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Toulon expects… cross-coder Ben Barba to emulate SBW

Ben Barba

There’s pressure on Toulon’s new signing Ben Barba to perform from the outset, as his demanding new boss publicly recalls certain former cross-code success Sonny Bill Williams.

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Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal invoked the memory of double World Cup-winner Sonny Bill Williams at the club’s official unveiling of its latest cross-code punt, Ben Barba.

Barba, the former Cronulla Sharks player who quit the NRL after being slapped with a 12-match ban for illicit drug use, has signed for the Top 14 club until the end of the current campaign, with an option for a further two seasons.

Contrary to speculation in Australia that Barba’s Toulon debut could be as long as a year away, French rugby media have said he could make his Top 14 bow as early as this weekend, when Toulon face Lyon at Stade Mayol, despite – like Williams when he first arrived – never having previously played rugby union at elite level.

Given Toulon’s strength across the back line, even during the annual player drain that is the Six Nations, such an early outing seems unlikely. But Barba’s lack of experience in the 15-man game does not concern Boudjellal: “Talent, genius, does not need much time to adapt. He is, for me, a phenomenal player. There are not many [like him] in world rugby.”

The Toulon president cited Williams as a success story that he hopes Barba – on a deal reportedly worth €560,000 a season – will emulate. Williams made his try-scoring union debut for Toulon as a replacement against Clermont just a month after quitting the NRL’s Canterbury Bulldogs in July 2008. He went on score five more times in 33 appearances for the Top 14 side between 2008 and 2010, and has since won two World Cups with the All Blacks and a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs.

Nor is the 27-year-old Barba bothered about his apparent lack of rugby union credentials. He played the 15-a-side game as a teenager in Australia before opting to play rugby league professionally. “I’m not new to the sport,” he said. “I’ve played the game and have a bit of history – but it has been a while.”

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One of the questions still to be answered is how and where he will fit into any Toulon team. “I played at full-back in rugby league – but it’s obviously a different sort of role here in rugby union. I think I’m capable of playing anywhere in the backline … but I’m new to this team, so I guess I’ll just do my job and whatever’s asked of me.”

But it seems Toulon are not looking to change much about their new signing: “One thing that drew me here was when I spoke to [head coach] Mike [Ford] and how he wanted me to play. He … wants me to play as if I was playing rugby league, my natural game. I think that’s what brought me here – the direction and how Mike wants me to play.”

Fitness, meanwhile, should not be a problem. “I’d like to think I’m ready [to play]. I had to be physically ready because I didn’t know what was going to happen. I didn’t want to come here out of shape. I wanted to come here and play as soon as possible.

“I’ve walked around the gym and I’ve seen the pictures of past teams and great players – like Sonny and Jonny Wilkinson – and the guys they have right now, like Matt [Giteau] and Bryan [Habana]. I’m just looking forward to joining the team and getting out on the paddock and playing some rugby.”

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Barba’s club-country-code switch came after he was hit with a 12-game drugs ban in November and initially released by Cronulla Sharks. He would later re-sign with the club on a one-year contract, but the NRL delayed ratifying this second deal, which would have allowed him to begin serving his ban.

That was when Toulon made their offer. Boudjellal said: “Everyone has the right to make mistakes. An error should not determine a lifetime. We want him to go into the rugby academies and schools and tell the kids where not to go wrong.”

Barba admitted that the situation in Australia was difficult – but insisted he was determined to put his past behind him: “It was quite tough to begin with but … I’m in Toulon now, looking forward to this challenge. I’m ready to move on and ready to have a go at playing rugby.

“It was my decision to come here. I could have taken the easy road and stayed in Australia, but I wanted to challenge myself by coming over here.

“I see this as a new and exciting challenge and one that will take me out of my comfort zone and test me as a person. It’s something I’m really looking forward to.”

And he had a message for French rugby journalists. “The media [in France] might not be as crazy as the Australian rugby league press. Hopefully I can perform really well and keep you all on my good side.”

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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 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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