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Bernard Le Roux on what really happened in that AWJ incident: 'I feel bad about it'

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French forward Bernard Le Roux has given his side of story with regards to a citing complaint made against him following France’s recent match with Wales.

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The second-row forward was cited for striking Welsh skipper Alun Wynes Jones with a forearm during France’s 38 – 21 friendly win in Paris on October 24th. The disciplinary panel looked favorably on Le Roux and cleared him, although the decision raised some eyebrows in the media.

Two weeks on and Le Roux has addressed in the indiscretion on Le French Rugby Podcast. “I didn’t really notice it happen during the game. I only really noticed it after the game during the videos. I thought, ‘this looks really bad’.

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Bernard Le Roux talks to the French Rugby Podcast:

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Bernard Le Roux talks to the French Rugby Podcast:

“I was pretty stressed. I didn’t sleep for two days. I’ve got quite a history with tackling and rucking… obviously, that’s my job. Physicality has always been part of my game.

“I was super stressed after the game. It was really accidental, although a lot of people don’t really think about it. We were in this struggle on the ground after the tackle. I don’t know if you saw this, but I fall to my left hand in this really awkward position and my shoulder sort of bends behind my back and I was really looking to go to ground with my forearm.

“And my arm has sort of slid over his face. It looked really bad. It looked horrible but honestly, it was accidental. I feel bad about it.”

“It was really an accident although you guys don’t think so. I’m just glad I got off.”

Podcast anchor Benjamin Kayser joked that: “I would have loved to see the face of your lawyer when you tried to explain that one. I would have been hiding under the table with sweat drops down my forehead.

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“I don’t Alun Wyn Jones took any offence at all. Rugby is a battle, rugby has a serious physical side. I think that last elbow was too much and you were lucky, but if you got away, then fair play. Who’s gives a s***. Let’s move on.”

 

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NoLongerARuck 52 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

The Six Nations produced so many compelling games and so much of action packed moments that you can only conclude that its the best international comp out there at the moment except for a world cup. If Wales improve it will be even better especially given the strides Italy have made in recent times. The Rugby Championship is now taking a hiatus in a year it really should be building toward something better which is terrible considering the competition was so tight last year. The Nations Champs promises much but one gets the feeling that the 6 Nations teams will not be at their peak given its at the end of their long season. In terms of rugby quality and entertainment Id rather watch the 6 Nations over everything else other than a world cup right now. The North arguably offers more in terms of entertainment than the South at club level as well. The Prem, the Champs Cup, URC and Top 14 all feature plenty of scoring and different playing styles while Super Rugby seems to be the same thing game in game out. While the South tries to speed up the game artificially with new trials and law variations the North has shown you can do it with good refereeing which penalises cynical play harshly and encourages positive actions on the field. In terms of entertainment the North wins. In terms of winning? They are making strides but until they win another world cup or get a team to rank number 1 again for an extended time again they cant really say they are better than the South.

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