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'It would make it a lot easier if I didn't agree with the decisions and I could hold a grudge... but I can't say anything bad'
Jamal Ford-Robinson has given the fledgling Chris Boyd era at Northampton his seal of approval – even though the Kiwi decided he didn’t want the prop on the Saints roster for 2019/20.
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The 2017 member of the England squad that toured Argentina has exited Franklin’s Gardens holding no grudges against the coach whose decision left him seeking out pastures new at Gloucester.
“As a player who got released from Saints without that being my plan, it would probably make it a lot easier for me if I didn’t agree with the decisions Chris had made and I could hold a grudge, but one of the things that has come from being a bit older is seeing things from a different perspective,” explained Ford-Robinson in an interview with the Northampton Chronicle.
“I can’t say anything bad about the club and I would have made exactly the same decision they made. I spoke to Chris at one of our end-of-season socials and said the same thing to him.
“I like to think we’ve got a good relationship and it’s great to see the young boys like Alex (Mitchell), Lewis (Ludlam) and Teimana (Harrison) getting some recognition. The club is in great hands.”
Saints farewell interview: Jamal Ford-Robinson https://t.co/bS21K2SaPk pic.twitter.com/qJkDMBSAcL
— Northampton Sport (@chronsport) July 3, 2019
Now 25, Ford-Robinson is exiting after a two-season stint at Saints where he feels he didn’t consistently showcase his best rugby. “I don’t think I even came close really because although I racked up a few games, they were normally off the bench,” he said.
“In the second year, I was unlucky with injury early on and when I came back, the ship was starting to settle and you can’t really ask for any changes when that happens.
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“If the same coaching team had been around in the second year they’d have known what I did in the first year – I played more than 20 games – but the coaches changed and then I got my injury, so you got the worst of two worlds in terms of being able to prove yourself.
“If you’re a big dog walking around with loads of England caps, the coaches know what you’re about but when you’re in a position where you need to break through and prove yourself and you can’t start doing that, you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“I picked up what seemed like a nothing injury during a wrestling session and there didn’t seem to be an incident that happened. I wasn’t like, ‘Oh, my knee’s gone’, it just started to swell up later in the day and I had scans, which showed I’d done my knee cartilage.
“It kept me out until September, October time and my comeback game was up at Newcastle in the A League and that set it off, which kept me out until Christmas time.
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“The time I came back was when they were getting the scrum sorted and you can’t ask the coaches to mess with something that’s not broken. If I was in Chris’ position, I’d have made exactly the same calls all the way.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments