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Aymen Abdennour is set to join Russian side Zenit St Petersburg on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy, according to Foot Mercato.
Abdennour will undergo a medical in Rome today ahead of joining up with Roberto Mancini, despite recent approaches from Marseille and Crystal Palace in the last few days.
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Stormers utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has set himself lofty goals and is keen to be involved when the Springboks defend their title at this year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
The 21-year-old captained South Africa during their a successful U20 Six Nations Summer Series last year and was involved during the latter stages of the Stormers’ victorious United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign, before being called up to the Springbok squad for the Autumn Nations Series.
Although he did not play in any of the Boks’ end-of-year Tests, Feinberg-Mngomezulu saw some action with the South Africa ‘A’ side a he played in their tour match against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate.
However, he sustained a tibia injury in that match which ruled him out of the Boks‘ last two Tests against Italy and England in Genoa and Twickenham respectively.
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He made a full recovery and returned to the playing field with the Stormers in January and represented them in the URC and Champions Cup.
And after being involved with the Springboks in 2022, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is keen to kick on and represent his country at the highly anticipated global showpiece later this year.
“I want it badly… I mean who wouldn’t want the opportunity to play at a World Cup?! But I know I have to focus on doing my job at the Stormers. Everything will take care of itself after that,” he told BokSquad.
What could work in his favour is his versatility as he slots in comfortably in several backline positions, although his preferred position is fly-half.
“I don’t mind slotting in at 10, 12 or 15 – but in my heart I’m a flyhalf. My strong points are the characteristics of a flyhalf. My kicking game is one of my strengths, so it’s at flyhalf where you get to play to that a bit more.
“Flyhalf is the position I love the most, but game time is the most important thing. Wherever I’m needed by the team, I’m there.”
Marseille and Valencia have reached an agreement that will see former Toulouse and Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour join the Ligue 1 side on a season-long-loan, with the option to extend into a two-year loan if he plays at least 15 matches.
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Marseille will pay the entirety of the player’s wages.
The 28-year-old becomes Marseille’s sixth signing of the transfer window and officially completed his medical with OM on Tuesday. Abdennour leaves Valencia after two years in La Liga and will look to bolster the Marseille defence and add some experience to an already experienced back line.
It is likely that Abdennour will be paired up in the heart of the defence alongside his former Valencia teammate Adil Rami, who also joined Marseille this summer and will also be linked back up with former Monaco teammate Valere Germain, so bedding in shouldn’t be a problem for the Tunisian international.
The official unveiling of the player will be made Wednesday, August 30th, 2017 at 10:00am French time with both the club President Jacques-Henri Eyraud and Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta alongside Abdennour. The unveiling will be broadcasted live across multiple Social Media platforms.
T.S.
Bulls director of rugby Jake White is preparing for the United Rugby Championship version of football’s ‘Merseyside derby’ when his team take on the Lions in Pretoria on Saturday.
There is a fierce rivalry between the Bulls and the Johannesburg-based side, who are 60 kilometres apart and separated by the Jukskei River.
With them also playing in similar colours to that of English football clubs Everton and Liverpool, it’s understandable that White would make such a comparison.
“The proximity of the teams plays a big part in it,” he said of the red-versus-blue rivalry. “It’s probably a bit like the English Premier League’s Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool. It’s a massive derby.”
White is of course no stranger to Johannesburg as he was born and raised there and spent a large part of his formative years as a coach in the city at high schools Parktown and Jeppe.
He did well there and progressed to coaching junior teams at Transvaal (now the Emirates Lions) before doing work for the Springboks as a video analyst ahead of the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa.
“Obviously, people like to believe they have the biggest derby, but I suppose the reason there’s more history to the Jukskei derby is because Northern Transvaal [now Vodacom Bulls] was a breakaway union from Transvaal,” he said.
That split took place in 1938 when clubs that were originally considered to be in Transvaal’s jurisdiction broke away to establish the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union.
