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Yet another Cheslin Kolbe moment of magic lights up Champions Cup

Cheslin Kolbe

Chesklin Kolbe has grabbed the limelight yet again with another moment of magic in the Champions Cup.

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Toulouse are battling to seal a place in the knockout stage by winning their Round 5 fixtures against Connacht Rugby in Galway.

The South African lined out on the left wing, and in the eleventh minute was called on to field a banana clearance kick from Connacht’s Jack Carty.

The ball bounced high and the 5 foot 8 Kolbe rose high to tip the ball over the advancing Connacht winger, before collecting it and running up the field twenty metres.

Some questioned the legality of the tap, although few would question the skill.

Kolbe has been in fine form since he signed for Toulouse and was one of the stars of the Springboks’ triumphant Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan. Europe has been no different. The speedster beat the most defenders (52) and made the most breaks (17) of any player in last season’s Heineken Champions Cup.

Toulouse have won five of their previous seven meetings with Connacht in the Heineken Champions Cup, including their Round 2 clash this season, however, they did lose the last time they faced the Irish province in Galway in 2016/17.

The French side have however lost on each of their last six trips to Ireland, those defeats coming by an average margin of 21 points. Their last victory away to an Irish province was against Saturday’s opponents in 2013/14.

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Toulouse are the only side yet to concede a try in the final 20 minutes of a match this season, while Connacht have conceded seven in the final quarter, more than any other club.

Since losing to Connacht in Round 1 in 2016/17, Toulouse have lost just twice in 15 pool games (W12, D1), winning each of their last five in a row.

More Saracens chat this week as Big Jim and Goodey discuss what the future holds for Saracens after Nigel Wrays decision to leave the club.

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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