Léo Carbonneau passe de la Pro D2 au Racing 92

'Ellis Genge, I have never seen his defence so bad'

Tom 28 minutes ago

Marler has retired about 6 times now so was always on the cards. I don't think he'd jump a sinking ship, it's more likely to do with his mental health.

Interesting thought about FJ and the attack coach role. I remember talk that he was going to be the attack coach, but he's the most coveted defence coach in the world, I'd be surprised if he didn't want to continue in that role...

El-Abd appointment is absolutely shocking and really calls into question Borthwick's suitability as a head coach. Joe El-Abd has never been employed as a defence coach, he's doing a job share while he continues to coach a second division French side who have an awful defensive record and are nearly bottom of the league... What on earth? 😂

How leviathan Will Skelton and the Wallabies reversed the World Cup fiasco

mJ 38 minutes ago

No all I heard is he had an injured knee and had to be convinced to tour. It’s been heavily strapped as well and he was rested last weekend. No news as yet whether he’ll be good to go against Scotland, hope so. AAA is improving but another coming back from an Achilles and not fully back but definitely been better in the autumn series to where he was in the RC.

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AF 59 minutes ago

Double RWC winner highlights one glaring weakness in England's game

I think there's a lot of truth to that. Improved fitness, which is something that can be improved at least, would help make for better decision-making in the latter stages of the game. I also feel though that we just haven't developed enough depth yet, as they allude to. That should be the focus looking ahead. Considering how well England have done at age-grade level in recent years, we can clearly see the talent is there. It's just a case of stepping up to senior level. I do believe that Conor O'Shea has implemented a few things that will pay off. How the EPS contracts play out will be interesting and you would think would help get more out of the players, so, unlike the media storm out there, I'm not overly concerned with England at the moment. I'm more concerned with Wales. We need to be giving them encouragement and helping where we can there. At the end of the day international rugby needs to be as tight, exciting and competitive as possible if the game is to develop and spread worldwide, which it really hasn't done that well over the decades, until maybe more recently.

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DrinkAwayTheConcussion 1 hour ago

New Zealand miss out in player of the year awards

PSDT for me. I keep seeing Ox getting a lot of support in the various threads, I’m not going to pretend to know enough about font row sorcery to dispute it.

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago

South Africa vs Wales | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

10 bucks for me.

Boks by 15.

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WN 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

It's not above all else, RWC, 6N and Autumn tests have higher priorities at this point in time.

Rassie Erasmus pinpoints what made the difference in tight Bok win

NE 1 hour ago

Hoppity hop. Good girl.

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NE 1 hour ago

Because he's light years ahead of the SA nominees. Duh.

NE 1 hour ago

The reality is that Caelan Doris playing in crutches with a broken arm is light years ahead of the SA club level at best nominees. Life's like that. Sadly the average dumb saffa rugby dunce simply doesn't have the knowledge nor understanding of the game to realize this. Sad really.

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

If there’s one thing I’ve become quite certain about in international rugby, is that the head coach is the most importantly spoke in the wheel.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a great team that didn’t have a great coach.

Yes there are other variables, which must combine effectively, but no great coach, no great results.

To this end it should be a priority to have a succession plan in place for head coaches of international teams. For when (1) coaches need to be dismissed or (2) quit on their own terms for whatever reason.

The trouble now for Wales (and soon to be England) is when there are no plans in place, we go two steps further back.

I’d have a plan B in the mix at all times. Preferably in the team already. Or someone outside identified as a successor and kept warm by the union.

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DP 2 hours ago

Because he’s not South African.

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

NB 2 hours ago

They lost but they didn't choke, and there is a lot more to rugby life than just winning World Cups [look at Soccer]. 17 consecutive wins and a series win in NZ counts for something, whate ver you may think....

Maybe you should try watching a bit of 6N or Champions Cup footage before you sneer, it would help blow out some of the antiquated cobwebs!

Seven Springboks changes for tour-ending game versus Wales

Bull Shark 2 hours ago

When I said Hanekom can play at 7 I was scoffed at.

Anyway. Glad he’s getting a start and against Wales. hope he plays well as he is a good replacement for Kwagga Smith. With more options.

Great management of minutes and giving the full squad a run.

Boks by 15.

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NB 2 hours ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Shame because it means so many games. I'd guess a proper players assocaition would block it eventually - or the introduction of a global season with better defined Test windows...

Docant 2 hours ago

Why ?

Seven Springboks changes for tour-ending game versus Wales

Bull Shark 2 hours ago

PSDT probably needs a good break. Oil change.

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PB 2 hours ago

New Zealand miss out in player of the year awards

Rassie has built remarkable depth, so the aging squad is unlikely to hamper the Boks.

Cameron Hanekom the 12th debutant for the year, and all have mostly been successful. He is also the 51st player used in this year.

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NB 2 hours ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You may be right [haven't looked that closely!]. But nothing wrong in principle with Sititi doing the hard yakka in the middle and moving Ardie wider, with Lakai linking and fetching. It's relatively small as B/R's go but it could still work.

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

WN 2 hours ago

Well it would mean also much less TV viewers, so much less tv rights. France is the biggest TV market for Europe.