Legendary Springbok scrum-half and administrator Danie Craven was amongst the first players to play for them.
And although Craven never moved from Northern Transvaal to Transvaal, there are many players who did.
“There are a lot of players who have moved back and forth between the unions over the years,” said White. “Guys like Uli Schmidt, Hannes Strydom, Rudolf Straeuli, Johan Roux, Gavin Johnson, Chris and Charles Rossouw.
“Johan Ackermann was a Blue Bull who went to Transvaal and Jannie Breedt is another one – he captained Transvaal in the Currie Cup final after starting at Northern Transvaal.”
Legendary Springbok wing Bryan Habana swapped Johannesburg for Pretoria in 2005, while flanker Cyle Brink and centres Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe are current members in the Bulls squad who used to ply their trade at the Lions.
Saturday’s highly anticipated derby will be important for both sides as the Bulls look to bounce back after their defeat to the Stormers on February, while the Lions got their campaign back on track with an impressive victory over Glasgow Warriors last weekend.
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The Bulls’ Springbok back-row Marco van Staden is preparing himself for a tough challenge from the Lions.
“The Lions will come at us with a lot of energy this weekend. They’ll come out firing, play with a high tempo and will look to surprise us,” said the flanker.
“We’re both under a bit of pressure, for different reasons… they’ve had a few losses recently and we need wins and good performances with the playoffs coming up.
“It’s always a good competition when two South African teams clash and this weekend will be no different.”
Frank McCourt’s OM Champions Project: Perhaps not the fireworks everyone expected… but it’s a start.
There are two sets of thoughts on the transfer strategy adopted by Olympique de Marseille. The optimists, and the realists. It was perhaps easy (too easy?) to get caught up in the wild rhetoric about how much Marseille were ‘back’, how a sleeping giant would immediately stake a claim for the Ligue 1 title, and finally had the financial clout to match its gloried history, storied fanbase and wonderful stadium.
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It didn’t help either that the club’s hierarchy were peddling an optimistic dream in France’s media over the course of the year that has elapsed since Frank McCourt agreed a deal to buy OM from Margarita Louis-Dreyfus – whose own ‘hands-off’ strategy left OM at the knees.
Statements such as McCourt’s willingness to spend €50m on a striker (if the opportunity presented itself) were met by virtual acclaim on the Twittosphere. It whetted the appetite of a notoriously hard-to-please fanbase whom, after suffering for the best part of 5 years were keen to live a plausible situation in which their club were able to spend serious money in search of a place back in Europe’s elite.
And so, after the early blow made by the signings of Morgan Sanson and Dimitri Payet in particular, the latter earning OM continental notoriety in a typically morose January window seemed to buy into the idea that McCourt and co. were ready to spend, and spend big.
The groundwork for the summer window was laid out with a rather impressive 5th place in Ligue 1. With former Barcelona Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta and his network of scouts ready, it would only be a matter of time before the ‘Champions Project’ would be in full swing.
Fast forward 91 days to the end of the summer 2017 window, there remains a distinct sense of unease by the OM support as to how the first test of McCourt’s plans have panned out. It’s not that the investment hasn’t materialised – Marseille have spent more on this window than in any other – but questions remain about the supposed strength of the players acquired.
There was to be no Giroud, no Koscielny, not even valuable young performers in the form of Moussa Dembélé, Joris Gnagnon or Issa Diop. What OM settled for was for a motley crew of players ranging from the surprising addition of Luiz Gustavo, a former treble winner with Bayern Munich, to the welcome additions of Jordan Amavi and Valere Germain, and the welcome (Steve Mandanda) and not-so-welcome (Lucas Ocampos) returns of familiar faces.
The main sticking point of the mercato had been two key positions up front and at the back, a search that initially had started upon McCourt’s acquisition of the club last year.
