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The upside to why Jones thinks 'rugby is a s*** sport sometimes'

(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Harlequins assistant Adam Jones has explained why he thinks rugby is a crap sport at times but even that negative aspect has its upside in providing opportunities to other players. The ex-Wales and Lions prop is scrum coach at the 2021 Gallagher Premiership champions and he accepts that as terrible as injuries are, the positive is that a door can open for someone else to get a chance in the team and thrive.

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This is what has happened at Harlequins regarding their tighthead position. When the Londoners swaggered their way 15 months ago to the second league title of their history, Wilco Louw was the force of nature driving on their scrum. He started 19 matches in that league campaign and so effective was he that the Springboks capped him versus Argentina in August 2021, two years after he has last appeared internationally for his country.

Last season, though, wasn’t what Louw would have hoped for. He started just three games in the league but the injuries he suffered had a silver lining for Harlequins as Will Collier emerged from the South African’s shadow to show his scrum prowess which took him all the way back into the England squad, a level of rugby where he hadn’t been capped since 2017.

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Collier ultimately didn’t bridge that five-year international gap but Jones has savoured the overall increased level of competition for the Harlequins tighthead berth, a position where the pendulum has now swung back the way of Louw for this Sunday’s trip to Exeter after Collier was an early casualty in last Saturday’s home loss to Saracens.

“Rugby is a s*** sport sometimes around injuries but it gives people a chance to stake their claim and show what they can do and when they take it it’s good,” said Jones. “To be fair, Wilco started the season we won (the title) and last year he played a few games and had a few injuries. Will came in and took his chance. It was almost to the point where we couldn’t not pick Will because he was so dominant. With every team he was coming up against, we were on top in that area.

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“He [Collier] went from three years ago being probably the most penalised to now winning the most penalties. The turnaround has been fantastic for him,” continued Jones about the No3 area of the team that last weekend’s required an early first-half change. “Will hurt his knee. Nothing definite yet. It looked painful. It was frustrating because the first two scrums we had a real crack at them [Saracens] and we got a good penalty off one and why it wasn’t a penalty off the other I don’t know. He has been great, he was very unlucky not to tour in the summer (with England) and I hope it’s not too bad.”

Asked what the rivalry between Louw and Collier is like at Harlequins, Jones quipped with a laugh: “They hate each other. No, they are great to work with and it is good for us the fact that we have got those two there and Simon Kerrod, who has been playing loosehead, can come back across and play tighthead so there is a good stable of props at the moment.

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“We have had a pretty good scrum the last few years so we know it is going to be targeted and teams are going to try and disrupt it, so it is on us to keep on top of it and keep driving standards. The fact we have all these quality props when it comes to training, whoever is in, it is so competitive and that does drive the standards. It’s a good scrum environment, a pleasure to do the work.”

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P
PL 39 minutes ago
Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


The officiating of last feet is non existent

The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

Last feet to last feet + 1 m


When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

25 were scrum for dissent


Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


All the s.ite would disappear


The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

1 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 1 hour ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

236 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 2 hours ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


I really hope that:

-Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

-Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

-Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

236 Go to comments
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