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Frustration over Radradra and Tuilagi being starved of the ball for their new clubs

15 Aug 2020

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The first round of the Premiership re-start brought excitement and anticipation around the arrival of two superstars at their new clubs, as Semi Radradra and Manu Tuilagi donned their new colours for the first time.

Fans were widely anticipating the Bristol Bears and Premiership debut of Fijian powerhouse Radradra, who arrived at the club from Bordeaux, after his sublime showing at the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

England centre Tuilagi completed a high-profile transfer from Leicester Tigers to Sale over the break, bringing one of the world’s most dominant ball carriers to an already power-packed roster.

Drew Mitchell on the time he gave Jonny Wilkinson a wedgie.

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Drew Mitchell on the time he gave Jonny Wilkinson a wedgie.

The salivating prospect of both stars drew fans into what turned out to be rather dour clashes as Harlequins downed Sale on Friday night, while Bristol scrapped a hard fought win over Saracens.

Both Tuilagi and Radradra were limited in their involvement with the ball, with fans frustrated at the lack of impetus to use two of the world’s best attacking runners.

(Cont.)
Crazy??
Well I’ve watched two superb ‘signings’ (Tuilagi & Radradra) play for a game and a half now & hardly touch the ball#BRIvSAR #rugby @btsportrugby
— Anthony Posa (@AntsPosa) August 15, 2020

Briz kicking away almost every bit of possession. You’re not Saracens you know… You have Piutau and Radradra, use them… #BRIvSAR
— Neil Morley 🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@doogwasps) August 15, 2020

https://twitter.com/RobSutton97/status/1294669500747591681

Okay I’m no coach but, if I was in charge of Bristol, instead of passing to the 14 people who aren’t Semi Radradra, I would pass to the one who is.
— Squidge Rugby (@SquidgeRugby) August 15, 2020

Didn’t Bristol sign Semi Radradra?
I haven’t seen him yet….
— John Evely (@JohnEvely_BPost) August 15, 2020

They've kept Radradra quiet…
— Robert Rees (@Rreesrugby) August 15, 2020

#BristolRugby 6 – 9 #Saracens 47mins Semi Radradra looks awfully lost with not much to do so far – hopefully the Bears will figure out quickly how to utilise one of the most exciting players on the planet! #RugbyRestart #GallagherPrem #Rugby
— RugbyUnplugged.com (@RugbyUnplugged) August 15, 2020

Radradra finished with only two runs for six run metres with an unlikely stat line of zero line breaks and zero defenders beaten.

Tuilagi didn’t fare much better with six runs for 19 metres, with no defenders beaten or line breaks.

Wet conditions offered no favours for either outside centre, as errors, penalties and kicking chewed up most of the clock in both matches.

Well done if you predicted the first Manu Tuilagi carry would happen 41 minutes into the game.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) August 14, 2020

Joe Marchant completely outplayed Tuilagi in that game. Great result. #HARvSAL #COYQ
— Edward Hale 🃏 (@EdwardJBH) August 14, 2020

When Steve Diamond was braying that he was going to get Manu Tuilagi playing more rugby, I assume he just meant in terms of minutes on the pitch doing fuck all instead of, you know, giving him the ball.
— Mike Cooper (RuckedOver) (@RuckedOver) August 15, 2020

Properly weird seeing @Manutuilagi playing @premrugby in a shirt that doesn't belong to Tigers, kept very quiet tonight by Quins too.
Can't help but think @SaleSharksRugby have been outplayed, despite their stars, by @Harlequins this evening…#Rugby #RugbyUnited #PremRugby
— Edward Letherby 💙🏉📷🏂🚵 (@ELetherby) August 14, 2020

Pundits weren’t overly impressed with Tualagi’s first showing, with English scribe Stuart Barnes rating him an “anonymous one”.

“Tuilagi was the most touted of the summer signings yet on Friday night his rugby terror rating on a scale of one to ten against Harlequins wasn’t much more than an anonymous one,” he wrote for The Times.

Sir Ian McGeechan of The Telegraph also surmised that Sale did not use their new weapon enough, saying it “was not the debut we were expecting”.

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond was up front about the performance of his side, saying they wanted to see some entertaining rugby, but didn’t.

“My team usually gives away seven or eight penalties, so to give away 19 was disappointing. We were shooting blanks. We want to see some entertaining rugby, we certainly didn’t.”

Sale’s loss and Bristol’s win saw the two sides trade spots on the Premiership ladder, with Sale dropping to third and the Bears taking second.

Exeter’s win over Leicester at Sandy Park held their lead in pole position.

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ZamaZama 8 minutes ago

Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

Once again the whining schoolboy wants to tell everyone how to behave. What a 💩

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RedWarriors 25 minutes ago

Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

He publicly demanded that the Irish players should be cited and declared their actions reprehensible. The obvious implication is that the referee has made grave errors and that the ‘culprits’ and ‘butchers’ of Dupont were not reprimanded. Of course he publicly stated that he didn’t blame the referee. Ofcourse his meaning was clear and the evidence is collective rage by the French public against the referee. This is dishonest and cowardice by Galthie. The two Irish players he attacked then received threats to their safety by French ‘supporters’.

We know that France have more suspensions for dangerous tackles than all other six nations combined under Galthie.

We know that he publicly lied about the ‘injustice’ of the Ntamack v Ringrose bans. He knew the difference, he acknowledged it in his evidence for Ntamack and he knew that French players had benefitted more than any others over both cases in previous years.

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MichaelT4 36 minutes ago

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JB 52 minutes ago

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

Re England … “they stunned France …”

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Chelsey Kate 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

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fl 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

It will be interesting to see how developmental the summer squad is. Given how much consistency of selection there was throughout 2024 and the early part of 2025, I wonder if Borthwick’s suddenly erratic teamsheets were an attempt to build enough depth to play almost solely first team players against Argentina.

E.g. if Freeman and Furbank both go to Australia (which I think would be unlikely) England could still field a back three of Marcus Smith, Roebuck, and Feyi-Waboso, with Steward, Daly, Sleightholme, and Murley also in the squad. Similarly if both Curry brothers and Ben Earl all go (which I think would be similarly unlikely) England could still select Tom Willis, Underhill, and Cunningham-South in the back row. Hardly a developmental lineup! There would have to be newer and less experienced players brought in in the second row and at centre, but even here there could be starting partnerships of Martin & Coles and Dingwall & Daly.

I think there’s a good chance England’s progress will be built on directly in Argentina.

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JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

The big concern for me is that our 13 forwards are at a big disadvantage against their 15.

36 Go to comments

Otagoman II 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

They had an average game against a Hurricanes side that was marginally better. They were poor protecting their ball and blew many promising attacking raids. Tangitau did his best to win the game by himself with a 85 metre intercept try and a a quick tap kick ahead that resulted in another. Highlanders scored no phase play tries. Joseph said that their attack was basically too conservative playing one out and that the support should of been better. They will need to do better with their attack this saturday as the Reds have plenty of points in them with quick ball.

36 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?