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Johan Goosen could return to top-flight rugby ... in Pro 14: reports

Johan Goosen

South African Johan Goosen could return to top-flight rugby with new Pro 14 side Cheetahs in a matter of weeks, after a mystery benefactor offered to buy him out of his five-year deal with Top 14 outfit Racing 92.

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French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique reports that an unknown individual has approached Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti and offered to trigger the €1.5million buyout clause in the versatile back’s contract.

It true, it would free up valuable funds to bring Pat Lambie to France earlier than scheduled.

A number of meetings between the club and emissaries of the mystery benefactor were due to take place – in Dubai, Luxembourg and Switzerland – to discuss the matter, but were all cancelled at the 11th hour. Lorenzetti and his lawyers, meanwhile, have been busy trying to trace the source of the money, according to the report, as speculation mounts over who could be willing and able to front up the cash.

Midol has put forward a couple of theories as to who may be involved. They include Montpellier’s billionaire owner Mohed Altrad, who was known to be interested in signing Goosen before he did his sudden retirement act in December 2016. It also suggested the South African rugby federation, which may be keen to see the versatile player back in the international fold.

Once the money, wherever it comes from, is paid, Goosen will be released from his Racing 92 contract and able to play rugby again. Midol claims he is expected to start on the comeback trail at Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs, not far from his rural home.

Racing, meanwhile, would finally be able to sign a replacement for the long-absent Goosen – and will have an additional €500,000 a year freed up from the cancellation of his contract to spend.

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Goosen played his last game for Racing in November 2016. A month later, he announced his retirement from the game rather than continue to pick up the reported €40,000 a month that playing rugby in the capital would have earned him, and that he had taken up a position as a commercial director of a stud farm in his native South Africa.

Lambie, meanwhile, reportedly signed a three-year deal with Racing that was set to start mid-2018. But Racing have said that they would be willing to bring Lambie to the club as soon as possible under additional player or medical joker rules.

This is not the first time that speculation has mounted over Goosen’s rugby future. Earlier this year, his agent reportedly said he may have been willing to return to Racing – contradicting earlier statements from friends and family that he would rather go to prison than return to the club.

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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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