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Reports: Moroni set to replace Manu Tuilagi at Tigers

By Online Editors
Manu Tuilagi (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Leicester want to swap a Jaguar for a Tiger in a bid to fill the midfield void left by Manu Tuilagi. According to America Rugby News, ESPN Scrum and The Rugby Paper, Matías Moroni is being lined up to replace the blockbusting centre.

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Tuilagi signed for Sale Sharks last week after failing to agree a new contract at Welford Road. It was a sea-change signing in the Premiership, bringing to an end a two-decade long association between the Tigers and the Tuilagi family.

Yet, two weeks after Tuilagi failed to agree terms and it seems the Tigers have found their replacement in Moroni. The 29-year-old outside centre specialist went to the Rugby World Cup and has won 43 caps for the Pumas.

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Moroni is the latest in an increasingly long line of Jaguares players departing the Super Rugby club, whose future appears to be very much up in the air. Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer and Jeronimo De La Fuente have all picked up contracts in France.

Moroni would be the latest Argentinian to make a home in the Midlands, where Tomas Lavanini currently players and where loosehead Macros Ayerza became a fan favourite.

Should Tigers sign Moroni, it would put to bed rumours linking Welsh international Jamie Roberts to the club. The Lions midfielder held talks with the ambitious Dragons, opening the way for a new centre partnership with Nick Tomkins, who is on-loan at the Welsh region from Saracens.

Tomkins, who made his Wales debut earlier this year under new boss Wayne Pivac, was being lined up to join Australian Joe Tomane in midfield but the deal to bring the released Leinster back to Newport has now stalled.

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That has resulted in Roberts, whose most recent rugby was earlier this year in the colours of the Stormers in South Africa, negotiating with the Dragons about a return to regional rugby in Wales.

Yet reports in France suggested Roberts being sounded out for a role Tigers, which might have thrown a spanner in the works of the Dragons deal. Should the Moroni deal go ahead, it would almost certainly put a kibosh on that speculation.

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 5 hours 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.

29 Go to comments
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