Rugby World: Kerevi snubbed as one Wallaby makes L'Equipe team of 2021, why England prop 'f---ing loves' Rassie

By Tony Harper / Editor

Wallabies’ World Player of the Year nominee Samu Kerevi was been snubbed by France’s leading sports newspaper as they named just one Australian in their 2021 Team of the Year.

L’Equipe’s XV included four French players and four All Blacks along with three Springboks, Australian skipper Michael Hooper and a player each from Wales, England and Ireland.

Kerevi was surprisingly shortlisted in four nominations for World Rugby’s award last month, alongside Hooper, England’s Maro Itoje and winner Dupont.

Samu Kerevi (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Springboks fans were put out by the absence of nominations in the World Rugby awards – but they have loose forward Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth and centre Lukhanyo Am in the French list. The other centre picked was All Blacks’ Rieko Ioane.

L’EQUIPE TEAM OF THE YEAR

15 Jordie Barrett (New Zealand), 14 Will Jordan (New Zealand), 13 Rieko Ioane (New Zealand), 12 Lukhanyo Am (South Africa), 11 Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), 10 Romain Ntamack (France), 9 Antoine Dupont (France), 8 Ardie Savea (New Zealand), 7 Michael Hooper (Australia), 6 Siya Kolisi (South Africa), 5 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 4 Maro Itoje (England), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Julien Marchand (France), 1 Cyril Baille (France).

‘Rassie’s gold’

English rugby prop Joe Marler has given a hilarious interview with the Daily Mail, in which he professed his strong admiration for South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.

Marler, 31, was asked what he would do if he was elected as World Rugby chairman in 2023.

“The first thing I’d do is install Rassie Erasmus as my right-hand man and the second thing I’d do is install Agustin Pichot as my left-hand man,” Marler said.

“Rassie’s gold. He’s marmite but he’s got people talking about rugby. “I love him. I f***ing love him. I think Eddie Jones should start running the water on like Rassie does, although by the time he reaches the middle of the pitch the ref would already be telling him to get off!

“Rassie seems very true to himself. I’ve never met the bloke but I got his staff to pass on a bottle of red to him after we played South Africa in the autumn. He is who he is. He does what he wants. I love anyone who is authentic and stays true to who they are. You don’t have to agree with them.”

Rassie Erasmus (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

On Pichot, the former Argentina captain, he added: “I love Pichot’s swag. The suit and white trainers. Such a handsome man. I agreed with him that the bigger nations, with all the power, have been greedy and kept rugby as a bit of an elite club.”

Marler also had some serious thoughts on the game, including his dislike to the current mauling standards.

“The first thing I would do is ban the f***ing caterpillar ruck,” he says. “It kills me. The whole thing is an a***. I would go as far as saying I’d ban box kicks but I might start to sound like Clive Woodward.

“I want to see referees sanction the scrum-half for not using it when they shout “Use it”. I also want to get rid of the rule where the defence get the ball back if they hold you up and create a maul in the tackle.

“I’m as guilty of it as much as anyone but it kills attacking rugby. The maul is just becoming a s**t fight.”


Gatland slated for Lions style

Former Welsh captain Gwyn Jones has ripped into Warren Gatland’s Lions stewardship with reports that the Kiwi will lead the team to Australia in 2025.

Gatland, who is about to take over at the New Zealand Chiefs, led the Lions to defeat in South Africa this year.

Both teams were criticised for their style in what Jones wrote was “the least inspiring game of rugby in history”.

“Rugby reached new lows, on and off the field,” Jones wrote in WalesOnline.

“I’ve always hated the mind games in the press that others seem to enjoy. It spilt over during this series and created a toxic environment that dragged the reputation of the game to unnecessary depths.

“The only light relief came from loose cannon Finn Russell; a flyhalf unwilling to be shackled by the Warren Gatland strait-jacket. Suddenly it looked like a game of rugby again, but too late.

“The rest of the Lions players were unable to re-engage their rugby playing minds after weeks of methodical removal of their free will.”

