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Saracens reveal Bosch is leaving the club

Marcelo Bosch

Saracens have confirmed Marcelo Bosch will leave the club at the end of the season.

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The former Argentina international, who has played 130 times for Sarries to date, will depart Allianz Park as somewhat of a cult hero after dedicating the past six years of his life to the Men in Black.

Joining from Biarritz in 2013, Bosch featured 20 times during his debut season in north London and won his first piece of silverware the following year, playing 80 minutes in the Anglo-Welsh Cup win over Exeter Chiefs.

A month later the centre kicked himself into Saracens folklore, dispatching a last-gasp penalty from near the halfway line against Racing Metro in a famous European quarter-final victory before ending the campaign as a first-time Premiership champion.

Bosch contributed hugely to the 2015/16 double-winning season which included seven outings on the way to the club’s first ever Heineken Champions Cup triumph. He went two games better the following campaign, scoring three tries as the club retained their European crown.

Another accolade followed for the 35-year-old who came off the bench against Exeter in last year’s Premiership final.

A model professional on and off the pitch, Bosch’s warm, welcoming charm is acknowledged by all that have met him and everyone at Saracens would like to thank him for his massive contribution to the club and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

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“It’s been magnificent and I’m very grateful,” he said.

“I arrived at the age of 29 and if you would have told me at that time that I would still be over here playing for this team I wouldn’t have imagined it.

“We play rugby and we are blessed to play something that we love and even more so because we’re involved in a team like this one with very good human beings involved, great people behind the scenes as well – perhaps people who aren’t on the field or not the coaches but people you cross every day who have a smile on their face and it’s great to catch up with them as well.

“It will be sad to leave because when you’re in a place you’re very happy, you love loads of things and you have made amazing memories then it’s hard to let go. I want to remember this time of my life with a smile on my face and feel blessed to have lived here the past six years.”

Director of Rugby Mark McCall added: “When we recruit players at Saracens, we are primarily concerned with signing good people. In Marcelo, we have a clear example of why.

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“Chelo gives everything for his teammates every time he takes the field, playing with his trademark style and grace. Off the field he has significantly contributed to the development of the Saracens culture; many within our group consider Chelo a close friend and someone whom they will always hold in great affection. He is a man of enormous integrity and has always put the team’s needs above his own. He has made Saracens a better club. We wish him and his family every success in the future.”

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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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