Word of La Rochelle’s decision to substitute one fly-half for another towards the end of a runaway win at Pau on January 4 would have wound up on the technological spike reserved for trash of the ‘So What?’ category. Time and tide wait for no man.
Viewed through the prism of a world tied to the ball-and-chain of Covid-19, it can be seen now in a very different light.
Nobody had any way of knowing back then that the oldest No. 10 of the professional era was leaving the bench for the last time, that fate in the deadly form of a pandemic would conspire to end a run of almost 20 years in the dead of winter when he just might have made it to another Top 14 finale in high summer.
Denne historien er fra May 03, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 03, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Chiefs fight hard but Bath go back to top
THIS was a rare ugly match in the Premiership as Bath returned to the top of the table and Exeter’s losing run stretched to seven league matches.
Pepper praise for Underhill
SAM Underhill was one of Guy Pepper’s idols growing up and he’s now enjoying learning from him in person at Bath.
We can't compete with the big dogs, admits Diamond
STEVE Diamond will be putting young players on long-term contracts to protect Newcastle from the greater spending power of every other club in the Premiership.
Tough for clubs to get permission for 10,001
I HAVE every sympathy with my old friend Simon Halliday, the outgoing Chairman of the Championship Board, and the Championship clubs having read his comments in Nick Cain's article in TRP last Sunday.
Don't be in awe of 'The System'
AS a long-time England supporter I feel compelled to express my concerns about the performances and results of our team.
Scotland must not waste potential
N assessment of where Scotland and England are after the autumn series, with another Calcutta Cup clash to come at Twickenham in the middle of the Six Nations, is an interesting comparison. It's made even more pointed by competition for places on the 2025 Lions tour.
Boks going to need a bigger trophy cabinet...
Peter Jackson looks back on a season where, once again, South Africa proved to be the best team on the planet
150th party nearly ends in tears for sloppy Irish
IT'S been a pretty scruffy autumn for Ireland and that trend continued in Dublin yesterday when they squeezed out a win against an Australia side that probably deserved better for their efforts.
I'm still a crazy little man on the pitch, says Sheedy
CALLUM Sheedy has revealed how being his own biggest critic drives him on amid the quest for perfection. Cardiff's Welsh international flyhalf is now more than a decade into his career, but admits he is still \"a crazy little man\" out on the field.
Saints are looking to kick-start campaign
NORTHAMPTON last season used the Champions Cup to turbo charge their Premiership campaign and will be looking for a repeat when European rugby’s top club tournament starts this weekend.
