South Africa offer further evidence that the game requires more than physical domination. 'Dominer, c'est pas gagner'. Heard that before somewhere? Yes you have.
23.08.26, 12:17 Updated 25.08.26, 14:08
Richard Dixon
This is not going to make me popular in certain circles, but in Jasper Wiese, do the South Africans have their own version of Ben Earl? The hard working, ball carrying but sadly 'unable to pass' type of back row forward that we are encouraged to worship these days.
In both cases, we can be fairly sure that the players are doing what their coaches ask them to do. And therein lies the problem. Watching Wiese's highlights reel from yesterday, including 17 carries, what stands out is that the ball is always carried tucked into his armpit, and he has no intention of passing the ball. He never even looks. And is happy to finish on the floor.
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Richard Dixon Richard's fascination with French rugby is deep and longstanding. University tours were followed by a spell playing for Bergerac. Once his playing days were over, he began coaching and attended the legendary Pierre Villepreux's residential coaching camps. Richard now lives in Toulouse, and coaches young people at both Stade Toulousain and TOEC.