One-time England winger Delon Armitage, who won four major trophies with Toulon, is now geared up to depriving them of another. And, by helping beat them 15-6 yesterday, he maintained Lyon’s hopes of grabbing a piece of silverware for themselves.
For the win delivered by five Mike Harris penalties against two from his fly-half counterpart Anthony Belleau left his team just one point behind Toulon in the scrap to reach the playoffs.
At the age of 34, Armitage would love to crown a career often bedevilled by controversy on and off the field with a last hurrah. One thing is for sure. He doesn’t regret the decision to leave London Irish for French rugby not long before England placed a ban on those moving abroad.
He emerged from a self-imposed silence on the eve of the game to say: “It was a good choice. I’d say that playing in six finals and winning four trophies is finer even than the World Cup.”
Armitage has been in his shell – “it felt like I was alone against everyone” – since becoming a pariah for mocking Clermont’s Brock James while winning the Champions Cup five years ago.
He identified Lyon boss Pierre Mignoni, who was with him at Toulon, as the vital person who persuaded him to leave Toulon despite having a year on his contract still to run.
Armitage added: “Pierre is the only one who knows how to handle me and motivate me for matches and training, but it is not just by shouting at guys. He explains what he wants.”
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 04, 2018 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 04, 2018 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.