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'He was on his bed stark-bollock naked, they ran in, flipped his bed, turned his room over and then just legged it'
Current Newcastle assistant coach Nick Easter has become the latest character to earn selection in the notorious RugbyPass Offload Tourist XV after Mike Brown nominated his former England and Harlequins teammate for inclusion, revealing some team hotel high jinx in France as an example.
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The fantasy Offload Tourist XV is aiming to pick 15 players who most enjoy themselves away from the rugby pitch and a night out is never dull when they are involved. Prior to Brown’s appearance on this week’s show with Jamie Roberts, eight players had already been selected.
Irish trio James Downey, Dave Kilcoyne and Neil Best has made the cut their various capers, as had Fijian Niko Matawalu, England’s Chris Ashton, Scottish pair Finn Russell and Jon Welsh and Wales’ Andy Powell, the infamous driver of a golf buggy along the motorway late one night.
Now, 42-year-old Harlequins legend Easter has earned selection, Brown slotting the 54-cap ex-England No8 in at second row as Powell had already been chosen at the back of the scrum.
Explaining why he chose Easter, Brown said: “I was struggling with second row so I thought outside the box, thinking Nick Easter who played second row for Harlequins a few times. He for me epitomises a social player.
"Sometimes it works, sometimes guys just can’t handle it at all and then you don’t see them ever again”
– Mike Brown has provided RugbyPass Offload with a compelling insight into what life is really like with Eddie Jones' England#GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/F312e8tKNK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 21, 2021
“He was always leading the charge when we had away games. He would be the one organising socials, always the one leading the court sessions. He’d get loose and absolutely love it. He was very old school in that sense. He was a big part of what we were about in 2012 in terms of enjoying each other’s company on and off the pitch (the year Harlequins won the Premiership title).
“If I could slip him in somewhere at least he can go in the second row because No8 is taken already. Apart from him at second row I can’t think of anyone else.”
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Asked for a story to highlight Easter’s good time bloke credentials, Brown recalled an incident that took place cross-channel and involved catching then Harlequins head coach John Kingston by surprise in his bedroom on the night after a game.
“We had a European trip away in France and John Kingston ended up getting his room broken into with a hotel key taken from the lobby. They went in and flipped his bed. It ended up getting blamed on George Robson but ‘Minty’ [Easter] was the one leading the charge.
“They had come in off a night out and thought they would give it a go by getting someone’s key. They picked John Kingston, being the head coach, asked for the room key of John Kingston. They [hotel reception] gave it to these players and it was Minty leading the charge.
“They went in his [Kingston’s] room. Apparently he was on his bed stark-bollock naked. They ran in and flipped his bed. Danny Care was one of them. Ugo (Monye). They ran in, flipped his bed, turned his room over and then just legged it.
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“For some reason he [Kingston] thought it was George Robson, who was actually his sort of favourite player. The next morning at 6am they had a coaches meeting to review the game, watching the game together, so they called George Robson thinking it was him.
“They made him come down for two hours, sit and watch the game with him sat in the corner. No one spoke to him and they then just said ‘leave’. George had no idea why but it was because of that… Minty was leading the charge on that.”
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"We won more trophies when I was the head coach at Harlequins than at any time in the professional era. I know what I have achieved."#ICYMI: @heagneyl ??? caught up with John Kingston earlier last Autumn and he had plenty to get off his chesthttps://t.co/RbSZEGTjaH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 3, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
121 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
1 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
5 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
121 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
36 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
5 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
121 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
36 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to commentsOwen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
36 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
1 Go to commentsNot sure why Papali’i thinks Scott Robertson needs his help to select the next All Black Captain. In my view, Papali’i would be well advised to have a good hard look at his own game, and to reflect on how fortunate he is to even wear the black jersey. Rather than shouting at his team mates at every set piece, standing in the mid-field pointing and holding his arms out and flopping to the ground at the back of every second or third ruck, may I suggest he would be far better employed actually doing something on the field. Seriously, watch him for 10 minutes during a game - not much happens. When was the last time he was first to a breakdown, or actually made a turnover? If Robertson is half the Coach I think he is, Papali’i will not be anywhere near the AB’s this season.
16 Go to comments