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Racing owner gets personal in bizzare public criticism of Siya Kolisi

Racing92's South African flanker Siya Kolisi reacts after the European Rugby Champions Cup pool 2 match between Bath and Racing 92 at The Rec in Bath, south-west England on January 14, 2024. Bath won the match 29 - 25. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti has accused Siya Kolisi of being “transparent” in their Top 14 semi-final defeat to Bordeaux-Begles at the weekend amid a scathing assessment of the South Africa captain’s first season in Paris.

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The double World Cup-winning skipper arrived at La Defense Arena last year after lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, and made a “remarkable” start to life in sky blue and white according to Lorenzetti.

However, the Racing chief believes the hand injury the Springbok sustained in March, and subsequent surgery, was something that he did not recover from. Though the 33-year-old did make a return to action a month later, Lorenzetti feels he was unable to recapture the form he had previously shown.

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Speaking to French outlet Midi Olympique shortly after his side’s season came to a close, Lorenzetti pulled no punches in his assessment of Kolisi’s season, comparing him to his predecessor Wenceslas Lauret, and even accusing the Springbok of being overweight.

He does, however, have faith that Kolisi will come good next season, with the club set to be further bolstered by the arrival of former England captain Owen Farrell.

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“He had a remarkable start to the season, where he was a unifier off the field,” he said in the interview.

“The break was harmful to him. He gained weight, lost form and yesterday he was transparent. [
] We miss it.

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“In the back row, we used to have an ultra-present warrior, a warrior called Wenceslas Lauret. For the moment, Siya does not let us forget him.

“But we think that next year, that will change.”

The 83-cap Springbok was not the only Racing player in the firing line as Lorenzetti picked apart another trophy-less season for the Parisians. Another new recruit, Fiji’s Josua Tuisova, was also lambasted, and accused of not making the impact they expected after arriving from Lyon.

“He didn’t bring anything, we must be clear,” he said. “It was not the impact player we expected.”

In the Fijian’s defence, he only made his debut in May after a six-month lay-off due to a knee injury sustained during the World Cup, so he can be excused for struggling to instantly return to his destructive best.

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Comments

27 Comments
D
Dlala 288 days ago

He’s not really a very good player, anyhow. Been a passenger in the Springboks squad for too long.

J
Jon 289 days ago

If anyone knows the French, you know they speak a different language.

C
Chris 289 days ago

😄 Siya and Eben are on paid holidays between Bok camps. I think they care somewhat, but really they are just earning a living until Bok camp starts.

B
Bull Shark 289 days ago

I didn’t read anything scathing in that assessment. Not untrue. Just unnecessary.

Someone should advise French owners that managing the performance of key personnel by bleating to the media about them is obnoxious.

M
MattJH 289 days ago

I imagine the $$$ he is earning would buy a whole lot of “yeah whatever mate”.

S
Sinead 289 days ago

I think any coach or owner singling out a player like that for public critism is just bang out of order. Stuff that has to be said to a player should be said one to one in private. I feel sorry for those players.

F
Flankly 290 days ago

Spelling bizarre as “bizzare” in your headline is bizarre.

Nice clickbait comments from the Mr Lorenzetti, the famously successful winner of rugby prizes.

If only Mr Kolisi had some medals to prove his credentials. That would make Mr Lorenzetti look a little stupid.

P
Peter 290 days ago

Usual comment by a Frenchman. Visit North Paris and the slums that the French consign black foreigners to and you will appreciate what I’m writing.

D
Dan 290 days ago

Just another overrated SH player who.can’t hack superior NH comps. A tale as old as time..

p
pabst 291 days ago

Here we go, I called this last year, French people are impossible, narcissistic and arrogant. They are shameful.

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fl 1 hour ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

176 Go to comments
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JW 5 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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