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Fissler Confidential: Exeter see off Saracens as NRL pinch NZ Olympian

Benjamin Coen of England kicks a conversion during the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 match between England and Fiji at Athlone Stadium on July 04, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher-Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Racing 92 are looking for a tighthead prop to fill one of their two injury joker spots that will help fill the void left by Siya Kolisi when he finalises his return to the Sharks. The Top 14 giants are still locked in talks with the Sharks as they look to agree on a transfer fee for the double Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks skipper, and they could be concluded as early as next week.

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RugbyPass understands that Racing want to claw back as much as possible of the R17million (£726,200) they paid out to sign him and they will then reinvest the money into signing a much-needed front rower.

Exeter Chiefs have seen off interest from several clubs, including former European and Premiership champions Saracens, to retain the services of England U20s fly-half Ben Coen.

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Rassie Erasmus sheds light on RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje’s niggles

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Rassie Erasmus sheds light on RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje’s niggles

The 19-year-old Teignmouth-born Coen, who made 14 BUCS Super Rugby appearances for Exeter University last season, only made his England debut against France U19s earlier in the year. He made five appearances for the England U20s, including starting the World Rugby Championship final victory over France and the semi-final win over Ireland in South Africa last month.

Bristol Bears owner Steve Lansdown is set to take his personal wealth to over £2billion if he cashes out his remaining six per cent stake in financial giants Hargreaves Lansdown, who are set to be snapped up in a £5.4bn deal.

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The 71-year-old Guernsey-based Lansdown, who also owns Bristol City Football Club, is estimated to be worth £1.9bn. He helped to make Hargreaves Lansdown, which started in a spare bedroom, the biggest DIY investment platform in the country.

A consortium of investors, including CVC, is set to complete a buy-out of the firm early next year, and Lansdown is expected to cut his remaining ties in return for cashing out his interests for around £309m.

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Newcastle Falcons might not be kicking off the Gallagher Premiership season until September 20 when they entertain Bristol, but they are already on the lookout for injury reinforcements. Steve Diamond has signed seven players ahead of the new season, six on a permanent basis, including Edinburgh tighthead Luan de Bruin and centre Connor Doherty on loan from his former club, Sale Sharks.

Ace wheeler dealer Diamond told a media call this week that he might be in the market for a lock, most likely on a short-term basis, because two players are recovering from operations. Diamond also confirmed he has stood down from his consultancy role at the RFU, where he was part of a group helping tier two teams improve standards.

The RFU got Diamond on board because of his experience in growing clubs sustainably and he was estimated to be paid around £20,000 a month. He told the media this week that he was no longer helping the RFU and is fully focused on his job with the Falcons, who finished bottom of the Premiership last season.

Melbourne Storm are poised to make a cross-code move to sign New Zealand sevens star Moses Leo now that his commitments at the Olympic Games in Paris have been completed. The NRL side met with North Harbour’s Leo, the 26-year-old bronze medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, before he left.

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He helped the Kiwis finish in fifth place in France and is now expected to hold more talks after returning from Europe. Three years ago, after the delayed Tokyo Olympics, the Storm landed another New Zealand sevens star, Will Warbrick. He has proved to be a success, with 25 tries in 42 matches.

According to an industry expert, the RFU could earn as much as an eye-watering £130m from its partnership with insurance and business asset giant Allianz, whose headquarters are in Munich. RugbyPass understands that the partnership starts next month and that Twickenham, renamed Allianz Stadium, will swell RFU coffers by £13m a year for 10 years.

It represents a bargain for Allianz, who had been in talks with West Ham over a deal for the London Stadium and had been quoted almost double by another London Premier League club for naming rights to their ground.

US-qualified openside flanker Joe Johnston, who can play anywhere across the back row, is reported to be on his way back to New Zealand after a successful stint in the United States with the New England Free Jacks.

Johnson made 48 appearances for the Free Jacks, scoring eight tries, and was a member of the side that beat San Diego to win the 2023 MLR final. The 26-year-old, who started his career with the Bay of Plenty, is said to be heading home where he has agreed on a deal with Waikato to play in the NPC.

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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
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