Jones said he was sad that the potential highlight of players’ careers had left bad memories.

“There is no shame in losing but by being so conservative and risk averse, they were prevented from giving it their best shot. That must be a huge regret,” Jones wrote.

“It should also dissuade the Lions committee of appointing Warren Gatland ever again.”

Jones added he was concerned about Wales under their Kiwi coach Wayne Pivac, feeling that they had regressed after their Six Nations title.

“In the four games this autumn, Wales didn’t create and they didn’t threaten,” wrote Jones. “They have had two years to bed in – we should be seeing progress by now.”

Gollings to lead Fiji 7s

Former England Sevens star Ben Gollings has been appointed the new head coach of the Olympic champion Fijian Sevens team.

Gollings replaces Gareth Baber.

“We had many great battles when I was playing over the years but since I have shifted into coaching, I think it’s no better opportunity to coach the World’s best team in the 7s arena,” Gollings said.

“I am thankful to Fiji Rugby for giving me the opportunity to coach this team and am looking forward to working with the exceptional group of boys in Fiji. The immediate focus of the course is towards the HBSC Sevens Series, Commonwealth Games and the Sevens World Cup next year in South Africa.

“Winning two Gold Medal back-to-back is something special and I know it’s a big challenge to take on but I believe that my passion for the game meets the passion of the nation so if we can match the two together and enhance the talent in Fiji then we could achieve our ultimate goals in the coming years.”

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Smith tests positive to COVID

England’s young star fly-half Marcus Smith misses Harlequins’ key Gallagher Premiership clash against Northampton Saints at Twickenham after testing positive for COVID-19.

Smith capped a massive rise with a winning penalty against South Africa in the autumn series.

The Crowd Says:

2021-12-31T04:22:06+00:00

Tim J

Roar Rookie


Bobbles, lay of the bubbles :shocked:

2021-12-31T03:15:10+00:00

mailman

Guest


Did Kerevi play enough tests in 2021 is the only question mark for me too- the games he did play he was far more consistent than either Am or Reiko...as for Marler's enlightened comments, I've always found him a bit of a tool

2021-12-31T01:35:32+00:00

Ace

Guest


How Hooper got the 7 jersey is extremely disappointing. Another poor year from him and the Wallabies.Kerebi and QC were more deserving. Especially QC who was 5 wins from 5 games.

2021-12-31T01:25:45+00:00

Bobbles

Guest


Hooper ? His PR team must be going into overdrive. Poor player Poor captain Poor results in 2021 again. He also has a 50 percent career winning percentage.

2021-12-30T21:12:53+00:00

Carlos the Argie

Roar Guru


What on earth are you talking about? Do you have food poisoning that ruined your mood? You should know that AP9 has a very mixed following in Argentina. He has a huge list of detractors.

2021-12-30T14:46:59+00:00

Perthstayer

Roar Rookie


All. Try and find Mahler's whole interview Daily Mail I think). He's a bright guy who makes a lot of shrewd comments amongst the joking around.

2021-12-30T14:35:08+00:00

Harry Jones

Expert


Plenty of NZ experts also say DdeA-Am is best 12-13 axis, too, BinB.

2021-12-30T08:31:12+00:00

Jacko

Roar Rookie


Not sure what he meant by it Ruckit. My belief is that NZ and SA rugby has been close for over 100 years now but if this is some new development Im not up on it. Certainly the ABs have never had any issues with being a multi-ethnicity team but of course when they toured SA many "non white" players wernt allowed to tour until NZ said they will tour so SA made them honourary whites...

2021-12-30T06:57:37+00:00

John

Guest


Great team 3 opens ideas Flankers Reiko at Center Did Foster pick the team

2021-12-30T06:21:30+00:00

Ruckit

Roar Rookie


I agree with most of what you say. But, correct me if I'm wrong, I think the point about AB allegiance, as made by JN, was referring more to some Saffa fans, perhaps the "coloured" who may have supported the multi-ethic ABs.

