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What Racing 92 boss Stuart Lancaster has asked of Siya Kolisi ahead of debut

Siya Kolisi poses with his jersey after his official presentation at the headquarters of the French top14 rugby union club, in Le Plessis-Robinson, outside Paris, on November 9, 2023. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi is set to make his Racing 92 debut this Sunday against reigning Investec Champions Cup winners La Rochelle in the Top 14, after his head coach Stuart Lancaster confirmed his availability.

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Despite arriving in Paris over a week ago to link up with his new team, the flanker has not seen any action yet as he acclimatises to his new surroundings and recovers from the Springboks’ victorious World Cup campaign.

After training all week with the Parisian outfit, Lancaster confirmed on Friday that Kolisi is available to take the field at La Defense Arena, suggesting he will play his first match since defeating the All Blacks at the Stade de France. The former England boss has given the Springbok some simple instructions ahead of his debut, telling him to focus on the basics as he grows accustomed to a new system in both attack and defence.

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“He has trained all week and he is available for selection,” Lancaster said at Racing’s press conference.

“I am simply going to ask him to initially concentrate on the basics.

“It is a new system for him both in defence and attack which he has still to acclimatise to.

“It is a very important match for him, he was very focused this week and is eager to play.”

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Kolisi was present at the Stade Jean Bouin last week as Racing beat Stade Francais in the Parisian derby, leaving them level on points with their rivals at the top of the league (in second due to points difference). Though last season’s Top 14 runners-up La Rochelle are languishing in eighth, they have now won two matches on the bounce as their internationals have returned to action to bolster their squad significantly.

Lancaster will be all too aware of the threat Ronan O’Gara’s side pose, and will want to field his best team possible to get the victory, which would surely include the South Africa skipper.

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AM 4 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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