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Who's going to start for Stade Racing Francais Metro? And other talking points from the weekend's rugby

Jacques Brunel - the man who would be king at Bordeaux?

England’s super 18 is included, but this week’s two-pint question from the northern hemisphere is: who should play for Paris’s new super-team?

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Win number 18
In beating Scotland at Twickenham to lift the Calcutta Cup at the weekend, Eddie Jones’ men equalled the All Blacks‘ record of 18 consecutive Test match victories. The irony is that the side standing in the way of England overtaking New Zealand is the same side that ended New Zealand’s run in the first place. The debate ahead of the St Pat’s weekend match in Dublin has been whose 18 consecutive wins is the superior run – though it really should not be. The All Blacks scored more points, conceded fewer, played away from home more often, and faced – other than Namibia, who were a World Cup training exercise blip in the All Blacks’ streak – more high-quality teams. There never has been any real argument about which team is better. No, the debate should focus on whether, and how, Ireland could stop England moving on to stand alone with a 19-win record, and winning a Grand Slam in the process. Or, is a back-to-back Grand Slam inevitable. Under official bar-room rugby conversation regulations*, anyone who mentions Cyprus’s 24-match streak should be instantly fined an extra round of beers.

Return flight of the Goose?
Johan Goosen could return to Racing 92 to resurrect a rugby career that was ended by a case of premature retirement in December, according to media reports in France. He was probably left with little choice, given his legal situation, after he suddenly walked out a sizeable portion of a €40,000-a-month deal, prompting the club to threaten legal proceedings, and Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal to brand any other team that may try to hire him as ‘bastards’. It’s probably fair to say neither Goosen nor Racing have come out of this sorry saga well – but the question is whether, after all that has happened over the past few months, the two sides can rebuild burned bridges. And what about his new employers?

To merge or not to merge
Part of the answer to the Goosen question could be the announcement this week that the Top 14’s two Paris-based sides, and two of French rugby’s originals – Racing 92 and Stade Francais – have unveiled plans to merge. Assuming that the plan gets rubber-stamped by the Ligue National de Rugby, there will be just one Paris team in the Top 14 next season. So, this week’s two-pint question (barring rogue mentions of Cyprus during any New Zealand / England debate) is: which players would you keep from the two clubs? Remember, French rugby has a salary cap, and it is enforced.

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In at the side
Forwards (and a fair few backs) all over the world giggled at England winger Jonny May’s scrummaging efforts during the November internationals, but few Irish eyes were smiling when centre Robbie Henshaw decided to add his weight and muscle to an apparently unstoppable rolling maul a few metres from the Welsh line during the two sides’ Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium. His problem? He joined at the side, leaving the referee little option but to award the Welsh a penalty. At the time there was barely anything between the two sides in what was an epic blood-and-thunder match, and he has since admitted that he did not understand the maul laws. Apparently, for the second time in this Six Nations, elite players seem not entirely au fait with the laws of the game that they play – is it time, then, maybe for them to sit a rugby theory test?

Bordeaux blues
It had to happen. Raphael Ibanez has announced he will leave Bordeaux at the end of the season. For the longest time, Rafa had a love-love relationship with the fans, with many expecting, even hoping, that he would be the one to take over from Philippe Saint-Andre. But all is far from rosy in the Bordeaux garden these days. Ironically, their vital bonus-point win over Grenoble at the weekend – their first in the Top 14 since November, which ended their downward spiral and saw them move to eighth in the standings – was probably the final nail in the coffin. The thing is, Ibanez was not there when the Begles ended their winning streak. Instead, he was in Rome, being the perfect pundit for broadcaster France 2’s coverage of the Six Nations match between Italy and France. Conor O’Shea’s predecessor as Italy boss Jacques Brunel, who has been on the staff at the club since leaving his Azzurri post, was the man on the ground, alongside Émile NTamack, and looks favourite to take over.

*No official bar-room rugby conversation
regulations exist. Though they probably should.
And, no doubt, they soon will. Watch this space.

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O
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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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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