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Major League Rugby side sign former Springbok and Olympic medallist in wake of Ma'a Nonu departure

(Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu may have only just confirmed his exit from Major League Rugby last week, but his old club, the San Diego Legion, have already dipped into the player market to fill the void he has left.

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While replacing the experience of a 103-test, two-time World Cup-winning midfielder, who has returned to France for a second stint at Toulon, is no easy task, the Legion have done well in securing the services of two South African veterans.

Ex-Springboks outside back Bjorn Basson and long-serving South African sevens playmaker Cecil Afrika will ply their trade for the Californian club in 2021, it was announced on Friday.

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Wallabies halfback Joe Powell speaks to media.

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Wallabies halfback Joe Powell speaks to media.

Afrika recently retired from international sevens following the cancellation of the remaining 2019-20 World Sevens Series events and postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.

An outside back in XVs, the 32-year-old brings with him ample of experience in the abbreviated version in the game, having played 345 matches on the world circuit between 2009 and 2020.

In that time, Afrika finished in the series’ all-time top 10 for points scored (1462) and tries scored (179), and was crowned International Sevens Player of the Year in 2011.

He was also part of the South African teams that claimed the World Sevens Series titles in 2009, 2017 and 2018, won a gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, a bronze medal at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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Basson, meanwhile, joins the Legion as one of their marquee players for the 2021 season in a move that adds to his storied career.

After making a name for himself at domestic level in South Africa, the 33-year-old outside back played 13 tests for the Springboks between 2010 and 2013.

Amassing over 100 appearances in Super Rugby with the Cheetahs, Bulls and Stormers, Basson also spent time in Japan with the Honda Heat and in France with Oyonnax before joining the Southern Kings in the PRO14 in 2018.

However, it was in Russia where he has most recently been playing, plying his trade for Enisei-STM in the Professional Rugby League and European Challenge Cup.

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Together, the pair will add to the growing foreign contingent in a San Diego squad that features the likes of former England captain Chris Robshaw, fellow South African Joe Pieterson, 2016 Olympic gold medallist Jasa Veremalua, Philippines international Derrick Broussard and experienced Italian lock Josh Furno.

Prior to the cancellation of the 2020 MLR season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legion were undefeated after five matches and sat 11 points clear at the top of the western conference.

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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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