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Gallagher Premiership

October shortlist for Premiership player of the month unveiled

Bristol Bears' Gabriel Ibitoye and Bristol Bears' Noah Heward celebrate at the final whistle during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate on January 27, 2024 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

In-form Bristol Bears winger Gabriel Ibitoye is one of four players shortlisted for October’s Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month, as he looks to join September winner and club teammate Max Malins on the honours board.

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Ibitoye has been an ever-present in the Bears’ starting line-up this month and raced home for a breathtaking, ninth-minute hat-trick as the Bears staged a stunning comeback against Exeter.

And the 26-year-old was on the scoresheet again last weekend when Bristol saw off reigning Premiership champions Northampton, 31-23, at Ashton Gate.

The other three nominees are no less deserving and they include two back-rowers in Saracens’ Tom Willis and Leicester’s  Olly Cracknell.

Outstanding No.8 Willis is top of the Premiership carry charts with 114, while the industrious Cracknell is fourth on that front, and has been a key player for Leicester in what is shaping up to be a transformative first season under Michael Cheika.

Scrum-half Tomos Williams makes up the quartet having proved pivotal to Gloucester’s new-found attacking style.

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Comments on RugbyPass

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DP 12 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

I can’t see Koch / Kitsie / Frans making the 2027 WC and I’m not convinced by the next in line.. and this goes for hooker too. One thing SA does have is a brilliant scrum coach and I feel he’s got his work cut out for him. I’ve been extremely impressed by the All Black props in last years RC. I do wonder whether Rassie might be looking towards containing scrums as opposed to a blunt object to milk penalties, it may be that if SA can’t replace the golden generation of props we see maybe one set that plays for penalties and another that is employed for strike plays off the base.

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PR 18 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

Very interesting, well researched piece. I do think there will be less pressure on the Bok scrum to generate penalties over the next few years given that some law changes (30-second rule and no scrums from free kicks) are minimising the impact of scrumming. Rassie saw this coming down the road which is why Tony Brown was appointed to make the backline more potent. The Boks already have a more all-round game plan where getting the ball to the backline is as important as scrumming for penalties. Even if the Boks become less dominant in the next few years there are now more ways to hurt opponents.

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SadersMan 25 minutes ago
Six former All Blacks eligible for new nations in 2025

No. It's only possible to transfer to play for a second nation ONCE.

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SadersMan 28 minutes ago
Six former All Blacks eligible for new nations in 2025

Please do some basic research. Akira was born in Auckland, & so is not eligible for Japan.


Also, enough of the fake "controversy" hint about Gus. Gus met the Fiji Coach about playing for them at RWC2019, & nothing came of it. It's not clear who initiated this or why he wasn't selected. Four years later Gus was an ABs injury selection for Frizell. When Frizell later became available, (& with the sacking of Plumtree), new ABs forward coach Jase Ryan didn't re-select Gus. Clearly, zero controversy.

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NB 34 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

Thanks - always enjoy a bit of biltong!

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NB 34 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

Mentioned above by another poster - will have to take a look!

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NB 35 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

Thanks W. glad you enjoyed it.


I wouldn't place too much stock in Carlu Sadie. He still hasn't established himself as starter for UBB ahead of Ben Tameifuna and big Ben is now 33. Fouche I can credit.

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NB 38 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

There's always a perennial question about 'who angles first - THP or LHP?' but Frans has always been able to handle that pressure in the past. Rodd is good but not great and it was a surprise to see him coming on so strong...


Agree Fouche looks to have a few Bok caps in him, but how many?

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NB 40 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

Yes. you can be sure Malherbe, Koch and Kitshoff will not make 2027. The other may, or may not. Bongi won't, Marx might.


I'm actually amazed Brok Harris is still a reall part of the Stormers squad, he has been goign for what seems like decades now!


Atm I think a lot depends on Thomas Du Toit, and poss on both sides of the scrum. He is arguably more effective than big Frans at THP now and better than anyone outside the Ox on the other side.


As you say aligining the u 20s better with thesenioe team's priorities would be a great move!

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Bob Salad II 48 minutes ago
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend: 'The pain of losing can make you better'

They have to come good at some point, don’t they? They’ve been in pretty solid form lately and the Ireland game should be a cracker and I think Scotland will have enough to get the win.


For this Englishman - and irrespective of how the Ireland and then France games go, England have to beat Scotland this year. I think France will be too strong and England might catch Ireland cold first game, but for me, they have to beat Scotland.


Do so, and Borthwick may just hang on to his job.

