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Ban balls-up leaves Jacques du Plessis free to play in Top 14 knockout phase

Montpellier's Jacques du Plessis

What is the collective noun for a group of Du Plessises, anyway?

An administrative cock-up means Montpellier can field their full complement of four Du Plessises in the Top 14 play-off quarter-final against defending champions Racing 92.

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The matchday 23 could feature Bismarck, and Jannie, and Willie, and Jacques – even though the latter du Plessis was, on Wednesday, handed a four-week ban after he was cited for striking La Rochelle’s Romain Sazy during the 40-37 defeat in April.

The problem: the Ligue National du Rugby (LNR), which runs the Top 14 competition, failed to include a simple five-word phrase in its official notification to Montpellier of the citing committee’s decision.

That phrase – exécution provisoire de la décision (provisional execution of the decision) – would have denied the club the right to appeal. But, it wasn’t included. So the club has that right. And the club has exercised it.

The LNR confirmed its error on Friday.

With an appeal now pending, du Plessis is free to play in the ‘barrage’ match against Racing 92 at the Altrad Stadium – a match Montpellier are strong favourites to win. Further, because the French rugby union (FFR) cannot convene until 15 days after the appeal letter is received, he could also feature in next week’s semi-final against Clermont in Marseille.

He could even play in the final in Paris on June 4 – because the earliest the FFR can convene to hear his appeal is… June 5.

It is the second time this one incident has embarrassed the LNR.

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Referee Romain Poite sin-binned du Plessis. Under the league’s three-strikes rule, players receive an automatic one-match ban once they have received three yellow cards. This was his third.

He should not have been available for the final match of the regular season – a 27-26 win over Stade Francais, decided with the final kick of the game.

Du Plessis was not named in the original matchday 23. But he was a late addition to the squad and came on at halftime.

Stade filed a complaint to the LNR. But it ruled – as Montpellier had clearly worked out when they added his name to the teamsheet late-on – that because he was later cited, that automatic ban was on hold, pending the citing commissioner’s ruling.

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No rules have been broken. The exact opposite, in fact – the rules have been followed to the letter. In so doing, they have been rendered useless by Montpellier’s lawyer-smart use of molecule-width hair-splitting technicality. And their spirit has been just ever so slightly tainted.

Ironically, had Stade’s complaint been upheld and the win awarded to them, they would have finished sixth. And that would mean a knockout round match this weekend against Montpellier. But that’s a moot point, now. 

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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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