Indeed, the search lasted much longer than anyone hoped – right the way until the final hours of August 31. It mirrored OM’s farcical chase to find a partner for Michy Batshuayi in 2015 where, having failed to find a suitable player in the summer, put all of their eggs in the basket of Steven Fletcher on January 31.
This time around, it was the Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou who debarked on the south coast. And even then, it was only after Stevan Jovetic left OM on the altar to sign for Monaco on the final weekend of the window.
Mitroglou at 29 isn’t exactly the youngest sharpshooter around. Though, with a seemingly impressive goal record with Benfica and Olympiakos, it remains to be seen just how much of an upgrade he is on Gomis.
The centre-back question proved also to be a major issue for OM. Interesting names such as Koscielny were fantastical to say the least, while young valuable defenders from Ligue 1 such as Issa Diop and Joris Gnagnon were also spurned.
In the end, France international Adil Rami and former Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour joined the project. Each with considerable Ligue 1 experience, but by no means the show-stoppers the fans craved.
So yes, in all there can legitimately be some disappointment at how the summer has turned out in terms of how many first-choice players OM managed to convince. The optimists may not have had their ‘Icardi’ or ‘Koscielny’, but consider the following.
One, this has been a quite unique transfer window for all concerned. Fees have been inflated no end, and the fact that OM made a big splash in the January window to nab Dimitri Payet from West Ham would have surely alerted clubs across Europe should Zubizarreta and co. come knocking for their players.
Two, McCourt’s investment – while welcome, is not infinite. The American made it clear that his initial plan was to spend €200m of his own money over 4 years – i.e. the first 8 transfer windows of his reign. In just 2, OM have dispensed just over €100m. This, from one individual who is not backed by a sovereign wealth fund unlike in the capital. McCourt has invested, but only time will tell if the sporting cell of the club has used that wisely.
Three. The project is long-term, not short. OM have built a squad that is widely thought to be capable of finishing in a Champions League position. If that goal is not met this season, there remains some investment in the budget to ultimately reach that goal.
Conversely, if OM do reach the Champions’ League group stage next season, McCourt’s personal investment would take a back seat to the financial riches that group stage participation promises. In the latter scenario, OM could conceivably spend north of €100m next summer, thereby beginning a cycle in which the team can qualify for the UCL year-on-year, as was the case between 2007-12.
Spending big from the off is unwise. Had McCourt spent the vast majority of his €200m investment this summer, and the club missed out on the top 3 – it might’ve marked to a return to the Margarita Louis Dreyfus days of selling assets to raise funds as the owner was unwilling to commit any more funds.
Take AC Milan, another sleeping giant in a similar position for example. The Rossoneri have no doubt spent big to return to the Champions League with the acquisitions of Leonardo Bonucci, André Silva, Franck Kessié, Hakan Calhanoglu among others via the influx of dubious Chinese money and rumours of significant financial risk if they were to miss out on their goal. Marseille on the other hand, have been more risk-averse in this scenario.
Yes, it’s largely, not the players that OM would have wanted, but it is – or it should be enough for the first stage of the ‘Champions Project’ – i.e. to get back into the Champions League. On paper, it should be the 3rd strongest squad in Ligue 1.
The task of steering OM towards their goal now lies at the hands of Rudi Garcia, whose recent coaching has left a lot to be desired. A 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the champions last weekend has only heightened concerns that OM fans were sold a dream.
However, as one fan put to me on Twitter recently, OM must crawl before they can walk. Many would do well to remember that.
M.A.
England wing Anthony Watson has revealed that he visualised the try he scored against Wales in the build-up to his Six Nations return in Cardiff.
Watson, who made his first start for the Red Rose in two years last weekend after a string of injuries, scored in the 19th minute of England’s away victory.
And the wing has explained that he remarkably envisioned his comeback score during one of the 20-minute meditation-like sessions that he regularly does.
“I was pretty nervous before the game. It felt like a long journey back – almost felt like a first cap,” Watson said as he recalled the 20-10 win over Wales.
