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Koch's 'funny' time and what Itoje is 'very clear on' at Saracens
Saracens boss Mark McCall has relayed how Vincent Koch is relieved to be back in the mix with the London club following his four months with the Springboks, adding that Lions talisman Maro Itoje is champing at the bit to be involved this Sunday away to Bath in what would be his first appearance of the season. The 31-year-old South African prop brought the curtain down on his long spell outside England by helping his country to an October 2 win over the All Blacks in Australia.
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He has since returned to his Premiership club and ahead of a busy winter with Saracens and also with the UK-touring Springboks in November, McCall has promised they will ensure they will do exactly what is best for the front-rower. “He has had a funny more than twelve months,” reported McCall when asked what state Koch is in following his Springboks exertions.
“He has been not busy at all and then very busy. He didn’t play a game between the end of October and the start of March. There was this huge period of time where he didn’t play any rugby at all. He has been busy since then but he is just glad to be out of a bubble environment, glad to be back in his house with his wife and his kid, back in with the boys and that kind of thing. We will look after him over the course of the next three, four months, make sure he gets plenty of time off as well as playing rugby.”
In contrast to Koch’s hectic schedule, England lock Itoje hasn’t played a match since starting for the Lions in Cape Town on August 7. Itoje was entitled to a nine-week break in between games and Saracens afforded him that with a view to ensure he hits the ground running at The Rec in what will be his first Premiership outing in twelve months due to his club’s one-season stay in the Championship.
“He came back into training at the same time as everybody else but we wanted to give him a little more time than the other Lions players because he played a few more minutes than everybody else, but he is champing at the bit and it is great to have him back,” reported McCall, who insisted Itoje has remained as grounded as ever at Saracens and hasn’t been swayed by his growing profile, both inside and outside of rugby.
"I ain’t going to Rotherham for love nor money"
– Andy Goode had told the latest edition of @TheRugbyPod about the tempestuous run-in he had with his then-agent when he was leaving Saracens in winter 2003 #Tigers #Sarries #Agents #GallagherPremhttps://t.co/OvRYg9aGGK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 12, 2021
“Maro is very much in control of the most important things in his life. He is very clear on that. I have never seen anything that would indicate that his rugby is suffering in any way. So he is completely on top of things, I would say up there with any of our players in terms of a day in, day out consistent trainer and is someone who is as professional as they get really.
Barring injury in his comeback game, Itoje will be included in the England squad that is set to be announced next Monday for the autumn internationals. Much attention will be on whether the Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy, along with Jamie George, will be selected having been omitted from last month’s mini-training camp squad. McCall reckoned their recent efforts for Saracens won’t harm their chances of inclusion.
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“What we are seeing on a weekly basis from them, on a day-to-day basis from them, isn’t anything new really. It’s what they always bring. They have always been huge contributors to the group on and off the field. That is the way they are at the moment.
“They all seem highly motivated. Whether that is because they want to get back on the international scene and back in the squad or whether it is just them being them, it’s hard to sometimes differentiate between the two.”
DISCIPLINARY
– The uncapped Wasps player was one of the hookers included by Eddie Jones last month for England at the expense of Jamie George #Wasps #England #Sarries #WASvNOR
https://t.co/JYMeEJJAym— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 13, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
9 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.
22 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.
9 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.
14 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
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