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Wales and Exeter's exploitation of eligibility loophole has Twitter up in arms

Tomas Francis gets grabbed an admirer whilst leaving the pitch

After Wales prop Tomas Francis has signed a new contract with Exeter to keep him at Sandy Park until 2021 this week, fans have given their reaction on Twitter.

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The Grand Slam winner is one of the few Welsh players that are playing abroad currently with under 60 caps, because his contract was signed before Wales implemented the ruling. As he only has 40 caps, a player in his position would usually have to move back to Wales at the end of his contract to keep his hopes of playing for the national team alive, like what Josh Adams has done at Worcester.

However, the Premiership leaders have found a way around this by extending Francis’ contract rather than giving him a new one. This has allowed them to keep hold of a top player, and for Francis to keep his international career alive.

In light of this contract wrangling, both English and Welsh fans have given their opinion about the entire situation on Twitter. Not only do some fans feel that the ruling is unfair on players, as they should be allowed to make the most money in their short careers, but the manner in which clubs are able to work around the ruling makes a mockery of it.

Continue reading below…

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This is what the fans are saying:

https://twitter.com/Wilttwits/status/1113448482025738241
https://twitter.com/cezzapazza/status/1113454483453939715
https://twitter.com/JohnBrynt/status/1113475671676858368
https://twitter.com/sportabertawe/status/1113453874998927360

While this convoluted system has left some Welsh fans scratching their heads, the Exeter fans are happy with this news.
The fans are praising the club for managing to keep hold of Francis and working their way around the system.

Moreover, they are happy to keep a player of that quality at Sandy Park. Since joining the Chiefs since 2014, he has helped them win the Premiership, and established himself as a favourite under Warren Gatland for the national team, and is in a good position to earn more silverware this season with the Chiefs.

This is what the Exeter fans are saying:

https://twitter.com/Exechief/status/1113486389226672130
https://twitter.com/DonnaJHart11/status/1113486826642264066
https://twitter.com/VikkiSquires19/status/1113570204720795648
https://twitter.com/norman_hartnell/status/1113508086583570434
https://twitter.com/Rhods123/status/1113727356420730880

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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 2 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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