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New Munster signing suffers a season-ending injury at Bristol

(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

New Munster signing Antoine Frisch has played his last match for Bristol as an injury sustained in last Friday’s Gallagher Premiership win over Gloucester requires a season-ending operation. It was April 20 when the Irish province confirmed a three-year deal for the unheralded 25-year-old French midfielder, who arrived at the Bears for the 2021/22 season from Rouen in the Pro D2.

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However, while Frisch showed immense determination to drag himself up off the Ashton Gate turf and get himself back into the defensive line after shipping a shoulder injury on 29 minutes, he exited the game when the whistle blew for a stoppage and it has now been confirmed by Bristol that it was his last appearance for them.

“Antoine is going to need surgery so his season is done and his time with us is done with him moving on,” explained Bristol boss Pat Lam about Frisch at his midweek media briefing ahead of this weekend’s trip to league leaders Leicester. Munster need not fret, though, as the coach added that the injury isn’t long-term. “I’m not sure of the exact details but it won’t be long, it’s just a tidy up.”

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The Breakdown | Episode 10 | Sky Sport NZ

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The Breakdown | Episode 10 | Sky Sport NZ

The decision by Munster to snap up the French centre raised eyebrows, but the offer of a three-year deal for a player who is Irish-qualified through his maternal grandmother hailing from Dublin trumped what Bristol had on the table as they looked to extend his original one-year deal at the club.

“We found him in Pro D2 really hungry for an opportunity and it is fair to say when he arrived there was a lot of work to do for him understanding the game defensively,” continued Lam about Frisch, an unknown talent that Bristol took a punt on. “There was no doubt that he had the attack. The attacking skills that he has got are excellent but twelve is quite a key position in our game.

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“You’re the second caller, you’re driving, it’s a big part of our game so there was a lot for him to learn and fair play, by the time he got to the second half of the season he showed what he can do. He has still got a lot of work but why I am pleased for him is he was Irish-qualified, English-qualified and French-qualified and the Irish union came in after our Saracens game (on March 26) with a very good deal.

“We had a deal on the table for him but it was trumped by a three-year deal from the Irish union. The thing I like about Antoine is he is pretty driven in what he wants to achieve and he has been great here but ultimately we weren’t going to match what Ireland have offered. But I wouldn’t even stop him because he is going to Ireland to try and play international rugby which is his dream. Certainly from my time in Ireland I know he will enjoy it over there.

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“What he is very thankful for is he was in Pro D2 and he realises that the way he has developed here and the opportunity he got has given him this chance. The Irish rugby union weren’t going to pick him from Pro D2.

“He is another of many examples who have come in, learned more about the game, improved his game, had the ability to train full-time in the HPC with some quality players, learned some great stuff from some very good players and got himself in the show window and can now carry on with his dream. His dream wasn’t to be a Bristol Bears player for all this life, his dream is to play international rugby and so we have been part of that journey to help him along there which is great.”

Last Friday was only a seventh Premiership start for Frisch in ten appearances in the English top-flight, so Lam doesn’t buy into the suggestion that the Frenchman’s exit somehow leaves them short of midfield cover. “Antoine was only part of our squad, he hasn’t started every game. He isn’t a starter for us, he is a guy in our squad that has come through and you need three or four in there.

“Fans get excited by some flash play and stuff but that is not what is valued for us. Our value is understanding our game and doing the simple things really well on both sides of the ball, so we believe he still needed development to go on and his contract reflected that.

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“It’s not like it’s someone who is the No1 player in that position. What I am pleased about is he entered our programme and no one knew who he was, so it is not like we have lost a No1 player and we’re struggling. We have helped the guy coming out of nowhere to prove himself and now he carries on his dream. Ireland have decided to take the next step on a couple of performances and it’s great for him. That is why he is so happy, he is excited and we carry on. Inside centres and other centres are already locked in.”

Bristol centre Frisch was the sole Frenchman playing in this season’s Premiership. Why is it in a league that attracts players from all around the world that the French don’t view England as a place to enhance their careers? “You have got a very good league on that side, why would you leave? They pay very well over there too so there is no reason to leave,” reckoned Lam.

“The one reason that Antione wanted to come from Pro D2 was he really wanted to experience a real professional environment full-on. He says he could have stayed in France and been comfortable but he really wanted to grow his game and improve and so he felt that was a great opportunity. Everyone is different.

“The Top 14 and the Pro D2 have got a lot more teams so I don’t see any reason why French players would leave except for the challenge. That is what Antoine decided, he wanted the challenge, he wanted to improve quickly. He is 25 now and he did that. He has learned a lot in a short amount of time and that same attitude will kick him on.”

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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.

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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.


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