Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Luke McAlister set for mid-season Toulon exit - reports

Luke McAlister with Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal when he signed for the club

Luke McAlister looks set for a surprise mid-season move out of Toulon, according to reports.

The 30-cap former All Black had been favourite to head to Clermont to provide much-needed cover at 10, following Camille Lopez’s horrific injury during the European Champions Cup match against Northampton.

ADVERTISEMENT

But that option appears to have cooled, despite the fact the defending Top 14 champions are suffering an injury crisis at both nine and 10. It was confirmed this week that young scrum-half Charlie Cassang’s season is as good as over after he damaged his ACL last weekend. He joins Greig Laidlaw and Lopez on the long-term absentee list.

Now, it seems McAlister could head to Brive, regional newspaper Var Matin has claimed. The Top 14’s basement side are also desperate for cover at 10, and have asked Toulon if the player would be available.

Var Matin said that the club has no objection, but added that the player has not made a decision.

The 34-year-old McAlister headed to the south coast of France in the summer after six seasons and 150 appearances at Toulouse. But he has played twice, out of eight Top 14 and two Challenge Cup matches this season.

The form of tyro 10 Anthony Belleau saw his early season hopes of filling the fly-half berth quickly disappear. Coach Fabien Galthie also has an understandable preference for Francois Trinh-Duc, having worked with the player at Montpellier.

And the return to fitness of another newly arrived fly-half rival,  Jonathan Wisniewski, another reported Clermont cover target, along with the promise of academy star Louis Carbonel has left the 30-cap former All Black’s options at 10 hovering somewhere close to absolute zero.

The recent arrival of both Semi Radradra and Malakai Fekitoa have frozen McAlister’s chances in midfield at a similarly low temperature.

ADVERTISEMENT

Radradra is fast becoming a cult hero at Toulon, courtesy of some thrilling performances both on the wing and at outside centre since arriving from Paramatta Eels.

Fekitoa, meanwhile, made all the right noises at a press conference before Toulon entertained Brive on October 28 and – with Mathieu Bastareaud, Trinh-Duc and Belleau away on international duty – it seems likely that he’ll get his first outing for the club against Agen at the weekend.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

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 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
LONG READ
LONG READ The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim
Search