Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

After an understated display in his Bristol debut last weekend, Semi Radradra has reminded the world what he's capable of

By Online Editors
Semi Radradra. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

When the Gallagher Premiership returned to screens around the world last weekend, fans were especially excited about the prospect of seeing the competition’s latest signings on display for their new clubs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Two of the men that attracted the most attention were World Cup stars Manu Tuilagi and Semi Radradra, who are well known for their abilities to draw in defenders and then send them packing.

It was a quiet weekend for the two stars in their debuts for Sale and Bristol, however, with their respective sides both struggling to shake off the rust from the massive break in play – and the weather didn’t exactly promote open field running.

Video Spacer

The Rugby Pod I Season 5 I Episode 2

Video Spacer

The Rugby Pod I Season 5 I Episode 2

Fans took to social media to vent their disappointment at the limited ball seen by the two powerful Pacific Islanders.

Thankfully, there were no such complaints during Tuilagi and Radradra’s second outings for their newly adopted clubs, with the flying Fijian, in particular, receiving plenty of ball and causing havoc for this weekend’s opponents, Gloucester.

While Radradra managed just six touches in Bristol’s narrow victory over Saracens last week, the action flowed his way on Friday and the burly midfielder accrued 16 runs – chalking up 130 running metres in the process.

Radrdra scored the Bears’ bonus point try in the 29th minute of their encounter with Gloucester and provided the final pass for two more of Bristol’s scores.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unsurprisingly, fans were full of praise for the Bears’ Fijian import on Twitter.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following the match, Gloucester head coach George Skivington admitted that it’s impossible not to be impressed by Radradra.

“He is pretty special, isn’t he? There were two or three showings of what he’s made of. He is an outstanding player.”

Bristol’s 33-24 victory ensured they will retain second spot on the Premiership standings for the round, eight shy of Exeter – who also picked up a win. The two ladder leaders will go head to head on Tuesday with plenty of changes expected for both sides, given the quick turn-around.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

44 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'It's an All Black discussion': The pair of young Hurricanes tipped for black jerseys The pair of young Hurricanes tipped for black jerseys
Search