Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Roberts' ex-teammate wants more European players to make the move south

(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Former Wallabies captain James Horwill has said that it is “great to see more northern hemisphere players heading south” after it was revealed his former Harlequins team-mate Jamie Roberts has joined the Stormers. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Welsh centre left Bath with immediate effect on Thursday and is set to team up with the Cape Town-based Super Rugby side ahead of the start of this season, which begins on January 31. Josh Matevesi has arrived at the Rec from Newcastle as a replacement. 

While it is commonplace to see players from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia move to the northern hemisphere in the latter stages of their careers, particularly when they have given up Test rugby (although South Africans can now represent the Springboks regardless of where they play), the journey in the opposite direction is less trodden. 

Roberts’ journey against the grain is something that Horwill clearly supports, and this is something that has been echoed by many fans as well in the wake of the announcement. 

Only a handful of players from Europe have ever made the move before and although it usually suspends any hopes of playing international rugby for the players, it has always been regarded as an opportunity to play rugby in a different environment.

(Continue reading below…)

Schalk Brits tells RugbyPass about bringing the William Webb Ellis trophy back to South Africa

Video Spacer

Danny Cipriani and James Haskell are two players that made the move in their prime, and returned to play for England after that. Likewise, France’s Frederic Michalak had spells with the Sharks in South Africa and still played for his country after. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The likes of Andy Goode, Geoff Parling and Gareth Delve have also made the move in the past, but that was once their Test hopes had expired. 

https://twitter.com/JHorwill/status/1217803435820666880

Harlequins’ Joe Marchant is currently on loan with the Blues, which is a unique move for a young English player, but will equally have a hugely beneficial time playing alongside Beauden Barrett before he returns to England and fights for a Test spot. 

The 33-year-old Roberts has not played a Test for Wales in over two years and while he still holds hopes of wearing red again, this move is one that he clearly wants to make. 

Playing in South Africa should not damage his chances of playing for Wales any more than playing in Bath did theoretically, as he is still eligible to be picked having 94 Wales caps (97 including the British and Irish Lions). 

ADVERTISEMENT

Roberts now has a brilliant chance to experience a different style of rugby from what he has been used to in Europe. The bulldozing centre replaces World Cup winner Damian de Allende, who now plays in Japan, and serves as a like-for-like alternative. 

In his prime, he was easily one of the best centres in the world and it must be positive that the northern hemisphere has a chance to showcase some players in Super Rugby. 

WATCH: The time Freddie Michalak drank champagne out of a water bottle before kicking at goal

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
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
TRENDING
TRENDING England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024 England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024
Search