“I don’t really judge my quality of games by tries, but to be able to score in the corner was nice and something I had spent a lot of the week visualising.
“It’s weird how it happened exactly how I had pictured it. It was literally in that corner because I was playing on the left wing, and it was finishing with the ball in my right hand in that kind of style.
“The power of visualisation is so important, I have scored tries when it has ended up exactly how I had it in my head.”
🚀Anthony Watson in the corner! #WALvENG
Great to see the flyer back in the England jersey and on the scoreboard. 🔥 #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/YR4b24TAC8
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) February 25, 2023
He added: “Visualisation is how I try to calm myself down before games. I go into lot of detail with it, it depends on what comes into my head at the time.
“It starts off with just what it would look like from a bird’s eye view and then what it would feel like for me.
“It puts me in good stead for what lies ahead and calms me. Those periods of visualisation are the only time I think about the game. I do it on my own and if you saw me doing it you would probably think I look crazy!
“It’s a common thing to do now. There’s greater respect for the power of mental techniques to prepare for games. Everyone is different, it will be useful for some people and completely useless for others.
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“I find it really helpful in terms of blocking out periods to think about the game, and that allows me to be chilled out and do whatever I want to do outside of that.”
The Leicester wing is working with Don Macpherson, and among the renowned mind coach’s former clients was Brazilian Formula One great Ayrton Senna.
“Don said that Ayrton Senna’s mind was in the corner ahead while his body was on the current corner,” Watson said as England prepares for their next Six Nations clash, against France on March 11.
“That was something that resonated with me about trying to be one step ahead, trying to see a break before there is a break and being anticipatory for things that might happen.”
Following his official presentation, Kylian Mbappé gave an interview to Le Parisien where he spoke about his new life, his ambitions and his desire to do the impossible with the new Brazilian star.
After a busy night which followed a welcome meal on behalf of PSG, Kylian Mbappé was presented yesterday morning in the Parc des Princes, with plenty of his family by his sides. His parents and younger brother Ethan were there for his official presentation, as were his uncle Pierre, grandfather and his lawyers.
The latter were very much present during these last few weeks and most notably, during the final night of the negotiations last Wednesday and Thursday. In one corner of the room, Antero Henrique, the new PSG sporting director, and Maxwell look in awe at their new protégé. Very much impressed, the former stated, “he really is very mature”.
Last December in our newspaper, you spoke about your dream to one day play for PSG. Did you ever imagine if would happen this quickly?
No. At the time, I was only concentrated on earning my spot at Monaco. I only saw myself with ASM, and I wanted to finish my season as best as possible. I also did not know that my summer would be this hectic.
Did you hesitate to join PSG over Real Madrid?
PSG was the project with suited me best. I want to learn, but I also want to win. I have the smallest trophy cabinet in the dressing room, but I am hungry for titles. There are great players here. We have everything here to grow and make people happy.
Is the €180m transfer fee a lot difficult to cope with?
I do not deal with any of that. This will not change my lifestyle or mentality. This does not worry me. The money does not go into or come out of my pocket. It does not affect me.
Did you think about the pressure put on PSG players before signing?
Football is not a form of pressure, but a form of enjoyment. It is a form of pressure when you think of it as a job. If you are worried about being fired from your job, then yes, you can be pressured. But I see it as a game, and when you see things like that, you are happy regardless of what happens.
Do you not worry about feeling scattered like other Parisians who return to the hometown?
My objectives with PSG are so ambitious that I do not have time to feel scattered. And I have friends who can help me concentrate if I get distracted.
What did your new coach Unai Emery say to you to convince you to sign?
He convinced me with more than one phrase. It is his football philosophy especially, as he is clear in what he wants to do. The coach eats, sleeps and lives for football like I do. We can do great things together.
Which philosophy is that?
