paul Gustard on potential “signing of the season” Owen Farrell

Coach Paul Gustard is full of praise for Racing 92 signing Owen Farrell

« C’est un championnat long, et je doute qu’il soit habitué à une telle durée », a expliqué Russell au Daily Mail.

« Il faut adopter un autre état d’esprit. Mais je pense que Stuart Lancaster gérera les joueurs différemment des entraîneurs français. Lancaster et Farrell ont déjà une bonne relation et travailleront bien ensemble. Tout dépendra de leur vision et de celle des Français. »

L’enjeu pour le Racing 92 est de ne pas réitérer le rendez-vous manqué de Siya Kolisi qui avait signé pour trois ans en 2023 et qui a jeté l’éponge après moins d’une saison.

« C’est là que les tensions pourraient surgir, je pense », estime Finn Russell. « Owen s’adaptera très bien. J’ai eu une excellente relation avec lui en 2021 avec les Lions. On m’avait dit qu’il était très impliqué et exigeant, mais je n’ai rien constaté de tel. Je l’ai trouvé plutôt détendu et relaxé.

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« On a bien rigolé ensemble. S’il garde cette attitude en France, tout se passera bien. J’espère qu’il réussira à s’intégrer au Racing. J’espère aussi qu’il apprendra la langue, car ça l’aidera beaucoup pour communiquer. C’est assez facile quand on arrive là-bas et qu’on parle anglais. »

Owen Farrell et Finn Russell ont tous deux participé aux tournées des British & Irish Lions en 2017 en Nouvelle-Zélande et en 2021. Alors que la tournée de 2025 est prévue dans 11 mois, l’Écossais est déjà considéré comme un sérieux candidat pour le poste de numéro 10 des Lions.

« Je crois que nos approches du jeu sont différentes, ce qui pourrait créer quelques frictions, mais je pense que nous serions assez bons coéquipiers pour surmonter tout ça et trouver un compromis », explique Finn Russell.

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« On devrait pouvoir atteindre un équilibre entre nos styles. C’est un joueur exceptionnel, et j’adorerais jouer avec lui. Je ne sais pas s’il participera, mais si l’occasion se présente, j’adorerais partager le terrain avec lui – peut-être de retour au Racing dans quelques années, qui sait ? »

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6 🥴:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


Errors and Ommissions Excepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

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