2021-12-30T02:09:27+00:00

tsuru

Roar Rookie


“Class Act” you do not speak for me. Take responsibility for your own comments. Come to that I don’t think you can call yourself a Roarer when you are a “guest”.

2021-12-30T02:02:45+00:00

Tim J

Roar Rookie


JN, will see you and raise it by one! Justin Marshal :shocked:

2021-12-30T00:41:27+00:00

Jacko

Roar Rookie


OK and whats he done since that 62 mins? Thats how you judge a man isnt it? Not the mistakes he makes but the way he handles it? So he has not apoligised as requested but let SARU do that. He has done an "Up Yours" video to WR and all rugby followers. These are not actions of a man who has any regrets around his actions so he still believes he was right. When he offers an apology and he starts showing respect for the game and its processes maybe he can start earning back some respect from those he shot down. Not even an apology to Berry tho. Measure him how you like but it all comes up stinking and I dont have to respect stink so Ill choose to wait till I see genuine remorse before he gets respect from me again. And YES.... Of course people remember the disgusting 62 mins over everything else he has done. That defined him. But his actions since are also well remembered to EFF. Thats what really defines him.

2021-12-29T23:47:21+00:00

Jacko

Roar Rookie


Yourself maybe??? Im thinking Just Nuisance isnt your real name. Jacko certainly is my real name. It seems you have standards for others to follow but choose not to follow those standards yourself. I know who that sounds like.

2021-12-29T23:40:44+00:00

Jacko

Roar Rookie


. According to them his reputation in their eyes is tainted forever. How long do you believe his reputation is tainted for Biltong? 3 days? 2 weeks? 6 mths? 1 year? How long before you expect us to 100% forget it? particularly when we see him posting more rubbish basically giving the big finger to WR and to all the rugby fans around the world with his latest video? Show me a man who is remorseful for his attempt to influence the result of tests and maybe we will all start forgiving him but he has never believed he did anything wrong, never said sorry to anyone, never apoligised to Berry as directed to do and has made a video gloating and bragging to the rugby world saying "Up yours" Im happy to forgive anyone who is sorry for what they have done but show me anything at all that shows he is sorry.

2021-12-29T23:29:19+00:00

Jacko

Roar Rookie


Yes Paulo sometimes those close to the people who hurt them the most just dont see it. Rassie may have deceived these poor rugby followers who dont have TVs to watch video's on that he is SA's saviour but millions around the rugby world say he is a g*ub and thats the way the world of rugby will forever see him as. I dont believe that SA rugby folk think its ok to win by these means but if they do then thats their issue. You cant force people to see reality. Every match he has had anything to do with now has an asterix beside it. ************************************

2021-12-29T22:48:44+00:00

Ex force fan

Guest


Jacko, this binary view of people’s character must be difficult to live with. There is lot of grey between saint and bastard. The good does not erase the bad, nor does the bad erase the good. If you look at a balanced way at their net contribution of flawed individuals like Erasmus, Cronje, Bakkies, Warner and Smith you will realise that their assets far exceed their liabilities. Let’s not judge an individual on their worst 62 minutes and ignore everything else they contributed.

2021-12-29T22:41:14+00:00

BackInBlack

Guest


Don’t forget ‘the Bomb squad’ who were swept away by England and a poor Wallabies side (back to back) with further losses against the MIB and Lions. DdeA, give me a break :laughing:

2021-12-29T20:30:24+00:00

Praetorian

Guest


Double Agent , it was Tupou boring in with his ar#e at 45deg to the touchline that disrupted the scrum .That penalty should never have been awarded .

2021-12-29T17:03:35+00:00

Harry Jones

Expert


A number of UK scribes and pundits have named Am the best of 2021 and a fair number have named DdeA-Am the best midfield. Hard to get that nod from them, because most are besotted by Gael F and Henshaw. Just shows how solid SA 12-13 is now, with Andre E and Jesse K in reserve, and a few young lads brewing. Hope JN uses 2022 wisely to get more of that depth for 10 and 15.

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