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There has been a lot of love online for Census Johnston after veteran prop announces his retirement
The premature end to the rugby season in France last week has seen another veteran player announce their retirement as Bayonne prop Census Johnston has called an end to his career. The announcement was made on social media on Wednesday on his 38th birthday and he has since received many glowing responses from former team-mates.
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Having played for Biarritz, Saracens, Toulouse, Racing 92 and Bayonne in a 14-year career in the northern hemisphere, the tighthead has amassed many colleagues over the years.
It is perhaps his compatriots who have recognised his contribution to his country the most, though. Johnston won 57 caps for Samoa and three more for the Pacific Islands in a career that spanned twelve years between 2005 and 2017 and saw him play in three World Cups.
In light of his contribution to the international game, Seilala Mapasua said: “What (he has) done for Samoa is equivalent to playing 150 tests for a tier-one nation.” Likewise, Junior Poluleuligaga described him as “one of the greats” for Samoa.
Taking into consideration the fact that Brian Lima holds Samoa’s caps record with 65, it puts Johnston’s longevity and service into context.
Well done on an awesome career uso. What you’ve done for 🇼🇸 is equivalent to playing 150 tests for a tier 1 nation. Proud to have stood by you in a few of those. Enjoy the next phase as I know you’ll smash it. Alofa aku uso #GiveMeMyMoney https://t.co/OdKTzfdvc4
— Seilala Mapusua (@SeilalaM) May 6, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2QZQGDOqC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
One of the greats for @SamoaRugby not wanted in Auckland so he left to carve out an exceptional career in Europe. Honoured to have shared the field with you my uce. Thanks for all the memories. Enjoy retirement with the family + see you soon 🙏🏽🇼🇸❤ #ChenChen https://t.co/soPFAS5sTL
— Tino Jnr Poluleuligaga (@JIP2EZY) May 6, 2020
During his time in France and England, Johnston won a Heineken Cup and multiple Top 14 titles with Toulouse, having spent eight years at the Stade Ernest-Wallon between 2009 and 2017. He had already won the French league with Biarritz during a brief stint in 2006 and featured in a European final with them.
He joined Bayonne this season following two years in Paris with Racing 92, but his spell in the south-west has proven to be his last. He leaves having made an impression on many of the players he has played with during his career.
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Congrats Census. What you have done so well for so long,you should be incredibly proud of but it’s the manner you did it ,makes me salute you. Humble, generous to young players,what’s best for the team,thoughtful and always in good form. Congrats brother.
❤️❤️to the fam.— Ronan O Gara (@RonanOGara10) May 6, 2020
Incredible career 👏🏾
See ye down south for the rouge🍷soon
A bientot legend 🙌🏾🖤 https://t.co/pdUqmUKJ6v— Simon Zebo (@SimonZebo) May 6, 2020
Congrats Sushi . It has been a privilege to play by your side so many years 😘 Amazing career 👏🏾👏🏾
— Thierry Dusautoir (@TitiDusautoir) May 6, 2020
The unfortunate thing for Johnston – and many other players – is that he has been deprived of the chance of a farewell match due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but he has plenty of memories across his career to fall back on.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to comments