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The 'locked in stone' legacy Semi Radradra is leaving at Bristol

(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Semi Radradra doesn’t have much longer left in his three-year stint with Bristol. The Bears have just six Gallagher Premiership matches remaining this term, starting with Friday’s home encounter versus Northampton, with a Challenge Cup run to also complete. Then that will be that for the Fijian magician as he will pack his bags for a new life at Lyon for the 2023/24 season via representing his country at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

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Despite some time-consuming injuries along the way, most recently another knee operation that left him waiting until December to get this season started, the 30-year-old has worn the Bristol shirt on 48 occasions, scoring a tally of 14 tries that would have been more but for his generosity when it comes to finishing off guaranteed scores.

Asked about the legacy that Radradra will leave when he exits Ashton Gate for the last time in May as a Bristol player, Bears boss Pat Lam said at his midweek media briefing: “The big thing for Semi is his legacy is already locked in stone here in what he has done in the environment, the person he is, the standards that he set, the unselfish stuff he does.

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“Some of the biggest things? You just have to look at how many tries he has gifted to other players, just handed a player the ball. That sums up who he is. He is very selfless and he spends a lot of time with players, young players. He is always thinking about how he makes people around him better, whether that is on or off the field.

“That is his legacy and that is something we have been privileged to experience. It is always going to be a privilege that Semi Radradra is always going to be a Bristol Bear. He has had a big impact here and the resilience and the toughness of the guy – the medics will tell you during the injuries that he had, a lot of players would not have made it because but because of who he is and his professionalism, that is why he has made it back.

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“We are enjoying every moment that we have left and there are going to be some excellent moments to come. He was phenomenal at training on Wednesday. Phenomenal. I had lunch with AJ MacGinty and Jimmy Williams and they were just going on, ‘Did you see Semi? I don’t know how he did this!’ They were waxing lyrical about him. He is in great form and that is his legacy.”

When it came to picking his own Radradra highlight from the Fijian midfielder’s three years at the English club, Lam vouched for the immediate impact the powerhouse made in propelling Bristol to European glory in October 2020 when the delayed 2019/20 Challenge Cup tournament resumed.

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“Probably the run-in to the Challenge Cup. The Bordeaux game [the semi-final], what he did there, the tries he set up. The Dragons game before that where he was on fire, and then Toulon in the final. There are so many moments. So many.

“But the biggest thing, I mention someone like Joe Jenkins, Semi took him under his wing. This is an 18-year-old when he made his debut for us [the club’s youngest starting debutant in the Premiership versus Saracens last November].

“Joe has made massive improvements and I believe he is going to be a quality player, but he is milking everything with Semi, watching, learning, observing listening, so that’s exciting.”

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Comments

2 Comments
i
isaac 612 days ago

Theres just so much to like about this guy

R
Richard 613 days ago

Semi - a Bristol legend, wish he didn’t have so many injuries but overall wish he could stay another season or two

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Oh no, not him again? 3 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 3 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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