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Racing owner Lorenzetti lets slip the astronomical salary Maro Itoje wanted

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Jacky Lorenzetti has revealed that not even his deep pockets could afford the asking price to bring England talisman Maro Itoje to Racing and save the Saracens lock from playing Championship rugby in 2020/21. 

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The London club goes head-to-head with the Parisians this Saturday in the semi-final of the Champions Cup, a match in which Itoje could have been wearing the colours of Racing if a deal was sealed in the wake of Saracens’ automatic relegation to the English second-tier earlier this year following repeated salary cap breaches. 

There were negotiations between Racing and Itoje about the possibility of the England second row making a switch to the Top 14, but those talks came to nothing.

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It was thought the attempted recruitment was cooled due to the rule that prevents Eddie Jones from selecting players who are not based in the country for England. However, Lorenzetti has now claimed there was another reason – what Itoje would have cost them. 

Ahead of the Champions Cup last-four encounter, the Racing owner was asked by rugbyrama.fr if Itoje was too greedy. He replied: “Yes, it was unplayable. You know, we weren’t the only ones at the time: Bordeaux, Lyon, Montpellier were all called upon. We were talking about a salary of €1million, that represented ten per cent of our payroll. We made the choice not to go any further.”

Unlike in England, where the reintroduction of fans into stadiums has been paused by government concerns over rising Covid-19 cases, La Defense Arena in Paris will host 5,000 spectators on Saturday. Lorenzetti, though, doesn’t foresee rugby ever getting back to normal attendances unless a vaccine is found. “We are complying with the legislation: 5,000,” he said. 

“We are currently seeing a worrying phenomenon for the entertainment world: the climate is anxiety-provoking, people are afraid to go out and go to matches… I see only one way out, the vaccine. I hope it will arrive soon to calm the body and the mind.”

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With rugby’s finances under pressure around the world due to the ongoing pandemic, there has been speculation in recently in France that an investment fund named Novalpina could inject upwards of €200m into the sport. Lorenzetti, however, isn’t sold on this particular group becoming involved, instead suggesting CVC are the investors who might be best suited to a French rugby buy-in.

“There were hints on the part of Novalpina,” he said. “We will listen to everyone but today, there is an action carried out in rugby by a serious company, which manages €100billion and is called CVC.

“This investment fund has shares in the championship of England, the Celtic League and the deal with the Six Nations tournament is almost concluded. I’m not saying that it is with them that we must deal but CVC already has a good lead.”

 

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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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