1
Faf trop cher, Frisch pisté par le Top 14, Mercer de retour en France : les bruits et rumeurs de la semaine
Toulon aimerait toujours faire venir le N.8 anglais Zach Mercer, même si Gloucester demande environ un million de livres sterling (1,2 million d’euros) pour l’autoriser à quitter Kingsholm avant la fin de son contrat.
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Montpellier a essayé de faire revenir son ancien joueur (2021-2023) mais a essuyé une fin de non-recevoir. Le club héraultais a, on le sait, opté pour Billy Vunipola à la place. Toutefois, il se murmure que la femme de Mercer, Emily, s’est envolée pour la France la semaine dernière. Et les bords de la Méditerranée ? A suivre.
Antoine Frisch pisté par La Rochelle
La Rochelle, double championne d’Europe en titre, s’est lancée dans la course au trois-quarts centre franco-irlandais du Munster, Antoine Frisch. Formé à l’université de Loughborough, le natif de Fontainebleau, 27 ans, est également sur les tablettes de Toulon et Montpellier.
Mais le Munster, avec qui Frisch est sous contrat jusqu’en 2025, a aussi son mot à dire. Si un club français veut vraiment celui qui a participé à un rassemblement des Bleus durant le Tournoi des Six Nations dès cet été, il lui faudra sans doute signer un chèque à six chiffres.
Peut-on espérer un retour d’Agustin Creevy en France ?
Le vétéran argentin Agustin Creevy quittera Sale au terme de son contrat, cet été, mais cela ne signifie pas nécessairement qu’il va prendre sa retraite.
Il se murmure que le talonneur, 39 ans et plus de cent sélections avec les Pumas, pourrait chercher un autre club en France.
Là où il a commencé sa carrière, à Biarritz en 2007, puis à l’ASM et à Montpellier, avant de partir en Angleterre il y a 11 ans.
Faf de Klerk convoité… mais hors de prix ?
Le CV de Faf de Klerk a fait le tour du Top 14, de la Premiership, du United Rugby Championship. Sans succès jusque-là, sans doute dû aux exigences salariales du demi de mêlée, estimée à plus de 800 000 euros par an.
Le joueur de 32 ans, double vainqueur de la Coupe du Monde, est aussi sur les tablettes de Cardiff, tandis que Toulon, Montpellier, Bayonne et Perpignan sont tous à la recherche d’un demi de mêlée de classe internationale pour la saison prochaine. Mais seuls le RCT et le MHR semblent en mesure de lui offrir le salaire espéré.
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Cependant, si personne ne casse sa tirelire, il devrait rester au Japon où les Yokohama Canon Eagles en ont fait l’un des joueurs les mieux payés au monde, avec un salaire annuel d’environ 900 000 livres sterling (1 million d’euros).
Kevin Sinfield avec les Quins ?
Les Harlequins aimeraient toujours convaincre Kevin Sinfield de les rejoindre. L’adjoint au sélectionneur de l’Angleterre quittera l’équipe de Steve Borthwick au retour de la tournée d’été au Japon et en Nouvelle-Zélande.
L’ancien treiziste est pressenti pour prendre la place de l’Irlandais Jerry Flannery, qui délaisse le championnat anglais pour devenir entraîneur de la défense de l’Afrique du Sud, championne du monde.
Henry Slade a confié que la prolongation de son contrat avec les Chiefs d’Exeter était en bonne voie. « Je suis en train de finaliser et de régler certaines choses, mais rien n’a encore été signé. Les discussions se déroulent bien, j’espère que tout sera bientôt réglé. Je suis persuadé que je serai là l’année prochaine », a-t-il déclaré.
Japan Rugby League One
Group Standings
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Saitama Wild Knights
11
11
0
0
51
2
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
11
10
1
0
46
3
Tokyo Sungoliath
11
8
3
0
39
4
Kobelco Kobe Steelers
11
7
4
0
34
5
Yokohama Canon Eagles
11
7
4
0
33
6
Kubota Spears
11
5
6
0
26
7
Shizuoka BlueRevs
11
5
6
0
24
8
Toyota Verblitz
11
5
6
0
24
9
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
11
5
6
0
22
10
BlackRams Tokyo
11
2
9
0
13
11
Mie Honda Heat
11
1
10
0
5
12
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
11
0
11
0
2
Conference B
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Saitama Wild Knights
11
11
0
0
51
2
Yokohama Canon Eagles
11
7
4
0
33
3
Toyota Verblitz
11
5
6
0
24
4
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
11
5
6
0
22
5
BlackRams Tokyo
11
2
9
0
13
6
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
11
0
11
0
2
Conference A
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
11
10
1
0
46
2
Tokyo Sungoliath
11
8
3
0
39
3
Kobelco Kobe Steelers
11
7
4
0
34
4
Kubota Spears
11
5
6
0
26
5
Shizuoka BlueRevs
11
5
6
0
24
6
Mie Honda Heat
11
1
10
0
5
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Comments on RugbyPass
Ahh too many OK 7’s out there at the moment, would have loved to have Harmon (and Boshier from Panasonic) included on that list (although I don’t know what I’m looking at with those stats!). I would love to see another 7 come through like Cane (who VdF has molded off), who was a real attacking machine before his neck injury and inability to turn his head/upper body to pass or catch properly forced his style to change. No sure McReight is it, he looks more like a canny McCaw than the blasters Hooper and Cane were. The real issue is what use can Schmidt mold out of his ability and skills in just two short seasons. I think Cale could do a lot of the more skillful stuff. McReight is probably best to knuckle down and do the core duties a modern day Cane performs for the other two loosies (if he’s the best Schmidt has to play with at 7).
41 Go to commentsI’ve little doubt that England is comfortably the No 1 team and not only beat other teams but beat them easily. Not so sure about France. They should be No 2 after winning 3 of last 4 matches against NZ and only a straightforward missed kick prevented it from being 4 out of 4. However, then they inexplicably lost to Canada and Wallaroos in WXV. I thought the NZ match was their “cup final” and they took the others lightly, but they were not particularly impressive in 6N except in flashes. I think they have stood still whilst Canada and England have moved forward but I don't think Canada has the depth and their team is ageing. I agree NZ not moving forward. What will be interesting is how the Wallaroos fare against NZ and then again in their September match against Ireland and then in WXV2 against other 6N teams. I was surprised they lost to USA.
3 Go to commentsI don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
44 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
2 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
2 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
44 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
41 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
3 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
44 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
41 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
10 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
44 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to comments