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Nakarawa heads to Toulon exit with Prem clubs sniffing

Leone Nakarawa /Getty

Fiji second row Leone Nakawara is heading towards the exit at Toulon – according to reports coming out of France.

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According to Midi Olympique, RCT do not want to offer the former Glasgow Warriors fan favourite a new contract despite the versatile forward having featured 14 times for the Var this season alone.

On the surface, it appears like an odd move for Toulon and the 33-year-old.

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Le French Rugby Podcast – Episode 19

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Le French Rugby Podcast – Episode 19

Nakawara had been set to sign for Ulster last summer until the Irish province pulled out of the deal after they received ‘a detailed medical report’ that appeared to cast doubt on his fitness – understood to be a knee issue. It worked out okay for Ulster who eventually signed Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks Duane Vermeulen, possibly with the help of spare cash from the failed bid to sign the Fijian.

It is unlikely that he will remain without a club for long, with a number of Premiership sides apparently eager to take him. Pat Lam’s Bristol are one club that have been linked with the 6’6, 112kg forward, while Bath have previously been rumoured to be a possible destination, although Nathan Hughes’ emergence might have dampened their need for the back five forward.

Nakarawa has had an interesting club career that has seen him enjoy two stints at Glasgow Warriors, as well as time at Racing 92 and most recently Toulon. His contract in Paris was terminated early after he failed to return to the team on time following the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

He isn’t the only big-name forward leaving Stade Mayol. The club have chosen not to take an option on a third year for former Wallaby Lopeti Timani. Timani played has switched allegiance back to Tonga, playing his first game for the country of his birth.

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The 31-year-old arrived at RCT from La Rochelle last year and the 6’4, 125kg backrow will no doubt not be long finding a new club.

Near the bottom of the Top 14, the club have already confirmed the departure of Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth and France flyhalf Louis Carbonel.

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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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