Sunday Social: Folau fallout, Jags joy and top tries

Colin Newboult
Add as a preferred source on Google

It is time for Planet Rugby’s Sunday Social, your quirky recap of the serious and not so serious talking points from the week’s action.

While not necessarily the big story of the week, we start with one that has gained plenty of reaction on social media following the news of Israel Folau’s decision to set up a GoFundMe page for his legal fight against Rugby Australia.

Plenty of people involved in the game have criticised the ex-Wallaby, including former team-mate Drew Mitchell, who garnered plenty of praise for this post.

Onto the lighter side of the game and Joe Marler, who has had an array of different and let’s say interesting hairstyles down the years, is perhaps looking at changing it again judging by this response.

Marler has now retired from the international game, even if there is a rumour that he could return for the World Cup, but one of his former England coaches is apparently making the move to Ireland, according to reports.

Ex-Red Rose attack guru Mike Catt is set to join Andy Farrell’s backroom staff following the World Cup, meaning all four of the coaches that were part of their ill-fated 2015 campaign have crossed the Irish sea.

Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, the Jaguares made history by reaching their first ever Super Rugby semi-final following a victory over the Chiefs and their delight was evident at the final whistle.

They scored a couple of well-worked tries in that game but the best effort from the last-eight came via the defending champions Crusaders, who put together this intricate score.

Super Rugby wasn’t the only action of the weekend as the World Rugby U20 Championship reached a conclusion on Saturday. Congratulations to France who claimed their second title in a row with a 24-23 triumph over Australia in a thrilling contest in Argentina.

Les Bleuets did not score the best try of the tournament, though, with that accolade going to Fiji after they produced this stunning move in the relegation play-off against Scotland.

Finally, we sort of look back to the Top 14 final last week and the aftermath of Toulouse’s triumph over Clermont Auvergne. The classic thing to do with the trophy is to drink champagne out of it, but that is not possible with the Bouclier de Brennus and it instead offered Romain Ntamack the chance to use it as a surfboard.

Features