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Racing owner gets personal in bizzare public criticism of Siya Kolisi
By Josh Raisey
Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti has accused Siya Kolisi of being “transparent” in their Top 14 semi-final defeat to Bordeaux-Begles at the weekend amid a scathing assessment of the South Africa captain’s first season in Paris.
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The double World Cup-winning skipper arrived at La Defense Arena last year after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, and made a “remarkable” start to life in sky blue and white according to Lorenzetti.
However, the Racing chief believes the hand injury the Springbok sustained in March, and subsequent surgery, was something that he did not recover from. Though the 33-year-old did make a return to action a month later, Lorenzetti feels he was unable to recapture the form he had previously shown.
Speaking to French outlet Midi Olympique shortly after his side’s season came to a close, Lorenzetti pulled no punches in his assessment of Kolisi’s season, comparing him to his predecessor Wenceslas Lauret, and even accusing the Springbok of being overweight.
He does, however, have faith that Kolisi will come good next season, with the club set to be further bolstered by the arrival of former England captain Owen Farrell.
“He had a remarkable start to the season, where he was a unifier off the field,” he said in the interview.
“The break was harmful to him. He gained weight, lost form and yesterday he was transparent. […] We miss it.
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“In the back row, we used to have an ultra-present warrior, a warrior called Wenceslas Lauret. For the moment, Siya does not let us forget him.
“But we think that next year, that will change.”
The 83-cap Springbok was not the only Racing player in the firing line as Lorenzetti picked apart another trophy-less season for the Parisians. Another new recruit, Fiji’s Josua Tuisova, was also lambasted, and accused of not making the impact they expected after arriving from Lyon.
“He didn’t bring anything, we must be clear,” he said. “It was not the impact player we expected.”
In the Fijian’s defence, he only made his debut in May after a six-month lay-off due to a knee injury sustained during the World Cup, so he can be excused for struggling to instantly return to his destructive best.
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He’s not really a very good player, anyhow. Been a passenger in the Springboks squad for too long.
If anyone knows the French, you know they speak a different language.
😄 Siya and Eben are on paid holidays between Bok camps. I think they care somewhat, but really they are just earning a living until Bok camp starts.
I didn’t read anything scathing in that assessment. Not untrue. Just unnecessary.
Someone should advise French owners that managing the performance of key personnel by bleating to the media about them is obnoxious.
I imagine the $$$ he is earning would buy a whole lot of “yeah whatever mate”.
I think any coach or owner singling out a player like that for public critism is just bang out of order. Stuff that has to be said to a player should be said one to one in private. I feel sorry for those players.
Spelling bizarre as “bizzare” in your headline is bizarre.
Nice clickbait comments from the Mr Lorenzetti, the famously successful winner of rugby prizes.
If only Mr Kolisi had some medals to prove his credentials. That would make Mr Lorenzetti look a little stupid.
Usual comment by a Frenchman. Visit North Paris and the slums that the French consign black foreigners to and you will appreciate what I’m writing.
Just another overrated SH player who.can’t hack superior NH comps. A tale as old as time..
Here we go, I called this last year, French people are impossible, narcissistic and arrogant. They are shameful.