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Biggar ne se voit pas ailleurs qu’à Toulon l’an prochain
Le demi d’ouverture de Toulon Dan Biggar a déclaré qu’il ne pouvait « pas imaginer un autre scénario » que de jouer au Stade Mayol la saison prochaine. Cette déclaration du Gallois intervient juste après que le président du club Bernard Lemaitre a laissé entendre que le club et le joueur pourraient se séparer cet été, sur fond de niveau de jeu insuffisant.
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A 34 ans, celui qui est entré dans le club des centenaires en sélection (112 capes avec le pays de Galles, quatre avec les Lions britanniques et irlandais) dispose d’un contrat jusqu’en 2025 avec le RC Toulon, qu’il a rejoint en 2022. Mais un souci récurrent au dos a réduit son temps et son niveau de jeu comme peau de chagrin depuis le mois de novembre. C’est pourquoi le président Lemaitre a évoqué, lors d’une interview fin mars, la possibilité de mettre fin à son contrat un an plus tôt que prévu.
« Depuis sa blessure au dos, Dan a eu du mal à revenir », estimait le président dans les colonnes du Midi Olympique daté du 29 mars. Il va mieux, mais n’a pas retrouvé son meilleur niveau. Ni même celui de l’an dernier. C’est compliqué pour un champion de cette dimension. Lui veut encore jouer, aller au bout de son contrat. On verra ça dans les prochains mois. »
L’ancien capitaine du XV du Poireau a pris le temps de répondre, et a choisi le journal local, Var-Matin, pour le faire. « Beaucoup de gens m’ont dit : ‘Tu as vu ce que le président a dit sur toi ?’ Il est dans son rôle, ce n’est pas grave », relativise le joueur dans le quotidien régional.
« Cela fait 16 ans que je joue à haut niveau, j’ai l’habitude. Pierre (Mignoni, le directeur du rugby au RCT, ndlr) m’a appelé pour savoir comment j’allais. Mais je vais bien! Il n’y a pas de problème », insiste-t-il.
Et de poursuivre : « Ici, tout est différent (il rit) alors ça parle beaucoup. Moi, je serai là l’an prochain ! Je ne peux pas envisager une autre issue ».
Les remarques présidentielles sont-elles la conséquence du clip viral de Biggar s’effondrant au sol alors qu’il s’apprêtait à tenter une pénalité, en novembre dernier, terrassé par une douleur au dos ?
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En tout cas, l’ancien des Ospreys et de Northampton juge que cette blessure est survenue à cause d’une année 2023 surchargée.
« Après la Coupe du Monde, ç’a été compliqué. Il n’y a pas eu un seul jour où je me suis bien senti. Après l’élimination du pays de Galles en quart de finale, j’ai pris une semaine de repos puis j’ai repris avec le RCT. C’était sans doute trop tôt. Si j’avais pu disposer de quelques jours supplémentaires pour mieux récupérer, ça se serait mieux passé. »
« En un an, j’ai dû digérer le début de saison avec Northampton, mon transfert à Toulon et la saison de Top 14, le Tournoi des Six Nations, la préparation estivale et enfin la Coupe du Monde. Je n’en ai pas l’habitude et j’ai payé la note à Perpignan début novembre », regrette-t-il.
Pour le moment, les blessures semblent derrière Biggar. Il était titulaire lors de la dernière sortie des Toulonnais, vainqueurs 46-10 de Bayonne. Ils recevront Toulouse le 20 avril, et auront sans doute besoin d’un Biggar au top. Pour dominer l’ogre toulousain et encourager le président Lemaître à revoir son jugement.
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Comments on RugbyPass
If stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game. I’d start Jordan with his brother Jaden. Masuku and Nohamba off the bench.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
127 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
9 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
127 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
45 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
9 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
127 Go to comments