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Watch: Ex-Springbok sparks coast-to-coast La Rochelle try with audacious in goal run
Ex-Springbok winger Raymond Rhule has sparked a wild length of the field try for La Rochelle in their Top 14 clash with Racing 92 as they shut out the Parisian club 19-0.
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La Rochelle were defending their own line with less than three minutes to go holding a 12-0 lead before a turnover at the ruck killed off Racing’s attack.
Instead of clearing the lines, La Rochelle’s reserve flyhalf Pierre Popelin decided to fling a wild cutout pass behind his own goal posts to another teammate in the in-goal.
Once the ball found the space into the hands of former Springbbok Raymond Rhule, Racing were in trouble. The South African put the gas on to explode down the left hand touchline before some smart offloading found scrumhalf Thomas Berjon on the inside.
Berjon cruised over to score the try much to the delight of the home crowd who were delirious over the length of the field movement. It was the only try of the game after Kiwi flyhalf Ihaia West kicked four penalties up to that point.
Raymond Rhule ⚡️🤤#SaffasAbroad | #TOP14 pic.twitter.com/1ARAvQ9QBZ
— Saffas Abroad Rugby (@SaffasRugby) March 28, 2022
That is rather spectacular https://t.co/Fw6vAKRQ5c
— neil orpen (@neilorpen) March 28, 2022
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Rhule hasn’t played for the Springboks since 2017 when he was out-of-sorts defensively in the historic 57-0 defeat to the All Blacks. He played just seven tests, all in the one season.
The 29-year-old moved to France in 2018 after his Springbok career seemingly had been cut short and spent two seasons at Grenoble before moving to La Rochelle in 2020.
La Rochelle’s victory kept them in the top four on the league table along with Montpellier, Bordeaux and Toulouse as they look to return to the Top 14 final that they lost to Toulouse last year.
Forwards coach Donnacha Ryan was happy with the platform his pack laid for the win, pointing to the set-piece and defence which kept Racing 92 scoreless.
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“Our [returning] internationals brought their energy to the group,” Ryan said.
“We were very good at the lineout, very good in the scrum, and our defence performed well. Every time they threatened in our 22, we handled the pressure very well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
45 Go to commentsBar 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.
10 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.
45 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.
3 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
45 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
45 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.
45 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.
45 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.
45 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 comments