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NFL quarterback Tom Brady ditches Springbok support in favour of USA ahead of opening RWC game

Nate Ebner introduces Tom Brady. (Credit/Nate Ebner Twitter)

New England Patriots quarterback and six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady surprised many last week with a Twitter message of support for the Springboks ahead of their Rugby World Cup campaign game against the All Blacks.

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Ahead of the USA’s opening game against England, the G.O.A.T has swung around with pressure from Patriots teammate and former US Sevens player Nate Ebner, who arranged for a special message for the USA eagles direct from the Patriots locker room.

“I actually got my guy here, he wanted to say something,” Ebner says before introducing Brady.

“What’s up guys, we are cheering you on,” said Brady wearing a ‘Back the Boys’ USA Rugby t-shirt.

“It’s a tough journey but if anyone can do it, you guys can.”

“We support you, we love you, we got your back.”

Patriots special teamer Ebner made a transfer to Sevens ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and competed at the event in Brazil becoming the first active NFL player to participate in the Olympics.

Since being drafted by the Patriots in 2012, Ebner has won 3-Super bowl titles as part of their special teams unit. The collegiate rugby player considered playing professionally but reportedly did not have any contract offers. He was an MVP of the US age-grade under-19 and under-20 sides in 2007 and 2008 that competed at World Rugby’s junior championships.

Rugby World Cup memories Gavin Hastings:

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R
RedWarriors 34 minutes ago
How Dupont-less France tossed a grenade into Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations

We conceded 42 we lost by 15. The intercept was a 14 pointer. Ramos doesn’t do that its a try under the posts. But France can do that. The victory over Italy did not get the credit it deserved in my opinion. That was less about Italy reverting to bad old days and more about French brilliance.

I just think credit is due to France for keeping Ireland scoreless in the first 20.

Ireland had chances but we haven’t been clinical inside opponents 22.

The disparity in lineout success was also huge.

Not only are France ahead of Ireland in lineout stats but in that stat is a lot of their throws to the back of the lineout. Ireland have had problems since before the world cup. Something is wrong there and we need a new lineout coach: there I said it.

In all the set pieces and in every stat, France were better than Ireland leading into the match. I had hoped home advantage or coming up against a quality team might show an equalization of those numbers but that didn’t happen.

France’s defense and clinicalness were immense and the latter heaped major pressure and scoreboard pressure on Ireland. When the 2nd LBB try went in it was clear to all that the match was out of reach. The Dynamic Toulouse forwards were on, Ireland were tired from chasing the match.

I think without the Lowe injury it might have become more of a classic match, but really only one winner. Even the first try, Atonio and a friend take a step out beyond the maul. Means Nash has to go around them to cover the blind side. Not illegal, just accurate and clever. A lot of Irish accuracy in their match.


Lastly a stat i’d love to see is tries per line break in a match. Toulouse were above the 50% against Leicester. France are not far off that this year barring the outlier England match. What France/Toulouse are doing after a line break now ti achieve such a high conversion rate bears more looking at.

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