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Ex-Lions No8 leads mixed reaction on social media to Bastareaud's positional change

By Josh Raisey
Mathieu Bastareaud has it all to do at Lyon to convince he can realistically play at No8 (Photo by Getty Images)

There has been a mixed reaction on social media to the revelation that Mathieu Bastareaud will attempt to play at No8 next season for his new club Lyon. 

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The former Toulon and France centre is set to join the Top 14 club as a medical joker during the World Cup before his loan move to Rugby United New York in 2020. 

However, the change of scenery is the least of his worries as he attempts a daring transition into a new position. 

This is an idea that has been flirted with in the past. Former France international Thomas Castaignède suggested Bastareaud make the change earlier this year in order to prolong his international career, saying that the 30-year-old is now too old to play in the centre. 

Bastareaud has since retired from international rugby after failing to make the World Cup training squad but has obviously taken the advice on board. 

A move like this is unprecedented in modern rugby, particularly for a player so late in their career and playing at the highest level. Younger players in the past have made similar positional switches, but not after they have earned 54 caps for their country. 

Former British and Irish Lions No8 Jamie Heaslip has said on Twitter that Bastareaud moving position is a “dangerous thought”, while there has also been a positive reaction on Instagram as well. 

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One fan said that this transition “should have been done 10 years ago”. Standing at 20 stone, many have felt that the Frenchman is better suited to the pack. 

However, a move like this will inevitably have its critics. One fan said on Instagram that “I doubt he’ll have the fitness and mobility to be effective at the breakdown and set-piece”.

That is understandable as there is more to playing in the back row than simply being big. But Bastareaud’s work at the breakdown has always been underestimated, as his solid physique makes him hard to shift when he is over the ball. 

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There will be greater demand for him to carry and tackle in the forwards, and it is unseen whether he will have the stamina to do so. 

This is one thing that the rugby world will curiously wait to see unfold, as it will be fascinating to see if a player could make this kind of transition.  

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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