To keep possession and maintain a high press to penetrate into the opposition’s half. I really like this philosophy.
How do you cope with the hype around you?
Simply put, because I feed off this passion for football, which allows me to overcome it. And when I am not allowed to play, I am not happy. Football is the only activity which allows me to feel fulfilled and get rid of all forms of pressure. When I am on the pitch, I forget everything and play as if I were a kid.
What position do you prefer to play in?
It is a bit difficult to answer. My youth coaches never put me in the same position for more than two years. I finished centrally while playing in Monaco, but I have played multiple positions. I would say centrally, but I might have a different answer a year from now.
What are your personal objectives?
PSG is an ambitious club that wants to be the best in the world. So we have to win everything and be sure to leave no doubt whatsoever. We have to immediately impose ourselves as a strong team that can dominate as a group with its style of play. That is the key to success.
Individually, in the long term, are you aiming for the Ballon d’Or?
No. I already have a teammate who wants to win it. So individually, my objective is to score a lot of goals and help Neymar. He can help us lift many titles, so we need to take care of him. I will do everything I can to help him win the Ballon d’Or. It would make me happy if I could help him like that.
You chose number 29 in reference to the date of birth of your younger brother Ethan. Is he better than you were at the same age?
No. We do play in the same position. I am more of a goal-scorer, and he is more of a provider. I hope he will manage to do more than me. I only wish the best for him. He is already at PSG and scored a goal earlier this week. It would be good for him to have his own life and not be in his older brother’s shadow, or in mine. He should follow his own path, and he should be left alone.
What goes you on in your life off the pitch? Last year, you received your high school baccalaureate…
Yes, I did get it. Now, I have to take classes to get my driver’s license. Apart from that, there is not time for much else. When you want to succeed in this line of work, there are sacrifices you need to make, and these sacrifices take up most of your day. So you really do not have much time for anything else.
What made you decide to quote Albert Camus in your letter to the Monaco fans?
It is something I worked on in school. My father brought me up with those quotes, and I even had some in my room. This was part of my upbringing. It is a moment of amusement that we share together as a family. We tell tales, cite quotations. There were a lot of false rumours about my transfer situation, so it was important that I show my feelings towards them.
What is your favorite quote?
“Aim for the moon to land among the stars” – Oscar Wilde
*full quote – “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars”
As it happens, are you far from the moon?
Oh, yes! Considering my objectives, I am very far. I have not even gone for liftoff yet.
What is your first memory from the Parc des Princes?
It was a PSG – Rennes game, from when my brother Jirès Kembo played for them (note: in 2009, when he was 10 years old). I was so happy that I came back to watch more games. I really like the stadium and atmosphere. Plus, the return of the PSG Ultras will be magnificent!
What Parisian player did you particularly like?
When I was younger, it was Ronaldinho.
How do you imagine your life in Paris?
Simple. I spend my days at the training ground and then I go home to eat, sleep and mess around a bit with friends and family. My days are not that extraordinary.
Will you return to Bondy to live there?
No, not in Bondy. (laughing) Do you want me to get stuck in traffic before coming to the Camp des Loges everyday? Currently, I am still in the hotel. Afterwards, we will see.
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Y.H.
Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has been suspended after his throat-slitting gesture to Melbourne Rebels scrum-half Ryan Louwrens during Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash.
Savea has been banned for one week for an accumulation of his actions during the match and will now miss the clash with the Blues this weekend.
Shortly before half-time, Savea was yellow carded after his involvement in a scuffle after the whistle.
While leaving the pitch, the number eight got caught up in an argument with Louwrens before making the throat-slitting gesture towards the Rebels number nine.
🌪️ This isn't great from Ardie Savea. #SuperRugbyPacific #REBvHUR pic.twitter.com/VqSCWElJeK
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 3, 2023
Following the match, Savea was cited under Law 9.27, which states, ‘A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.’
