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Fresh twist in the Johan Goosen saga

Johan Goosen

The will he, won’t he, what’s he, where’s he, saga of South Africa’s Johan Goosen has taken another twist, days after it seemed he was set for a move to the Pro 14.

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And the news is not good for fans of the expanded league’s new boys, Cheetahs, as it appears Goosen will head back to the Top 14 rather than rejoin the club where he got his rugby break.

Montpellier’s billionaire owner Mohed Altrad as emerged as the most likely to be the mystery benefactor willing to pay a revised buyout clause figure, now said to be somewhere between €1.2million and €1.4million, to release the 25-year-old from the five-year deal with Racing 92 that he walked out on in December 2016.

Now, French broadcaster RMC reports that sources have told its journalists a deal could be signed early next week, allowing the fly-half to restart his rugby career at the Altrad Stadium. It would bring to an end a 10-month break due to legal issues following his premature ‘retirement’.

RMC insists no agreement has yet been reached despite several meetings at Racing’s Plessis-Robinson headquarters and ‘other venues’. Meanwhile, it reported Goosen’s agents refused to comment when contacted by its journalists.

But it seems likely Racing – who recently announced the signing of Pat Lambie – would be willing to do a deal to take Goosen off their books. He is still named as a player on the club website, and is officially called to meetings and training sessions.

RMC claims that Altrad is determined to bring his man back to the Top 14. The broadcaster says he has travelled to South Africa several times in recent months, and has lately stepped up efforts to bring the Burgersdorp native to Montpellier.

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If Goosen does, finally, head to southwest France, he will join a formidable club dripping with talent. He would line up alongside countrymen Ruan Pienaar, Bismarck du Plessis and Francois Steyn, as well as French stars Louis Picamoles, Benjamin Fall and Alexandre Dumoulin.

Montpellier have won three from three already this season, picking up 14 points out of a possible 15.

But, with former All Black Aaron Cruden ruling the roost at 10, chances are he will spend most of his time at fullback.

Goosen’s last competitive game was in November 2016. A month later, amid apparently insurmountable problems between club and player, he announced his retirement from the game – rather than continue to pick up his reported monthly €40,000 pay-cheque from Racing. He also said he had taken up a position as a commercial director of a stud farm in his native South Africa.

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His sudden decision prompted Racing to launch a legal action against him for breach of contract. That is one of the issues that will need to be settled before he can pull on a Montpellier shirt.

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BeamMeUp 9 minutes ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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