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GH 53 minutes ago
Antoine Dupont returns in 42-man provisional France Six Nations squad

for once, France might be a favorite in the competition over three outsiders as, in my opinion, Ireland and England have lessened and Scotland might be able to surprise its opponents in more than one game. Nothing is done and the first day will give more certainties I guess...

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Bob Salad II 54 minutes ago
Whisper it, but are Scotland dark horses for the Six Nations?

Good insight in your post though 👍

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Philou 56 minutes ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

I'm quite keen to see how Asenathi Ntlabakanye develops this year, if he can get his conditioning right.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Whisper it, but are Scotland dark horses for the Six Nations?

England first match is huge. TBH England did far better against NZ than Ireland did, and SA had to dig into their experience to win against England in an even game. Win the first two and its game on!

Scotland have France/England away and Ireland at home. Hard to see a win against France in Paris last match.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Whisper it, but are Scotland dark horses for the Six Nations?

Apologies, Sexton drop goal in Paris, you are correct, I'll edit my comment.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Whisper it, but are Scotland dark horses for the Six Nations?

I think the England match in Dublin will be 50:50. Last year England were better but Ireland had opportunities to win ugly. Ireland will need to win at least one of those 3 matches ugly. NZ/SA can do it, Ireland must learn.

Scotland away will be fascinating, but with Ireland scoring less it leaves them a little vulnerable to an attacking threat like Scotland.

Having France second last game suits Ireland. Might suit France also, but if Ireland are in contention with 3 matches in the legs they will be extremely hard to beat in Dublin at that stage.

I also think Wales and Italy away are tough too.

I agree that Sexton's influence was underestimated. It appears he was involved in the planning, coaching and ruthless implementation of the standards, especially attacking, off and on the field. O'Driscoll more gifted perhaps but for influence and effect Sexton is looking like the Irish GOAT.

I watched LaRoche v Leinster. The supporters were hammering that metal stand and you could see Prendergast pacing over and back in the dressing room trying to calm his nerves. He did OK. Interesting to see who starts against England.

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SK 1 hour ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

What is clear is that some players will be too old and will likely not make it. Koch is on the wane and will certainly be under pressure in the next squad. Malherbe has not played much for the Stormers in the past 3 seasons and has often been on physios table. Kitschoff may never be the same player again and is also no spring chicken. Its clear that Du Toit is hungry, he has had to sit out both the world cup triumphs in the last 5 years. Louw is journeyman with less experience on the international stage but can take up the mantle and Steenekamp is building caps nicely. Behind them Fouche is showing promising signs, Ntlabakanye looks good for the Lions and has put in some big shifts recently and Mchunu already has a few caps but needs some time in the Sharks Jersey. The thing about the SA scrum though is its also heavily reliant on the guys in the back. Etzebeth and Mostert add alot with their technique and Snyman adds plenty of Heft as well. The Bok scrum depends on a powerful 8 man effort. They also need a couple of their young hookers to come to the party. South African Franchises have decided to stock their ranks with older players. Nyakane and Koch went to the Sharks and Brok Harris is still playing an important role for the Stormers. You cant develop depth if franchise coaches wont give young props a chance. The other problem is the SA U20 side is a shambles. They play nothing like the Boks. Their scrum was massacred at the U20 championships and its clear the youth development structures have fallen behind England, France, Ireland and the Rugby Championship teams.

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Tom 1 hour ago
Whisper it, but are Scotland dark horses for the Six Nations?

I don't think so. They have an outside chance if the stars align. They're definitely capable of beating all the other teams but I don't see them doing it. Likely a 3rd place.

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Ed the Duck 1 hour ago
Whisper it, but are Scotland dark horses for the Six Nations?

You’re spot on with the way the fixtures fall each year and that gives ireland an advantage, but I think they might need it. Much depends on Prendergast and whether he can seriously begin to fill the undoubted void left by you know who! Big boots to fill and it’s very early for him but he might just surprise. Then come France, with du Pont back they will be formidable and no mistake. For Scotland, they need to over perform their ranking and it’s been a very long time since they’ve achieved that. It’s possible, just, but I won’t be betting on it.


Straight fight between Ireland and France for me, and that home advantage might just be enough to see them…home!

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Flankly 1 hour ago
Will the Springboks Bomb Squad bomb out before 2027?

Good piece, Nick. Thanks.


Agree. Rassie blooded a good number of new faces last year, but I was surprised that we did not see more of them in the front row. That's a problem for the RWC, as props need experience. Rassie seems to have a belief in the old guard.


Not sure about the refereeing of Malherbe this last weekend. It looked to me as though the loose head was shifting his hips out and not scrumming straight. One of the commentators also remarked on this. Having said that, Frans did not seem to have an answer, which you would hope he would. And whatever trickery was afoot, Fouche did have an answer.

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