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While the citing commissioner ruled that Savea’s actions met the red card threshold, the SANZAAR Judicial Committee did not agree.
In a statement released by the organising body of Super Rugby Pacific, Judicial Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton KC ruled the following: “Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Judicial Committee found the foul play did not breach the red card threshold.”
“With respect to sanction, the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a warning as it was close to, but did not breach, the red card threshold.
However, the Judicial Committee did issue Savea with a warning. Because the back-row had been yellow-carded in the same match, his warning essentially upgraded his yellow card to a red card.
SANZAAR Disciplinary Rule 6.1 states: ‘If a Player has received two Warnings or a combination of a Warning and a yellow card during a Match, he shall be treated for disciplinary purposes as if he had been sent off.’
This meant that the player had to reappear before the Committee members.
Nigel Hampton KC’s findings of the second hearing are as follows: “The Foul Play Review Committee conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, and oral submissions from his legal representative, Mr Aaron Lloyd.
“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee ruled, after considering a number of factors, including the guidance of World Rugby Regulation 17 Appendix 4, and due to the nature of the player’s persistent offending, with both the yellow card and the warning being issued for unsportsmanlike play, that an appropriate sanction for the player would be a suspension of one week.”
Savea will now miss the Hurricanes’ clash against the Blues but will be available for the following weekend’s game against the Waratahs.
It’s not as if it hasn’t happened before, an academy product replacing a much more highly regarded talent in Lyon’s starting eleven. Even as recently as last season, Nicolas N’Koulou was often benched for the young defender Mouctar Diakhaby, despite being on an eye-watering wage packet. In seasons past, Jimmy Briand was shifted to the wing to make space for Alexandre Lacazette, and Maxime Gonalons got his first chances in the side at the expense of Jean II Makoun.
This season, it appears that Memphis Depay, despite having only been at the Parc OL since January, is in real danger of becoming the next name in that sequence. The Dutchman’s first few months at Lyon were decent enough, but the likes of Maxwel Cornet and Rachid Ghezzal hardly offered the stiffest competition, and his goal and assist numbers were hardly a fair reflection of his overall contribution.
More was expected of him in the current campaign; alongside Nabil Fékir and summer signings Bertrand Traoré and Mariano Diaz, Lyon’s rejuvenated attack would place an emphasis on youth and dynamism, with Fékir being named captain as a nod to his importance in this regard.
Lyon, now winless in four after failing to beat Atalanta in the Europa League yesterday, have struggled somewhat in defence, but in benching Depay for youngster Houssem Aouar in the team’s last two matches, manager Bruno Génésio may have uncovered the club’s next breakthrough player. Diakhaby had impressed in flashes last season, but Lyon had generally struggled in recent times to see an academy player make a strong impression.
The signings of the likes of Lucas Tousart, Tanguy Ndombélé, Cornet and the now-departed Emanuel Mammana had seen the club buy younger players in lieu of the next Lacazette or Corentin Tolisso appearing, but Aouar looks set to break that cycle.
Only 19, Aouar had made his official first start for Lyon in the infamous Bastia match of last season, but aside from a handful of substitute appearances, had barely played. That appeared to continue to be the case this season, as a fit Depay looked eager to build on what had been a step up in form from his time at Manchester United, no longer having Ghezzal and Mathieu Valbuena as obstacles to his place in the first team.
Aouar was given the start against Dijon last weekend, but at home against a seemingly middling opponent, it seemed more the case that Génésio was resting players with an eye on yesterday’s match against a weaker opponent, as both Cornet and Depay were left out of the squad entirely.
What followed last Saturday, however, was quite impressive. Despite Lyon failing to beat Dijon, Aouar looks a natural. Wiry but strong, he plays with the same sort of positional versatility that is seen elsewhere in attack with Fékir and Traoré. Able to move inside or switch flanks, Aouar’s relationship with Traoré and Fékir has immediately given Lyon more ability on the ball, and more creativity.
