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All Black lock heading to France

Two-time All Black lock Dominic Bird is set to leave the Chiefs at the end of the season after he was announced as a new signing for French glamour club Racing 92.

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The 27-year-old will be one of eight new faces at the club, joining the likes of Finn Russell, Simon Zebo and Ben Volavola.

Bird will replace the retiring Argentinian Patricio Albacete.

Bird is currently in his fifth year of Super Rugby after making his debut with the Crusaders in 2013.

He moved north to join the Chiefs in 2016, and his form for the side saw him re-selected for the All Blacks at the end of 2017.

Unfortunately the 2.06m lock had his 2018 campaign cut short after suffering a shoulder injury during the first game of the Super Rugby season.

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Fellow new signings Volavola and Raphael Lagarde will likely battle to back up Scottish international Russell, with all three new fly-halves joining the club after the departures of Daniel Carter and Remi Tales. The club will also be without the recently re-signed Patrick Lambie for an extended period after the Springbok suffered a serious knee injury during the recent Champions cup final at Bilbao.

Club president Jacky Lorenzetti earlier confirmed the arrival of Irish international Simon Zebo from PRO14 side Munster and French flanker Fabien Sanconnie from Brive.

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Also signed up are Dax centre Olivier Klemenczak and 17-year-old Massy flanker Jordan Joseph, who is currently representing France at the U20 World Championship.

Yannick Nyanga, who has retired from playing at 34, will remain with the club as sporting director.

Nyanga will join forces with former Racing teammates Chris Masoe and Casey Laulala, who have been taken on as coaching assistants.

RACING 92

Departures
Viliamu Afatia, Marc Andreu, Dan Carter, Remi Tales, Albert Vulivuli, Anthony Tuitavake

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Retirements
Patricio Albacete, Dambielle Benjamin, Casey Laulala, Yannick Nyanga

Arrivals
Dominic Bird, Jordan Joseph, Fabien Sanconnie, Finn Russell, Raphael Lagarde, Olivier Klemenczack, Ben Volavola, Simon Zebo

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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