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Fresh twist in the Johan Goosen saga

By James Harrington
Johan Goosen

The will he, won’t he, what’s he, where’s he, saga of South Africa’s Johan Goosen has taken another twist, days after it seemed he was set for a move to the Pro 14.

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And the news is not good for fans of the expanded league’s new boys, Cheetahs, as it appears Goosen will head back to the Top 14 rather than rejoin the club where he got his rugby break.

Montpellier’s billionaire owner Mohed Altrad as emerged as the most likely to be the mystery benefactor willing to pay a revised buyout clause figure, now said to be somewhere between €1.2million and €1.4million, to release the 25-year-old from the five-year deal with Racing 92 that he walked out on in December 2016.

Now, French broadcaster RMC reports that sources have told its journalists a deal could be signed early next week, allowing the fly-half to restart his rugby career at the Altrad Stadium. It would bring to an end a 10-month break due to legal issues following his premature ‘retirement’.

RMC insists no agreement has yet been reached despite several meetings at Racing’s Plessis-Robinson headquarters and ‘other venues’. Meanwhile, it reported Goosen’s agents refused to comment when contacted by its journalists.

But it seems likely Racing – who recently announced the signing of Pat Lambie – would be willing to do a deal to take Goosen off their books. He is still named as a player on the club website, and is officially called to meetings and training sessions.

RMC claims that Altrad is determined to bring his man back to the Top 14. The broadcaster says he has travelled to South Africa several times in recent months, and has lately stepped up efforts to bring the Burgersdorp native to Montpellier.

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If Goosen does, finally, head to southwest France, he will join a formidable club dripping with talent. He would line up alongside countrymen Ruan Pienaar, Bismarck du Plessis and Francois Steyn, as well as French stars Louis Picamoles, Benjamin Fall and Alexandre Dumoulin.

Montpellier have won three from three already this season, picking up 14 points out of a possible 15.

But, with former All Black Aaron Cruden ruling the roost at 10, chances are he will spend most of his time at fullback.

Goosen’s last competitive game was in November 2016. A month later, amid apparently insurmountable problems between club and player, he announced his retirement from the game – rather than continue to pick up his reported monthly €40,000 pay-cheque from Racing. He also said he had taken up a position as a commercial director of a stud farm in his native South Africa.

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His sudden decision prompted Racing to launch a legal action against him for breach of contract. That is one of the issues that will need to be settled before he can pull on a Montpellier shirt.

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Bull Shark 29 minutes 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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