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REPORTS: Stade Francais sign former England flyhalf

Sergio Parisse of Stade Francais

South African Meyer Bosman’s rugby career looks to be on its last legs after his club, Top 14 side Stade Francais, reportedly agreed terms with former England international Shane Geraghty.

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The 32-year-old Bosman last season signed a two-year contract extension that was intended to keep him at the Paris club until 2019 – but reports in France now suggest the fly-half-cum-inside-centre is on the verge of injury-induced retirement.

The exact nature of Bosman’s condition remains unclear, with the rugby press merely indicating that the player has been advised to bring forward his retirement for medical reasons.

The Springbok’s as-yet unconfirmed decision has prompted the club’s new head coach, Greg Cooper, to find cover in the form of Geraghty – and not even the lengthy injury list that has plagued his new charge’s career seems to have dampened his interest.

The six-cap Englishman, who can play in the same positions as Bosman, has spent most of his career in two stints at London Irish, but he has experience of the French game, having had a season on the books at Brive in 2011/12.

A new contract in France will go some of the way to making up for a dismal 2016/17 campaign. Geraghty made just two appearances for English Premiership basement club Bristol after being granted an early release from his contract with the Exiles six games into their Championship campaign.

Stade, the blueblood Top 14 club that was last season almost merged out of existence, has also reportedly signed loosehead Corné Fourie from Super Rugby finalists the Lions, as part of an injury-enforced rapid rebuild of its front row stocks less than a fortnight before the kick off of the new season.

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Pending approval of his move from SARU, Fourie is set to shortly team up with another new front-row arrival in Paris, hooker-prop hybrid Maxime Gau, who signed on the dotted line shortly after he had negotiated the termination of his contract with La Rochelle.

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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 3 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
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