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Koch's 'funny' time and what Itoje is 'very clear on' at Saracens

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Saracens boss Mark McCall has relayed how Vincent Koch is relieved to be back in the mix with the London club following his four months with the Springboks, adding that Lions talisman Maro Itoje is champing at the bit to be involved this Sunday away to Bath in what would be his first appearance of the season. The 31-year-old South African prop brought the curtain down on his long spell outside England by helping his country to an October 2 win over the All Blacks in Australia.

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He has since returned to his Premiership club and ahead of a busy winter with Saracens and also with the UK-touring Springboks in November, McCall has promised they will ensure they will do exactly what is best for the front-rower. “He has had a funny more than twelve months,” reported McCall when asked what state Koch is in following his Springboks exertions.

“He has been not busy at all and then very busy. He didn’t play a game between the end of October and the start of March. There was this huge period of time where he didn’t play any rugby at all. He has been busy since then but he is just glad to be out of a bubble environment, glad to be back in his house with his wife and his kid, back in with the boys and that kind of thing. We will look after him over the course of the next three, four months, make sure he gets plenty of time off as well as playing rugby.”

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What happened when RugbyPass went behind the scenes with the Saracens women’s team

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What happened when RugbyPass went behind the scenes with the Saracens women’s team

In contrast to Koch’s hectic schedule, England lock Itoje hasn’t played a match since starting for the Lions in Cape Town on August 7. Itoje was entitled to a nine-week break in between games and Saracens afforded him that with a view to ensure he hits the ground running at The Rec in what will be his first Premiership outing in twelve months due to his club’s one-season stay in the Championship.

“He came back into training at the same time as everybody else but we wanted to give him a little more time than the other Lions players because he played a few more minutes than everybody else, but he is champing at the bit and it is great to have him back,” reported McCall, who insisted Itoje has remained as grounded as ever at Saracens and hasn’t been swayed by his growing profile, both inside and outside of rugby.

“Maro is very much in control of the most important things in his life. He is very clear on that. I have never seen anything that would indicate that his rugby is suffering in any way. So he is completely on top of things, I would say up there with any of our players in terms of a day in, day out consistent trainer and is someone who is as professional as they get really.

Barring injury in his comeback game, Itoje will be included in the England squad that is set to be announced next Monday for the autumn internationals. Much attention will be on whether the Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy, along with Jamie George, will be selected having been omitted from last month’s mini-training camp squad. McCall reckoned their recent efforts for Saracens won’t harm their chances of inclusion. 

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“What we are seeing on a weekly basis from them, on a day-to-day basis from them, isn’t anything new really. It’s what they always bring. They have always been huge contributors to the group on and off the field. That is the way they are at the moment.

“They all seem highly motivated. Whether that is because they want to get back on the international scene and back in the squad or whether it is just them being them, it’s hard to sometimes differentiate between the two.”

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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 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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