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A star-studded Top 14 'new entrants' XV
While broadly speaking clubs across Europe have tightened their belts over the course of a locked-down 2020, the Top 14 have managed to get out their checkbooks out to land a boat full of big fish, fresh to the league.
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Here’s a composite XV of big-name signings, who are new to the French top flight:
15 Telusa Veainu – Stade Francais
The Tongan joins from Leicester Tigers after failing to come to new terms with the English club over a proposed 25 per cent cut in his salary.
14 Kotaro Matsushima – Clermont
The Japanese flyer signs from Suntory Sungoliath following a massive Rugby World Cup campaign last autumn.
13 Izaia Perese – Bayonne
Signs from the Broncos NRL side after an unsuccessful code-hope from the Queensland Reds. The Wallaby is on a redemption mission in the fifteen man code.
12 Kurtley Beale – Racing 92
Maybe the biggest Top 14 signing of the pandemic? A decorated Wallaby, Beale is back in Europe for the first time in three years after a one-season stint at Wasps that ended in 2017.
11 Ben Lam – Bordeaux Begles
It’s a surprise it’s taken this long for Lam to be snapped up by a European side. The 6’4, 105kg wing ousted Julian Savea at the Canes and is a ready-made repalcement for Semi Radradra, who left for Bristol Bears.
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10 Alex Lozowski – Montpellier
The utility back that can play pretty much any position outside nine was one of Saracens’ most high profile departures, but fighting for England recognition ultimately gave way to the riches on offer in France.
9 Cobus Reinach – Montpellier
A cult favourite at Franklin Gardens, the Springbok is maybe the most exciting prospect at scrumhalf to enter the Top 14 this year.
8 Tyler Ardron – Castres
The Canadian forward proved a hit at the Chiefs, and while he is frequently found in the second row as opposed to the back row these days, the one-time Osprey is likely to make a success of his latest adventure in global rugby.
7 Marcos Kremer – Stade Francais
The 6’5, 115kg Jag can cover both the second and the back row, although he seems to have found a home at blindside in recent years. At just 22 years of age is already being feted as a potential Argentinian centurion, having already amassed 24 caps.
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6 Guido Petti – Bordeaux Begles
Petti joins from the Jaguares. Despite being just 25-years-old, the super athletic Pumas lock has been capped 49 times for Argentina, and can also play in the troisième ligne.
5 Will Skelton – La Rochelle
The outsized Wallaby joins La Rochelle after shedding weight and re-discovering himself at Saracens. La Rochelle are known to love big forwards, so an increase in body mass could be on the cards for Will.
4 Izack Rodda – Lyon
Another giant Wallaby lock, Rodda left the Reds after refusing to take a cut-price contract at the Brad Thorn coached Super Rugby side.
3 Pietro Ceccarelli – Brive
Signing from Edinburgh, Italian tighthead Ceccarelli has fifteen caps to his name and has sought out more regular first-team action in France.
2 Joseph Dweba
The powerfully built hooker joins Bordeaux from the PRO14’s Cheetahs. An impressive ball carrier who told RugbyPass earlier this year that he wants to dominate the Top 14.
That ain’t a bad team ? #ProD2https://t.co/tWEmdae3ag
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 13, 2020
1 Titi Lamositele – Montpellier
One of the many to depart Saracens, US Eagle Lamositele can play both sides of the scrum and at 25-years-old, is only just coming into his propping prime.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Semi Kunitani – Castres via Harlequins, Ryno Pieterse – Castres via Bulls, Dillyn Leyds – La Rochelle via Stormers
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments