RugbyPass was lucky enough to speak to one. of the legends of Springbok Rugby. Steyn spoke openly about his rugby career, as well as his experiences of both the 2009 and 2021 Lions Series.
Jim Hamilton spoke to the Bulls fly half about his experiences in the URC, as well as other chats about schoolboy rugby in South Africa.
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Sign up for freeEven though Matt Sherratt wasn't able to engineer a win, he showed tentative signs of a new Welsh way that could make them more competitive
The Angouleme bulldozer has charted a remarkable voyage from Western Australia to the senior Scotland squad.
The Pumas lock will be living in Twickenham and playing big games there later this year, but wants to leave Bordeaux on a high.
Average is a kind understatement….
But if Farrell father is seeking for a player who will not be tired in july, it's the good choice…
4 Go to commentsCourtney Lawes is doing a good job for Brive, but yes it's ProD2.
4 Go to commentsHowever, noone in their right mind should be considering Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, nor Owen Farrell. Sinckler looks unfit and can barely move around the field with any great urgency. He would be a liability on tour to Australia. Lawes is clearly ‘enjoying life’ in ProD2, and his rugby looks every bit second tier level now.
As for Farrell, not only has he been plagued by poor form and injury since moving to Racing, even the much vaunted ‘kicking record’ has long since been debunked as a USP with a percentage that simply does not stand up to scrutiny. That leaves only the intangible (desperate…) claim he would add ‘leadership’, which in a Lions squad resplendent with talent and international caps is I’m afraid, much like Farrell, a complete non-starter.
Willis is the elephant in the room…a leader and standout option for one of the best club teams in the World. Yet still a relative unknown at Test Match level. I could well see him being included on the tour - and it would prove quite the headache for the RFU if he delivers. But Back Row is so competitive across all three positions, and with genuine World Class talent there too. I’m just not sure the Lions need him.
4 Go to commentsSA in the 6N? Never. Most want promotion/relegation to the REC and many want to keep it as it is. Much better for the game here when countries can finally get into the 6N. It will lead to more investment in REC nations because they can finally get ahead. Tier 1 nations do very little to grow the game outside their countries.
SA should grow the game in Africa. Plenty of potential there.
95 Go to commentsNZR knew exactly when the Top14 final was when they signed the tour contract.
95 Go to commentsAs for France, it’s not about “caring”, it’s about money and the club owners provide their money to drive their club agenda. Period. French rugby is a beast and your JIFF point is well made but SA is a beast also that’s now awake and England is a sleeping beast that is financially stricken. SA will make up a 7N and that will drive all 3 to new levels. The Irish, Scottish and welsh clubs are all union owned and will continue to struggle keeping up but the 7N revenue boost will help, as the SA involvement in the URC is doing currently.
EPL is entirely different, football has followed its own path in allowing the league to detach and is an extreme example of what happens when the clubs are allowed to call the shots across the board. Not a path that rugby will follow fortunately.
95 Go to commentsThat said, NZ have been phenomenally good at what they’ve done but it’s become a lot more difficult to be out in front and that isn’t going to change for them. They need to focus on the pacific 6N and monetise Japan but SA are the powerhouse and will stay that way when they monetise their certain involvement in a 7N comp, which will also boost English and French resources!
95 Go to comments