His goal against Dijon also showed how he can take more central roles, even swapping positions with Diaz to add another threat in the box for Lyon. Along with that willingness to play on the ball has come an impressive relationship with Ferland Mendy, the young left back signed in the summer from Le Havre, seeing Aouar frequently cutting inside to allow the defender to provide more natural width.
Aouar is similarly able to go wide himself, but he really shines on the ball, playing a more inverted role although not to an overly selfish extent. His strength allows him to carry the ball and consistently earn free kicks in dangerous positions, while not being remiss in looking for his teammates.
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This last aspect is particularly important, as Depay, despite his talent, can be maddeningly selfish with the ball at his feet. The Dutchman is still only 23, but has played enough football to know his limitations, or so one would hope. However, he is often let down by his touch, insisting on attempting to use his pace, rather than his technical ability to beat his man.
Aouar has no such compunction about relying on guile over speed, although not because he is particularly slow, but rather that he seems able to take a more holistic view of how the team’s attacking strengths (Diaz’s aerial ability, Fékir’s powerful shooting, Traoré’s dribbling) function and complement them rather than, as Depay is wont to do, attempt to make himself the focal point.
That is not to say Aouar plays as a sort of shrinking violet, as he showed against Atalanta. His strength and drive against the veteran Andrea Masiello impressed, and he was also more than happy to track back defensively, not only giving his side a bit more of a solid outlook but also more freedom for Mendy to get forward.
This all comes, of course, with the caveat that it has only been two matches, neither of which Lyon won, and against hardly the highest calibre of opponent, but the early signs for Aouar are promising indeed.
Depay has the talent to make the battle for the starting role more competitive, to be sure, and may feature against Angers on Sunday, but only through rotation. For the moment, Aouar is the deserved starter, and Lyon’s renewed emphasis on youth looks set to be led by one of its own.
For a club at which the mood had been rather dour following the summer’s sales of Tolisso and Lacazette and failure to qualify for the Champions’ League, Aouar represents a genuine hope for the future. If managed carefully, he can no doubt scale the heights of Fékir and Lacazette, and hopefully propel what is a talented but at times slightly incoherent team back into the top three.
E.D.
Eddie Jones has made the first appointment to his backroom staff since taking charge of the Wallabies last month, with Brett Hodgson named as their new defence coach.
A former rugby league player, who made more than 350 appearances in the NRL and who also played in the English Super League, Hodgson also had a spell as a head coach of Hull in the latter competition.
He had a short stint as Jones‘ assistant with England, when he served as their defence coach during last year’s Autumn Nations Series Tests, but when Jones was fired from his position as head coach the 45-year-old’s services were also not retained by the RFU.
Hodgson attended Friday’s Round One Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Waratahs and Brumbies in Sydney with Jones and he is set to join the Wallabies‘ coaching staff immediately.
“I’m really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year,” Hodgson said in a statement.
“There’s plenty of hard work ahead and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team.
“The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I’ve seen so far there’s plenty of talent here and that’s something that’s really exciting.”
Hodgson’s appointment comes at the right time for the Wallabies after it was announced last week that Dan McKellar (forwards coach) and Petrus du Plessis (scrum coach) would leave their positions with the team.
“Brett’s a hard-working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff,” said Jones.
“He’s worked under some great coaching mentors like Gus Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he’s well-schooled and I know he’ll give his best to the job of producing the best defence in the world.”
Jones and Rugby Australia (RA) will confirm the rest of the Wallabies’ backroom staff in the coming weeks, with RA chief executive Andy Marinos not intending to get involved in that process.
“We’ve got to operate within the confines of the business and the frameworks. But in terms of how he wants to play the game and populate his team, and how they want to present themselves, absolutely,” Marinos told reporters in Sydney last Friday.
“That’s what every coach needs to have. They’ve got to build their own identity and their culture and we’re here ready to support to make sure he can achieve those things.”
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